I wonder if one could build an information-theoretically secure private messenger using one-time pads?

For one thing, it would be secure against all Harvest Now, Decrypt Later attacks, including those from quantum computers.

If you meet your counterparty regularly (say, if you know them IRL), the encryption part could be done by connecting two devices together to exchange as much key material as you can whenever you meet with them.

When I asked about this in a chat room, I was told authentication was needed. And that Poly1305 was an information-theoretically secure authentication mechanism.

Cc: @eoaiuastwg You're the first person on fedi I could think of who dabbles in cryptography. What do you think about this?
I'm thinking exchanging one-time pad material could become a social ritual, like sharing snacks and drinks, or shaking hands.

You could have your devices generating/exchanging while you talk face-to-face. And when you can no longer talk face-to-face, you have a private way to communicate.
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@Hyolobrika Well, i guess first you would have to have control over your own devices. And i mean as a group, if you just send stuff encrypted to someone that's got stock android or iphone, what's the point?

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