(update- slightly off topic) cryptocurrencies?

[Michael L]

This may be off topic from Linux directly-

I mentioned during the last big run up of bitcoin why I would not invest in crypto; the reason at the time was lots of retail investors getting in for fear of missing out (FOMO).  Then the big meltdown came.

Anyone that understands something about how crypto currencies work, feel free to send me info.  Can send off list since it's not directly on topic.

Thanks to everyone for all the expertise in this group; it's made my job much more interesting and enjoyable.  Freedom from Microsoft penitentiary is a very good thing.

[Adam Hudson]

You know, cryptocurrency may be pretty off, but Cryptography and security tools in Linux would be an interesting topic.  delving into cold storage on paper wallets got me interested cryptography and the idea of using open source tools to secure my data and things.  Ideas of what to do with NFC tags, how to do cold storage using open source security tools like the KeePass variants, all that is super interesting.  And while not directly Linux, it's certainly in the ethos of FOSS.  

I'm no cryptocurrency expert; and I don't think many of those who claim to be are.  I also think there's a potential to get into a dark rabbit hole here that's too far from (what I understand to be) the heart of the user group: exploring the wonders of GNU Linux.  However the mechanics of cryptography security are fascinating and it would be cool to see other practical applications you guys are into.

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Thank you,

Adam Hudson

[Michael L]

Instead of cryptocurrencies I was going to just say crypto, but I did want to close out what I mentioned a couple years ago before the (FOMO retail investor fueled) bitcoin run up and inevitable sell off; hopefully it kept someone from losing.  On to cryptography.

Factoring large numbers is largely used in encryption.   As a small example the number 6 has 1, 2, 3 and 6 as "some" factors, BUT something to remember from high school algebra is "i", the square root of -1.  [(i)^2 = -1]

if we multiply (-2i)(3i) or (i)(-6i), we also get 6.  That gives computers more to think about. 

reference:

A Course in Computational Number Theory, by Stan Wagon and David Bressoud

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