I don't know what random numbers are for in encryption

[BirdDad]

when encrypting a hard drive I don't see what the random numbers are for can someone please explain to me how they protect someone from having their drive brute forced?

 

[sourceninja]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_(cryptography)

 

[Essence_of_War]

What exactly do you mean by "the random numbers"?

 

[John Connor]

I think he's referring to entropy. When you have to move the mouse to generate randomness for the password.

http://crypto.stackexchange.com/questions/378/what-is-entropy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy_(computing)

http://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/vpns/randomness-entropy-introduction-874