OS/2 Shareware BBS: 8 Other/08-Other.zip/pmc101.zip/PMCrypt.HLP

OS/2 Help File | 1995-11-11 | 16KB | 434 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. About PMCrypt ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

PMCrypt was written to allow data files of any type to be encrypted so that
unauthorised parties could not gain access to them.

The encryption system is a secret key system providing encryption for civil /
lower security tasks.  (Providing the eight keys required are kept secret) it
will provide good security against linear attacks.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. File Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The File menu contains commands that you use to encrypt and decrypt any type of
data files.  It also contains the command that you use to exit the application.
The following commands appear in the File menu:

Encrypt        Creates an encrypted version of a selected file.

Decrypt        Allows decryption of a previously encrypted file.

Exit           Quits the PMCrypt application.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Encrypt ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can create an encrypted file by using the Encrypt command. To create an
encrypted file, do the following:

o Select the File menu and choose the Encrypt command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Decrypt ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can decrypt a file that exists on any drive or in any directory by using
the Decrypt command. To Decrypt a file, do the following:

o Select the File menu and choose the Decrypt command.

A dialog box appears, allowing you to select the file to decrypt or select the
required file by a list dialog.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Exit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You quit the PMCrypt application by using the Exit command. To quit the PMCrypt
application, do the following:

 1. Select the File menu and choose the Exit command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Encrypt ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Once the file to encrypt has been selected then use the Encrypt button to start
the encryption process.

Help is available on the following components :

File to encrypt               Encrypted file
Use selected keys             One time keys
Encrypt button                File list button
Cancel button                 Stop button


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Source filename ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter into this field the name of the file you wish to encrypt.

The file name can be typed or if the file is on another drive / directory the
full file specification can be entered.  Alternatively the File list button can
be chosen to allow selection of the file without having to type the details by
hand.

Only when this field contains text will the Encrypt button become enabled.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Encrypted filename ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter into this field the name of the file you wish to contain the result of
the encryption process.

Initially the name, path and extension will default to the information
contained within the Settings menu option.  Additionally the file name will
default to UNTITLED.  To change, enter the full file specification or just the
file name if it is to reside in the current directory.

Only when this field contains text will the Encrypt button become enabled.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Use selected keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When selected the keys that have been generated with the Generate keys menu
option. will be used.  If these have not been entered/generated then the
default keys are used instead.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> One time keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When selected you will be presented with a dialog at the start of the
encryption process.  This allows for you to enter eight keys or to generate
eight random ones.

Once the encryption process is completed then these keys are forgotten by the
software, so it is important that you make a note of them in a secure place.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Encrypt button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When selected the encryption process will commence.  If you have opted to
generate one time keys then you will be presented with a dialog allowing you to
generate keys.

The process is very quick, but if you are encrypting a large file and wish to
abort the process then the Stop button can be selected.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> File List button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When selected you are presented with a standard dialog box, this you can use to
select the file you wish to encrypt.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Cancel button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This button can only be selected whilst the encryption process is not taking
place.  It will return you to the main PMCrypt window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Stop button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This button can only be selected whilst the encryption process is taking place.
It will immediately abort encryption and leave you in the encryption dialog.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Decrypt ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Once the file to decrypt has been selected then use the Decrypt button to start
the decryption process.

Help is available on the following components :

File to decrypt               Decrypted file
Use selected keys             One time keys
Decrypt button                File list button
Cancel button                 Stop button


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Source filename ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter into this field the name of the file you wish to decrypt.

The file name can be typed or if the file is on another drive / directory the
full file specification can be entered.  Alternatively the File list button can
be chosen to allow selection of the file without having to type the details by
hand.

Only when this field contains text will the Decrypt button become enabled.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Decrypted filename ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter into this field the name of the file you wish to contain the result of
the decryption process.

Initially the drive and path will default to the information contained within
the Settings menu option.  Additionally the file name will default to Decrypt.
To change, enter the full file specification or just the file name if it is to
reside in the current directory.

Only when this field contains text will the Decrypt button become enabled.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Use selected keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When selected the keys that have been generated with the Generate keys menu
option. will be used.  If these have not been entered/generated then the
default keys are used instead.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> One time keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When selected you will be presented with a dialog at the start of the
decryption process.  This allows for you to enter eight keys or to generate
eight random ones.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Decrypt button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When selected the decryption process will commence.  If you have opted to
generate one time keys then you will be presented with a dialog allowing you to
generate keys.

The process is very quick, but if you are decrypting a large file and wish to
abort the process then the Stop button can be selected.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> File List button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When selected you are presented with a standard dialog box, this you can use to
select the file you wish to decrypt.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Cancel button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This button can only be selected whilst the decryption process is not taking
place.  It will return you to the main PMCrypt window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Stop button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This button can only be selected whilst the decryption process is taking place.
It will immediately abort decryption and leave you in the decryption dialog.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Utility Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Utility menu contains commands that allow you to generate keys, that can be
used in the encryption or decryption process. The Settings command allows you
to modify some of the settings which PMCrypt uses.

