snuffle(1)

NAME
snuffle - encrypt unsnuffle - decrypt

SYNTAX
snuffle [ time-key ] unsnuffle [ time-key ]

DESCRIPTION
snuffle encrypts its input and sends it to the output. Up to the first newline or EOF, the input is taken as a key; if time-key is provided, it is used as a further key.

unsnuffle decrypts its input and sends it to the output. It takes an input key and time-key the same way as snuffle.

snuffle and unsnuffle use Ralph Merkle's Snefru hash function, which is probably about three times more secure than DES. Actually, any reasonably good hash function can be plugged into these programs. Encryption and hashing are fundamentally equivalent.

The input key is most important for the first 64 characters, less important for the next 55 characters, and ignored past that. time-key is ignored past 64 characters. time-key should be a time-dependent key, perhaps the output of date(1); it helps limit the damage that a single security breach can do.

Although snuffle is twice as slow as crypt(1), it is much more secure. The input key provides at least 128 bits of real security.

BUGS
Hmph.

AUTHOR
Placed into the public domain by Daniel J. Bernstein.

SEE ALSO
crypt(1), crypt(3)