This project provides a simple tool to encrypt and decrypt files using symmetric key encryption (AES-256). It allows users to upload files for encryption and then download the encrypted file. Users can also decrypt the file using the same encryption key (symmetric encryption) along with the initialization vector (IV).
- Upload any file and encrypt it using AES-256 encryption.
- Download the encrypted file.
- Decrypt the encrypted file using the same key and initialization vector (IV).
- Encryption is done using a randomly generated symmetric key and IV for each session.
- Frontend: React.js
- Backend: Node.js, Express.js
- Encryption: AES-256-CTR (Counter Mode)
- File Storage: Files are stored and served from the
uploads/directory
- Node.js installed (version 14.x or higher)
- npm (comes with Node.js)
- React (create-react-app or use this setup)
-
Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/ajju-raj/File-Encryption-Tool.git cd file-encryption-tool -
Install backend dependencies:
Navigate to the
backend/directory and run:cd backend npm install -
Install frontend dependencies:
Navigate to the
frontend/directory and run:cd frontend npm install -
Run the backend server:
In the
backend/directory, run the following command to start the Express server:npm start
The backend server will be running on
http://localhost:5000. -
Run the React frontend:
In the
frontend/directory, run the following command to start the React development server:npm start
The frontend app will be running on
http://localhost:3000.
The project is divided into two parts: frontend and backend.
-
Backend (
backend/directory):server.js: The main Express server where file uploads, encryption, and decryption happen.uploads/: Folder where encrypted and decrypted files are stored.- Dependencies:
crypto: For AES encryption and decryption.multer: For handling file uploads.fs: File system module for reading and writing files.
-
Frontend (
frontend/directory):src/App.js: The main React component where file upload, encryption, and decryption happen.public/: Contains static assets (if any).- Dependencies:
axios: For making HTTP requests to the backend.
-
Encrypting a File:
- The user uploads a file via the React frontend.
- The file is sent to the backend, where it is encrypted using AES-256-CTR with a random initialization vector (IV) and a pre-generated secret key.
- The encrypted file is stored in the
uploads/directory, and the download link along with the IV is provided to the user.
-
Decrypting a File:
- The user can input the encrypted file path and the IV (from the encryption step) to decrypt the file.
- The backend decrypts the file and stores the decrypted file in the
uploads/directory, providing a download link for the user.
-
POST
/upload- Uploads a file and returns the encrypted file path and IV.
-
POST
/decrypt- Takes the file path and IV, decrypts the file, and returns the decrypted file path.
-
Encrypt a file:
- Select a file from your computer and upload it.
- The file will be encrypted, and you will be provided with a link to download the encrypted file, as well as the IV.
-
Decrypt a file:
- Provide the encrypted file's path and the IV.
- Click the decrypt button, and the file will be decrypted and available for download.
- Symmetric Key Storage: In this project, the symmetric key is generated on the fly and used for encryption and decryption during a single session. For production use, key management strategies like storing keys securely (e.g., in a secure vault) should be considered.
- Initialization Vector (IV): A unique IV is used for each encryption to enhance security.
- Encryption Algorithm: AES-256-CTR is used for secure encryption.
- Add user authentication and permissions for uploading/downloading files.
- Implement secure storage of encryption keys.
- Use a database to keep track of uploaded and encrypted files.
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
Feel free to submit issues or pull requests if you have suggestions for improvement. Contributions are welcome!