help with key issues
Im developing a backup file system for LANs in Java
Presently the client encrypts all files with the DES algorithm using the same key before sending them to a server. The key is generated the very first time the software is installed and stored in a file key.txt. All subsequent files will get encrypted using the key from this file.
The server keeps a record of which files(encrypted) it is holding for which client. The server obv does not keep the encryption key.
In my system, I want to implement a "Restore" system in which the client should be able to retrieve all his backed up files even if his entire HDD crashes. For this when the client comes up and the software is reinstalled, the user can command the software to start restore. The client searches the LAN for servers that may be holding its files (each computer on LAN will be identified through a unique user name) and retrieves them one by one.
Problem: Since the key.txt file is also lost because of HDD crash, the client will not able to decrypt the files for the user. Any suggestions on what can be done to address this issue? Does Java provide a way by which it always returns the same key given a username (string)?
Many thanks for your help
Message was edited by:
aybhave
