Shocking! Online Poker Game's Card Shuffling Algorithm Exploited by Hackers!
2025-09-07
In the late 1990s, a serious flaw was discovered in the card shuffling algorithm of an online poker game. The algorithm used the computer's system time to generate random numbers, but due to limitations in its mechanism, the number of possible card combinations generated was far less than the theoretical value, only about 200,000 possibilities. This meant hackers could easily predict the outcome of the game by synchronizing their system time with the game's, allowing them to manipulate the game. This incident highlights the importance of algorithm security and warns developers about the risks of relying on random number generators.