Method and system for mixed symmetric and asymmetric decryption of .ZIP files

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of integrating existing strong encryption methods into the processing of a .ZIP file to provide a highly secure data container which provides flexibility in the use of symmetric and asymmetric encryption technology. The present invention adapts the well established .ZIP file format to support higher levels of security and multiple methods of data encryption and key management, thereby producing a highly secure and flexible digital container for electronically storing and transferring confidential data.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to a method of using standard .ZIP files and strong encryption technology to securely store files, and more particularly to a method of integrating existing strong encryption methods into the processing of .ZIP files to provide a highly secure data container which provides flexibility in the use of symmetric and asymmetric encryption technology. The present invention adapts the well established and widely used .ZIP file format to support higher levels of security and multiple methods of data encryption and key management, thereby producing an efficient, highly secure and flexible digital container for electronically storing and transferring confidential data. [0002] Compression of computer files has been available for many years. Compressing files can save large amounts of disk space, and can reduce transfer time when downloading files from the Internet or transferring files through email. Almost any file one...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The solution provides a highly secure and flexible digital container that enhances data security with strong encryption, supports non-repudiation, and ensures backward compatibility, offering improved protection for confidential data by using advanced encryption algorithms and key management within the .ZIP file format.

Problems solved by technology

The data encryption method used by these software programs uses a key size of 96 bits or less and is considered weak or moderate encryption by today's standards.

Weak data encryption may not provide sufficient security to computer users that store and transfer their confidential data files using the .ZIP format.

Password-based key generation has been a commonly used method of applying data encryption, however, known vulnerabilities to cracking methods such as “brute force password cracking” make this method of encryption insufficient to meet today's more advanced security needs.

Another known limitation of password-based security is the lack of non-repudiation.

This cannot be achieved with symmetric encryption methods.

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