Lesson plan
Mcrypt
mcrypt is a replacement for the popular Unix crypt command. crypt was a file encryption tool that used an algorithm very close to the World War II Enigma cipher. Mcrypt provides the same functionality but uses several modern algorithms such as AES. Libmcrypt, Mcrypt's companion, is a library of code that contains the actual encryption functions and provides an easy method for use. The last update to libmcrypt was in 2007, despite years of unmerged patches. Maintained alternatives include ccrypt, libressl, and others. Examples of mcrypt usage in a Linux command-line environment: mcrypt --list # See available encryption algorithms. mcrypt -a blowfish myfilename # Encrypts myfilename to myfilename.nc # using the Blowfish encryption algorithm. # You are prompted two times for a passphrase. mcrypt -d mytextfile.txt.nc # Decrypts mytextfile.txt.nc to mytextfile.txt. mcrypt -V -d -a enigma -o scrypt --bare # Can en/decrypt files crypted with SunOS crypt. mcrypt --help It implements numerous cryptographic algorithms, mostly block ciphers and stream ciphers, some of which fall under export restrictions in the United States. Algorithms include DES, Blowfish, ARCFOUR, Enigma, GOST, LOKI97, RC2, Serpent, 3-Way, Twofish, WAKE, and XTEA.
Article summary
mcrypt is a replacement for the popular Unix crypt command. crypt was a file encryption tool that used an algorithm very close to the World War II Enigma cipher. Mcrypt provides the same functionality but uses several modern algorithms such as AES. Libmcrypt, Mcrypt's companion, is a library of code that contains the actual encryption functions and provides an easy method for use. The last update to libmcrypt was in 2007, despite years of unmerged patches. Maintained alternatives include ccrypt, libressl, and others. Examples of mcrypt usage in a Linux command-line environment: mcrypt --list # See available encryption algorithms. mcrypt -a blowfish myfilename # Encrypts myfilename to myfilename.nc # using the Blowfish encryption algorithm. # You are prompted two times for a passphrase. mcrypt -d mytextfile.txt.nc # Decrypts mytextfile.txt.nc to mytextfile.txt. mcrypt -V -d -a enigma -o scrypt --bare # Can en/decrypt files crypted with SunOS crypt. mcrypt --help It implements numerous cryptographic algorithms, mostly block ciphers and stream ciphers, some of which fall under export restrictions in the United States. Algorithms include DES, Blowfish, ARCFOUR, Enigma, GOST, LOKI97, RC2, Serpent, 3-Way, Twofish, WAKE, and XTEA.
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.