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KEYGEN

Section: Misc. Reference Manual Pages (1)
Updated: Version 0.2
Index

NAME

keygen- Generates a random key file for 'cruft' encryption command.

SYNOPSIS

keygenThis command generates a key file of random displacements, ~/.key,used by cruft.

DESCRIPTION

keygenis a stand-alone utility that generates a key file of random displacements inthe user's home directory (~/.key), for use by cruft.

The ~/.keyfile is a set of random integers, in the range of 0 to 255,that define the "shift" of each character in the file to be encoded,and the reverse shift of each character in the encoded file, in orderfor it to be decoded. The 'keygen' program may be invoked either witha target "plaintext" file or a number as an argument.

keygen filenamegenerates a.keyfile exactly the length offilename.

keygen 1500generates a.keyfile1500bytes in size.

keygen(no argument) generates a.keyfile1024bytes in size (the default).

Usingkeygenwith afilenameargument generates a key just as long as the unenciphered "plaintext"file, in accordance with the principle of the "onetime pad" cipher.Using a unique.keyfile with each different plaintext message to be encrypted makesdecipherment virtually impossible by any method. Of course, normal usagedoes not require security quite this strict, and a daily, or even weeklychange of the.keyfile should suffice for ordinary purposes. Note that if the.keyfile is kept in place for any length of time, a minimum.keyfile length of at least 10k bytes is recommended.

OPTIONS

None.

ENVIRONMENT

$HOME

The$HOMEenvironment variable, referenced by this utility, is normally set toeach user's home directory in any standard Linux or generic UNIX system.No changes should be necessary.

AUTHOR

Mendel Leo Cooper - <thegrendelAATTtheriver.com>

BUGS

Whenfilenameis used as an argument (to generate a .key file the length offilename),the name of the file may not begin with a digit.

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