---
title: The Private Key Mistake! (TLS Key set to "4") - Computerphile
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDgS__J1U-M
source: youtube-com-computerphile
published: 2026-10-30T15:47:25Z
updated: 2026-10-30T15:53:21Z
first_seen: 2026-10-30T18:48:04.665156877Z
authors:
- Computerphile
summary: |-
  You actually have to work quite hard to set a private key to the number 4! - Dr Tim Muller takes us through the problems with 'randomly' assigning a 120 digit number to the value '4'

  Computerphile is supported by Jane Street. Learn more about them (and exciting career opportunities) at: https://jane-st.co/computerphile

  This video was filmed and edited by Sean Riley.

  Computerphile is a sister project to Brady Haran's Numberphile. More at https://www.bradyharanblog.com
content: extracted
html: 2026-10-30-the-private-key-mistake-tls-key-set-to-4-computerphile.html
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---

You actually have to work quite hard to set a private key to the number 4! - Dr Tim Muller takes us through the problems with 'randomly' assigning a 120 digit number to the value '4'

Computerphile is supported by Jane Street. Learn more about them (and exciting career opportunities) at: https://jane-st.co/computerphile

This video was filmed and edited by Sean Riley.

Computerphile is a sister project to Brady Haran's Numberphile. More at https://www.bradyharanblog.com