How has SecureRandom changed in recent Java versions?

SecureRandom is a crucial class in Java, providing a cryptographically strong random number generator (RNG). Over the years, various improvements and changes have been made to enhance its security and performance. In the recent Java versions, particularly starting from Java 9, the SecureRandom class has seen updates that improve its algorithm selection and initialization speed.

One significant change is the introduction of a new default algorithm for SecureRandom, which aims to provide better randomness and is compliant with the latest security standards. In addition, under the hood, Java now employs more secure sources for entropy, ensuring that generated values are unpredictable and suitable for security-sensitive applications like encryption.

Java 17 introduced a new SecureRandom algorithm called "NativePRNG", making it more efficient on particular platforms by leveraging operating system capabilities for random number generation.

These enhancements make SecureRandom more reliable for developers looking to implement security protocols in their applications, particularly in areas like cryptography, secure communications, and gaming.