“mcookie” is a command line utility in Unix-like operating systems that generates random 128-bit hexadecimal numbers. These numbers can be used as session keys or other forms of unique identification. The mcookie command generates a random 128-bit hexadecimal number and outputs it to the terminal. The output can be redirected to a file or used as input for other commands if needed.
The generated numbers are considered to be cryptographically secure, meaning that they are suitable for use as session keys or for other applications that require unique and unpredictable values. Using mcookie is a simple and convenient way to generate random numbers that can be used for various purposes, including secure communication, random number generation for cryptography, and unique identifier generation.
If you encounter the below error while running the command mcookie:
mcookie: command not found
you may try installing the below package as per your choice of distribution:
| Distribution | Command |
|---|---|
| Debian | apt-get install util-linux |
| Ubuntu | apt-get install util-linux |
| Alpine | apk add util-linux |
| Arch Linux | pacman -S util-linux |
| Kali Linux | apt-get install util-linux |
| CentOS | yum install util-linux |
| Fedora | dnf install util-linux |
| OS X | brew install util-linux |
| Raspbian | apt-get install util-linux |
mcookie Command Examples
1. Generate a random number:
# mcookie
2. Generate a random number, using the contents of a file as a seed for the randomness:
# mcookie --file path/to/file
3. Generate a random number, using a specific number of bytes from a file as a seed for the randomness:
# mcookie --file path/to/file --max-size number_of_bytes
4. Print the details of the randomness used, such as the origin and seed for each source:
# mcookie --verbose