Abstract: Certain aspects of the invention for producing a secure key may comprise a secure key generator that receives a first, second and third input keys and utilizes these keys to generate a first output key. The first, second and third input keys may be a customer key, customer key selection and key variation, respectively. The first output key may be generated so that it is unique, differs from the first input key and is not a weak or semi-weak key. The first, second and third input keys may be mapped to generate mapped output key data and an intermediate key generated based on the first input key. The intermediate key and the output key data may be scrambled to create a scrambled output. At least a portion of the output key data may be masked and XORed with the scrambled output to generate the first output key.

Abstract: One or more methods and systems of generating pseudo-random numbers that are used as encryption keys in cryptographic applications are presented. In one embodiment, a method of generating pseudo-random numbers is performed by sampling output sequences of a linear feedback shift register with a specified periodicity. In one embodiment, the generating of pseudo-random numbers using linear feedback shift registers is accomplished by periodically switching between iterative outputs generated by multiple linear feedback shift registers. In one embodiment, a method of encrypting a pseudo-random number generated by a linear feedback shift register comprises using a nonlinear operator. In one embodiment, a method of further encrypting a pseudo-random number is accomplished by using a hashing function whose initial value varies over time by way of a function operating on one or more variables.