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by regd006 4332 days ago
> Think about how many sets of constants can be generated in a nondescript way

One example of this is the BADA55 curves[0]:

> The name "BADA55" (pronounced "bad-ass") is explained by the appearance of the string BADA55 near the beginning of each BADA55 curve. This string is underlined in the Sage scripts above

> We actually chose this string in advance and then manipulated the curve choices to produce this string. The BADA55-VR curves illustrate the fact that, as pointed out by Scott in 1999, "verifiably random" curves do not stop the attacker from generating a curve with a one-in-a-million weakness. The BADA55-VPR curves illustrate the fact that "verifiably pseudorandom" curves with "systematic" seeds generated from "nothing-up-my-sleeve numbers" also do not stop the attacker from generating a curve with a one-in-a-million weakness.

[0] http://safecurves.cr.yp.to/bada55.html