CEB Cryptographic Simulator

Build Your Own Algorithm Page
Ciphers Page
Home Page
Helpful Cryptographic Terms/Concepts

Inspiration

Online, there are many free websites out there that help students learn, but oftentimes they lack structure or efficient tools. As a student myself, I struggle to find resources that truly dive deep into a topic. I designed my cryptography website so people can find what they need to learn all in one place.

What it does

My website includes three main features. On the home page, users can find a short description on what the website it. Below that, there is useful information (currently dummy data) regarding important cryptographic terms and concepts. I included multimedia like pictures and videos to make it more interesting for users. In the future, I hope to transition this page into a full curriculum plan with several articles. The Cipher page is an active encoder where students can manually encrypt their data using common ciphers, like the Caesar Cipher, to see what's going on behind the scenes. On the last page, users can build their own Encrypting Algorithm. Students can manipulate the ASCII representations of their message using basic math operations. They can then see how secure the algorithm is by viewing the security bar. It is full and green when the algorithm is strong, but is half full/red when the algorithm is weak.

How we built it

I built my website using Visual Studio Code. I used HTML and CSS to design the website and incorporated JavaScript and PHP to code for the encryption algorithms. I also used Github to save my project along the way.

Challenges we ran into

One challenge I ran into was building the encryption algorithm. I had to convert the plain text into its representative ASCII numerical values, apply the mathematical operations, and then revert it back into text. Returning the message back into text proved to be a challenge because oftentimes the numerical value exceeded values in the ASCII Table. I was able to create a workaround by using modular division.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I'm proud that I was able to finish this project in such a short amount of time. This being my first hackathon, I'm glad that I took the risk and pushed myself to try something new. Regarding the project itself, I'm proud of the Security Bar on the Build Your Own Algorithm page. I thought it would be a great way to visualize what does and does not make an algorithm more secure. While coding for it, I ran into several bugs, but thankfully my determination allowed me workaround the problem and find a solution.

What we learned

I learned a lot about encryption while doing this project. I did a lot of research regarding AES/DES encryption algorithms. In the future, I'm hoping I could create a simulation/visual tool to represent that as well. I also read many different articles about cryptology and the history of ciphers.

What's next for CEB Cryptographic Simulator

As stated before, I'm hoping to make a full curriculum available on the website, with articles, videos, exercises, and helpful diagrams. I also want to create an AES/DES encryption tool along with Asymmetric/Symmetric Encryption.