Compact and fast 512-bit encryption add-on for node.js using Skein hash functions.
Skein is a family of cryptographic hash functions. Skein’s design combines speed, security, simplicity, and a great deal of flexibility in a modular package that is easy to analyze. [1]
Skein add-on wraps original Skein C implementation. The add-on makes Skein available for node.js packages without sacrificing its speed. The wrapper includes a 512-bit hash function and a pair of 512-bit symmetric encryption functions.
The add-on is currently available for Linux, OS X and Windows platforms. Raspbian build is in progress and it will be available soon. Please stay tuned and check out this page for further news.
npm install skein
The following functions are currently available from the skein add-on. These functions are asynchronous in nature and conforms to node.js 'error-first' callback convention. Argument errors can cause exceptions to be thrown.
The method calcHash
takes a string argument and returns a 512-bit (64-byte) hash value in a Buffer
object. The Buffer
object is NOT stored internally. The Buffer
object can be used as a key in the encrypt
and decrypt
functions.
var skein = require('skein');
var crypto = new skein.Crypto();
crypto.calcHash("my top secret password", function (err, hash) {
assert.equal(err, null);
assert.equal(hash.length, 64);
});
The method encrypt
takes a 64-byte hash value as a key, a String
object to encrypt, and a function object to return encrypted binary data in a Buffer
object. Typically the hash value is calculated using the calcHash
function although it does not have to be.
var skein = require('skein');
var crypto = new skein.Crypto();
crypto.calcHash("my top secret password", function (err, hash) {
assert.equal(err, null);
assert.equal(hash.length, 64);
var text = "Οὐχὶ ταὐτὰ παρίσταταί μοι γιγνώσκειν";
crypto.encrypt(hash, text, function (err, encrypted) {
assert.equal(err, null);
assert.equal(encrypted.length, 76);
done();
});
});
The method decrypt
takes a 64-byte hash value as a key, a binary Buffer
object to decrypt, and a function object to return decrypted data in a String
object. Typically the hash value is calculated using the calcHash
function although it does not have to be.
var skein = require('skein');
var crypto = new skein.Crypto();
crypto.calcHash("my top secret password", function (err, hash) {
assert.equal(err, null);
assert.equal(hash.length, 64);
var text = "Οὐχὶ ταὐτὰ παρίσταταί μοι γιγνώσκειν";
crypto.encrypt(hash, text, function (err, encrypted) {
assert.equal(err, null);
crypto.decrypt(hash, encrypted, function (err, decrypted) {
assert.equal(err, null);
assert.equal(decrypted, text);
done();
});
});
});
Skein was developed by Niels Ferguson, Stefan Lucks, Bruce Schneier, Doug Whiting, Mihir Bellare, Tadayoshi Kohno, Jon Callas, Jesse Walker.