The following commands appear in the Utility menu:

Generate keys       Creates or modifys encryption / decryption keys.

Settings            Allows the user to modify PMCrypt's configurable
                    parameters.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Generate keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 You can create or modify existing keys using the Generate keys command. To
generate or modify keys, do the following:

o Select the Utility menu and choose the Generate keys command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can change some of the settings that PMCrypt uses by selecting the Settings
command. To change settings, do the following:

o Select the Utility menu and choose the Settings command.

A dialog box appears, allowing you to modify settings and to create/modify the
default keys that will be used when no others have been generated.  Note that
using Default keys could lead to a breach of security.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Generate keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

For the Encryption or Decryption processes to function it is necessary to
generate eight numeric keys.  These can be generated with this option or
generated at the time the file is either encrypted or decrypted.

Help is available on the following components :

Numeric keys                  Generate button
Clear button                  Use keys button
Exit button


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Cypher keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can either enter into this field a numeric key which will be used together
with the remaining seven by either the Encryption or Decryption processes.
Alternatively the Generate button can be selected to generate eight random
keys.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Generate button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When selected eight 32bit numeric keys will be generated and placed into the
keys fields automatically.

The generate button can be used as many times as you wish, generating a new set
each time until you are satisfied with the results.

If you wish the keys generated can be modified by hand.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Clear button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When selected all eight key fields are cleared to a value of zero. If
encryption takes place with these keys it is NOT SECURE.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Use button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This button must be selected to choose the currently displayed set of eight
keys for your subsequent encryption or decryption process. Selecting the Exit
button after modifying the keys will cause a warning dialog to be displayed
asking for confirmation, as the key changes will not become effective.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Exit button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

On selection you are returned to the main PMCrypt window. Selecting the button
after modifying the keys, but having not selecting the Use keys button will
cause a warning dialog to be displayed asking for confirmation, as the key
changes will not become effective.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Some of the parameters that PMCrypt uses can be set by you. They mostly effect
the Encryption or Decryption process.

Help is available on the following components :

Default drive                 Default path
Default extension             Remove incomplete files
Show progress text            Inform on completion
Save window positions         Default keys button
OK button                     Cancel button


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Default drive ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The drive is the default onto which the encrypted file will be created. The
field is read only so you cannot enter any letter that does not appear in the
pull down list box.

When Encrypting or Decrypting this selection can be changed.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Default path ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When Encrypting the contents of this field are used to be provide an initial
default path where the encrypted file will be created.  It can be changed when
completing the details in the encrytion menu option.

When Decrypting the contents of this field are used to be provide an initial
default path to where the encrypted file is to be found that you wish to
decrypt.  It can be changed when completing the details in the encrytion menu
option.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Default extension ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When encrypting a file the contents of this field are appended to the filename
that appears initially in the File to encrypt field.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Remove incomplete files ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

If you wish to remove (delete) any incomple encrypted or decrypted files the
check this box.

Incomplete files can be generated be selecting the Stop button whilst a
Encryption or Decryption process is taking place.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Show progress text ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The progress of the Encryption or Decryption process is always shown on a
percentage sliding bar.  If you also wish to see textual message which indicate
when file read/writes take place then check this box.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Inform on completion ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When the Encryption or Decryption process is complete a dialog box can be
generated indicating the status on the process.  If you wish to see this then
check this box.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Save window size ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When exiting PMCrypt if this box is checked then the current window size and
position is saved.  This enables PMCrypt to appear in the same position on the
screen on subsequent executions.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Modify default keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

By selecting this push button eight default keys can be generated.  These keys
will be used by default when no other keys have been generated for the
encryption or decryption processes.

Although this process may appear useful, which it is ! It is NOT SECURE as
leaving your keys on a pc may lead to un-authorised compromise of the keys.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> OK button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select the OK button when satisfied with the various settings.  They will then
be saved and become effective immediately.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Cancel button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This button will return you to the main PMCrypt window without saving any
changes to the default settings.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Help Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Help menu contains commands that allow you to gain help information about
PMCrypt and it's operation.  The last menu option gives information about the
software.

The following commands appear in the Help menu:

Help index               Gives a complete index of all information available.

General help             Gives a brief overview to the purpose of PMCrypt.

Using help               How to use the help system in OS/2.

Keys help                Lists the keys which function upon the main menu.

Product information      Information about the product, version, author etc.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. Keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The following key definitions act upon the main menu :

o F3           Exit.

o ALT+G        Generate a set of eight keys.

o ALT+S        Configure program settings.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Product information dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This dialog displays information about the application, such   as version
number and copyright notice.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12. OK ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The OK button closes the Product information dialog.