Encryption or SHA - URGENT PLEASE

[Dar Scott]

On Jun 11, 2004, at 10:23 AM, Geoff Caplan wrote:

> We URGENTLY need a recognised 2 way encryption algorithm - has anyone
> done one please? Don't have time to do it from scratch.

On most platforms you can use the Transcript shell() function to get 
you access to command-line encryption utilities such as openSSL and 
gnupg.

This may require the plaintext to be in a file, unfortunately.  You can 
wipe a plaintext file with a utility (WipeErase, QuickWiper, flame, 
burn, wipe, etc.) that writes to every used sector several times, and 
in many applications, that is sufficient.  It might be easier to use a 
system enhancement such as autoscrubber and that might be better for 
some needs--I haven't used one of these.

If you need just a simple obfuscation, then you can try building 
something with the MD5 command (I have).  There is some literature on 
building true encryption this way.

If you do decide to build one from scratch, check on the legal status 
of the RC4 trademark and make an RC4 stream cipher.

To use the openSSL command-line tool for simple encryption, see these:

    http://www.openssl.org/docs/apps/openssl.html
    http://www.openssl.org/docs/apps/enc.html

For example, to use RC4 to decode a file and use stdout for the 
plaintext:

     openssl rc4-40 -in c.rc4 -K 1234567890

Dar Scott