Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

elrugmunchero t1_j40q9bv wrote

There's a non-zero probability that they get it on the first try.

11

Prunestand OP t1_j40ulxm wrote

They use the midpoint (50%) as an estimator. This is just the expected cost.

4

elrugmunchero t1_j40v5iz wrote

I know, just a scary thought, roughly about the odds of me existing.

Actually, thinking about it, there's more entropy in my DNA than your password, and we've not even got to the Earth existing, yet here I am.

2

postdusk t1_j43j1k4 wrote

More information is more entropy. A novel has more entropy than a haiku. You are a password that took 13.7 billion years to crack. Expensive there you are.

2

SirOxington t1_j3zyv2l wrote

This is an outstanding article.

2