LOCK (and UNLOCK) Steven Holzner File encryption and decryption ------------------------------------------------------- Purpose ------- Encrypts a file, rendering it unreadable to anyone who does not know the user-chosen passphrase. Complementarily, using the same passphrase, de-encrypts the file. Format ------ LOCK filename filename] UNLOCK filename [filename] Remarks ------- The user-selected passphrase can be up to 64 characters in length; the programs prompt you to supply it. Files to be LOCKed and UNLOCKed must be less than 62K in length. If you do not supply new filenames for the locked and unlocked files, the programs use the default filename FILE.LOC. Example You have a file of student course evaluations named CONFY on drive C: that you wish to mail to a colleague in encrypted form. You put a formatted floppy disk in drive A:, and at the C> prompt you enter LOCK CONFY A:CRIMSON When the program asks for a passphrase, you enter VERITAS. The CRIMSON file on the disk will be unreadable. When your colleague--who must, of course, be told the passphrase you have used--puts the disk in his machine, he types UNLOCK CRIMSON GUIDE When prompted, he supplies the passphrase VERITAS, and his file GUIDE will be identical to your original file CONFY. Notes ----- 1. LOCK and UNLOCK do not delete any files, original or encoded. 2. Requires DOS version 2.0 or later.