Death Note: L, Anonymity and Eluding Entropy (2017) (gwern.net)

Article summary

The article analyzes the mistakes made by Light Yagami in the Death Note series from the perspective of computer security, cryptography, and information theory. It quantifies the loss of anonymity due to Light's actions and suggests how he could have minimized this loss. The article also discusses the challenges of maintaining anonymity in the face of powerful opponents. The Death Note series is used as a thought experiment to explore the limits of anonymity and the importance of careful planning and misdirection.

Main themes

• anonymity
• information theory
• cryptography
• computer security
• literary analysis
• strategic thinking

What commenters say

• The Death Note series can be seen as a thought experiment on the limits of anonymity and the importance of careful planning.
• The use of stylometry and other techniques may be able to identify Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, despite their efforts to remain anonymous.
• A powerful opponent can use various techniques to de-anonymize an individual, even if they take precautions to remain hidden.
• The article's analysis of Light's mistakes can be applied to real-world situations, such as the use of cryptography and secure communication protocols.
• The overlap between different mistakes can reduce the overall loss of anonymity, as some information may be redundant or already known to the opponent.
• The use of misdirection and careful planning can help to minimize the loss of anonymity, even in the face of powerful opponents.
• The identification of Satoshi Nakamoto may have significant consequences, including the potential for bad things to happen to them or the loss of value derived from creating Bitcoin.