FYS204 Encryption and Decryption Tutorial

Part 1: XOR Encryption (Simple Text Key)

What is Encryption/Decryption?

Encryption is the process of converting readable data (plaintext) into a coded format (ciphertext) to keep it secure from unauthorized access. Decryption is the reverse process, turning the ciphertext back into readable data using a key. Encryption is essential in protecting sensitive information, such as passwords and messages.

Objective:

Learn to run a simple encryption program using XOR encryption and a passphrase/key.

Instructions:

1. Go to the GitHub link provided below:
   XOR Encryption Code

2. Download or copy-paste the code into your Python environment.

3. Run the program and enter the following details when prompted:

   • Plaintext: "This is unit FYS204 at WPU"
   • Passphrase/Key: "fys204pwd2024"

4. Observe the encrypted output.

5. Run the program again with:

   • Plaintext: "We are learning cybersecurity"
   • Passphrase/Key: "fys204pwd2024"

6. Record your results: Write down both the plaintext and the encrypted text, along with the passphrase or key used.

7. Take a screenshot of your program output.

8. Insert the screenshot into your tutorial document as evidence of completion.

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Part 2: Password Hashing with SHA-512 (Step-by-Step)

What is Hashing?

Hashing is the process of converting any length of data (such as a password) into a fixed-length string of characters, which looks like a random jumble. Hashing is one-way, meaning once data is hashed, it cannot be reversed to retrieve the original input. This is why hashing is used to store sensitive data like passwords.

Objective:

Understand how to hash passwords using the SHA-512 algorithm in Python.

Instructions:

1. Step 1: Import the hashlib library. Insert the following line into your Python environment:

   import hashlib

2. Step 2: Define a function to hash the password. Insert this block of code:

   def hash_password_sha512(password):
       sha512_hash = hashlib.sha512(password.encode()).hexdigest()
       return sha512_hash

3. Step 3: Start the main function to collect user input. Insert the following:

   def main():
       password = input("Enter a new password: ")

4. Step 4: Notify the user that hashing is happening. Add this line inside the main() function:

   print("Hashing the password with SHA-512...")

5. Step 5: Hash the password and display the result. Insert the following code:

   hashed_password = hash_password_sha512(password)
   print("The hashed password is:", hashed_password)

6. Step 6: Notify the user about database storage. Add this line:

   print("This is what would be stored in the database.")

7. Step 7: Run the main function. Add this block of code to run the program:

   if __name__ == "__main__":
       main()

8. Step 8: Run the program and take a screenshot.

   • Run the program and enter a new password when prompted.
   • Observe the hashed password output.
   • Take a screenshot of the program output and insert it into your document as evidence of completion.

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Part 3: Exploring Encryption and Hashing Tools

Objective:

Explore online tools to see encryption, decryption, and hashing in action.

Instructions:

1. Go to the AnyCrypt Tool.

2. Spend 30 minutes experimenting with the tool. Enter various plaintexts to see how different algorithms (encryption, decryption, and hashing) work.

3. No specific instructions are provided here; this is your opportunity to explore and familiarize yourself with different encryption and hashing methods.

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