Encoding and Encryption
Utils for DOS

Back to Front Page

global menu:


This page remains incomplete due to my general lack of interest and expertise with these programs: I need to add PGP to the encryption section, add a better variety of encoder-decoder utils. I won't be adding any disk encryptors.


UUE and MIME ENCODE-DECODE


UUdeview- UUE, XX, Base 64 (MIME), en/ decode. Decodes BINHEX.

* * * * *

A good, simple-to-use, multi-platform encoder and decoder package. UUEnview is capable of encoding files into UUE, XX-UUE, and Base 64 (MIME) formats. UUDeview can decode all of these plus the Macintosh BINHEX (*.hqx) format. UUDeview handles sequential and multipart files well. The program runs interactively- allowing one to make decoding decisions (e.g., renaming) based on the contents of the encoded message. Batch processing is also possible. The executable file sizes are a tad large compared to other DOS encode/decode utilities (100k each for encoder and decoder). Author: Frank Pilhofer. Germany (1997).


ENCRYPTION

Need to add public key programs like PGP. The IDEA and Blowfish algorithm private key programs listed here should be the most secure but I make no personal claims. If you want to prevent your mom or little brother from reading your love notes, any encryptor listed here should do the trick. If your mom works for the CIA, or if you intend to send/ receive sensitive information over the Net, I'd start at a different web page (e.g., See http://cryptography.org/ ).


Z-Crypt- Small, fast file encryption/decryption program.

* * *

A private key file encryption program- small, fast, and "anonymous." While Z-Crypt does not implement a well-tested cipher, it does combine several features that attempt to ensure the anonymity of encrypted files.

NOTES: Probably sufficient for non-critical needs, but cryptography experts probably wouldn't recommend it for high security uses. Unlike Tiny IDEA, Z- crypt only accepts a 1-word password, not a passphrase. A password must be typed on the command line, or included in a batch file- so there is a risk of it being seen by others. Cautions and quirks: DOS version shouldn't be used on files with Win 9x LFN's (non 8+3). Z-Crypt doesn't distinguish encrypted from decrypted files if you don't enter the proper password - if you enter the wrong password then the file gets encrypted again rather than announcing that you used a wrong password! Source included.

download zc031.zip (contains both DOS and OS/2 executables.)


Tiny IDEA- Small IDEA file encryptor and decryptor.

* * * * [updated 1-3-99]

Tiny IDEA is a tiny (500 bytes) private key file encryption program that uses the IDEA cipher. It is used to scramble files with a key, such that the original file cannot be recreated without knowledge of the key. Because Tiny IDEA overwrites files during encryption, it can also be used to destroy sensitive files. Does not scramble file names. Author: Fauzan Mirza, w/optimizations by B. Couture and M. Andreas. UK. (1996)

From the documentation:

"IDEA operates on 64-bit data blocks using a 128-bit key. No method of cracking IDEA faster than exhaustive key search (brute force) has been discovered, despite extensive analysis by professional cryptologers. As an example of IDEA's strength, imagine an incredibly fast computer that can brute force a 56-bit DES key in 1 second. This computer would take upto 194 days to crack a 80-bit key, like the one used by the NSA Skipjack cipher, and up to 149745258842898 years to crack a 128-bit IDEA key."

download idea3a.zip (version 3a, 19K)

Update 1-3-99: Mark Andreas has recently (12-98) released version 4 of Tiny IDEA, but note that it is export restricted from the USA. Some of the changes in v4.0 include smaller size (366 bytes), passphrase can be put on the command line, more. This distribution includes several variations, with different combinations of features. See Mark's crypto pages for version 4 availability and an in-depth description.


TinyFish- 5K Blowfish file encryptor.

unrated [added 9-25-98]

Designed along the same lines as Tiny IDEA, but uses a Blowfish algorithm.

Author: Dutra Lacerda, Portugal (1998)

download tinyfish.zip (10K)


Blowfish-CBC- Blowfish file encryptor.

unrated [added 9-25-98]

A simple private key file encryption program that uses a CBC implementation of the BlowFish algorithm.

Usage:

  BLW-CBC (E|D) <PassFrase> <InputFile> [<OutputFile>]
           | |                   |            |
Encrypt ---+ +--- Decrypt     Origin!  Optional Argument

Author: Dutra Lacerda, Portugal (1998)

download blwcb15a.zip (37K)


SNOW- Conceal text message in an ASCII file.

unrated [added 5-9-98 updated 1-17-99]

"...Snow is used to conceal messages in ASCII text by appending whitespace to the end of lines. Because spaces and tabs are generally not visible in text viewers, the message is effectively hidden from casual observers. And if the built-in encryption is used, the message cannot be read even if it is detected....If a message string or message file are specified on the command-line, snow will attempt to conceal the message in the file infile if specified, or standard input otherwise. The resulting file will be written to outfile if specified, or standard output if not. If no message string is provided, snow attempts to extract a message from the input file. The result is written to the output file or standard output."

If a message (or message file) cannot be fit into the host file's available "free space," lines will be appended to the end of the file. An option does exist to adjust the length of lines which increases available message space. Optional encryption of the message is supported using the 64-bit ICE encryption algorithm in 1-bit cipher-feedback mode. Passwords can (theoretically) be up to 1170 characters in length. Simple compression of the message is also possible. Note that the original and message-containing files may differ in size, and there is no special, secure handling of passwords. Win32 console, Unix and Java versions are available from the author's page. Author: Matthew Kwan, Australia. (1998)

Update 1-17-99: New in v11-22-98: "Files concealed with encryption using the DOS version could not be decrypted by the other versions, and vice versa....This has now been fixed...The source version, when compiled under Unix, also had a bug where it could not read data concealed by the DOS version, owing to the carriage return character appended by DOS. This has also been fixed..."

download snowdos16.zip (27K)


PASSWORD GENERATORS


1. KeyGen- Auto-generates multiple passphrases; saves to file; configurable.

unrated [added 9-12-98]

This program quickly generates multiple passphrases and automatically saves them to a user-named file. The program allows you to set options from a set-up screen: use upper and/or lower case alphabet, and/or numbers, and/or special characters; define passphrase length (10-80 characters); and define number of passphrases generated (1-999). No description of algorithm used, no source. Author: Zoltan Pupp, Hungary (1997).

download keygen.zip (8K)


[ Go to Top | Front Page ]

© 1994-2001. Rich Green