At the risk of oversimplification, how do I explain indistinguishability obfuscation (iO) to my grandmother?
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5$\begingroup$ What kind of prior knowledge do you want to assume for your grandmother (assuming this is not a metaphor)? In what context is it necessary / useful for her to learn about iO, or rather in what context did this request originate? Is a basic understanding of the definition sufficient or should it also be put into some specific context as to how that might be usefully applied? (The definition itself tends to make a "useless" impression) $\endgroup$– SEJPMCommented Mar 19, 2021 at 15:14
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$\begingroup$ I wish to explain to her in a way that is both abstract and concrete -- perhaps by way of an analogy? $\endgroup$– Nathan AwCommented Mar 19, 2021 at 16:03
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1$\begingroup$ It depends, how much does your grandmother know about multilinear maps? $\endgroup$– MikeroCommented Mar 19, 2021 at 17:15
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2$\begingroup$ @RubenDeSmet the issue is that iO already seems useless at first (and second) glance when looking at the formal definition. When you try to explain it using a metaphor it gets worse. $\endgroup$– MaeherCommented Mar 20, 2021 at 11:22
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1$\begingroup$ What about using an equivalent notion; the best-possible obfuscation? (iacr.org/archive/tcc2007/43920194/43920194.pdf) $\endgroup$– HhanCommented Mar 23, 2021 at 4:11
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1 Answer
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iO removes all metadata from the program.
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$\begingroup$ Honestly, I don't think any of my grandparents have a good (if any) notion of "metadata", "programme" or even "to remove". $\endgroup$ Commented Mar 23, 2021 at 9:05
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2$\begingroup$ This does not provide an answer to the question. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post. - From Review $\endgroup$– kelalakaCommented Mar 23, 2021 at 11:26
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$\begingroup$ @kelalaka I disagree. It is clearly an attempt to answer the question. It is a very bad, and arguably incorrect, answer but an answer nonetheless. $\endgroup$– MaeherCommented Mar 24, 2021 at 12:13