Lock

• Download Lock_binary.zip - 35.8 KB
• Download Lock_src.zip - 45.7 KB

Introduction

This article shows a classical approach to lock a file so that it doesn't reveal its original content in any software. For locking a file, a password is required. To view the file again in its original form, it has to be unlocked with the LOCK software with the same password which was used to lock the file.

Background

The basic approach used is the symmetric key cryptography. The file is converted into blocks of 8 bytes and repeatedly XORed with the similar block of 8 bytes obtained by the password. Because the encryption used is symmetric key cryptography, the same process is used for unlocking\decryption.

Using the code

Following is the code for main encryption routine. For more details, look at source code for the comments.

// Replicate the byte array in the key buffer to create

         // an encryption key whose size equals or exceeds the

         // size of the I/O buffer

         int count = (1024 + keyBytes.Length-1)/keyBytes.Length;
                 for( int i=0 ; i<count ; i++)
                 Array.Copy( keyBytes , 0 , keybuf , i*keyBytes.Length , keyBytes.Length);
        // Read the file in bufsize blocks, XOR-encrypt each block,

         // and write the encrypted block back to the file

         long lBytesRemaining = stream.Length;
         while (lBytesRemaining>0)
         {
                 long lPosition = stream.Position ;
                 int nBytesRequested = (int)System.Math.Min(bufSize , lBytesRemaining); 
                 int nBytesRead = reader.Read (buffer, 0, nBytesRequested)

                 for (int i=0; i<nBytesRead; i++)
                          buffer[i] ^= keybuf[i];Stream.Seek (lPosition, SeekOrigin.Begin);
                          writer.Write (buffer, 0, nBytesRead);
                          lBytesRemaining -= nBytesRead;
            }                   

Screenshots

Points of Interest

This is my second article at code project. For the first article which about Handling the Big Numbers, click here. I donot have much experience of article writing. I have just tried to minimize the shortcomings I have faced drafting the First article. Suggestion regarding the clarity, confusion, code, technical writing are welcomed. Comments are also welcomed. You can also mail me at funatlearn@ontheedge.co.in with subject Lock Code Project Article regarding the same.

History

This is the first version of the program. I have some inputs for the next version of the code. I am expecting some more inputs from the readers of the code. After finalizing all the inputs I would write next version of the code.

If you feel any shortcoming of this code/article, please leave a message about the same, so that these pitfalls may not appear in the subsequent versions.