ELFIN
AN ENCRYPTION/DECRYPTION PROGRAM
AN ENCRYPTION/DECRYPTION PROGRAM
These are evaluation versions of this program that are available to everyone,
but are fully functional nonetheless. If you like ELFIN and wish a custom copy
that cannot be decoded by anyone else's copy, please use the contact form on
the Home page (at the bottom) and we will discuss your requirements. There is a small
copy and mailing charge for this service (usually only $5 to $10). Major changes cost more.
but are fully functional nonetheless. If you like ELFIN and wish a custom copy
that cannot be decoded by anyone else's copy, please use the contact form on
the Home page (at the bottom) and we will discuss your requirements. There is a small
copy and mailing charge for this service (usually only $5 to $10). Major changes cost more.
Program description and instructions
ELFIN is an encryption/decryption program (written and compiled by me) made for those that would like to send and receive messages without anyone else being able to read them without the proper password (key). It requires a numerical password (key) that must be used when encrypting and decrypting messages. Two versions are available; ELFIN1 (or elfin.exe) and ELFIN2 (elfin2.exe). Both are version zero at this time. (note: elfin2v1 and elfin2v2 are the latest)
The original ELFIN was written primarily for radio operators, especially those using Morse code, so that messages could be coded and sent without divulging the contents. It only allowed lower case letters, numbers and the space bar so the operator could key directly on the computer keyboard as the code was copied and so there was a noticeable difference in the letter o and a zero (0) on the screen. Message length in elfin is 255 characters (about 3 screen lines) at which time a new session must be started.
ELFIN2 added upper case letters and special characters for emails and more sophisticated messages. It still maintains the original elfin code-to-screen feature but is menu driven for easier use. Elfin2 also allows messages of unlimited length to be save to disk in the encryption mode and decrypted automatically from received text files. Keyboard to screen is still limited to 255 characters (including spaces).
In both ELFIN and ELFIN2, there is no provision to backspace or hit a carriage return. If you make a mistake in typing you must either start over or continue with the hope that the message is clear.
The password (encryption key) is user selectable and is entered using numbers only. It is the first thing that both programs will ask for and must be entered or no encryption will take place. No symbols, spaces, letters or special characters are allowed. Six digits or more will be sufficient, 255 is the max. The more digits in the password the more secure it is, but harder to remember the password.
ELFIN1 will then go to the message screen and prompt you to enter your message one character at a time. The only acceptable characters at this time in ELFIN1 are numbers, lower case letters and the space bar. The maximum length of the message is 255 characters (keystrokes including spaces). You will notice a positive encryption above your typed message and a negative encryption below your typed message. Either will work and is just a matter of preference. In this version (elfin1) you will have to copy the one that you want to use and send it in a message type of your choice (sorry, there is no 'cut and paste'). Type the * when done and the program exits automatically. To decrypt, run the program again and enter the same password used to create the message then type in the encrypted text. You will notice the decrypted message either above or below your typed text with the opposite side showing a double encrypted text (also usable for extra security).
ELFIN2 has the expanded character set and goes to the menu after entering the password. Options 1 an 2 are keyboard to screen just like ELFIN1. Options 3 and 4 will write the encryption to a file named "elfintxt.txt" or will decode from an encrypted file with the same name. There is no choice on the name of the file for the program, but you may rename the file for transmission and archive purposes as long as it is renamed to elfintxt.txt and place in the default folder (the elfin folder if you are running dosbox) before decryption takes place. To find your default folder, run ELFIN2 and choose Option 3 to create a file to disk. Enter a test message and then search for it with the search function (control panel in the start menu on the task bar). The folder that elfintxt.txt is in is your default folder for ELfIN2. Option 5 will allow you to change the password (key) without leaving the program. Option 6 exits the program.
Messages encrypted in ELFIN1 cannot be decrypted by ELFIN2 and vice versa.
This program was compiled on a Windows XP platform but the EXE file should work with all versions (Windows 7 & 8 with DOSBOX).
The files can be downloaded below. The elfin.zip file includes elfin1, elfin2, and dosbox with all of its supporting files pre-configured to use a folder named elfin on the c: drive as the virtual c:\ drive. It is better to go to dosbox.com and download dosbox from that location to make sure you have the correct version for your computer. To use elfin.zip, download and unzip. If your unzip routine creates an elfin folder for you, just move this folder to the c: drive. If not, create an elfin folder in drive c: and move all the files and folders to the elfin folder. To run, double click on dosbox and then enter either elfin or elfin2 at the c:\ prompt (whichever you want to run). Enter exit at the c:\ prompt to close dosbox when done. If the dosbox configuration fails to take you directly to your virtual C:\ drive, go to the dosbox.com site and download and run the dosbox configuration from there. Dosbox will then find your location of your notepad file and allow you to edit the configuration file for your computer.
ELFIN is an encryption/decryption program (written and compiled by me) made for those that would like to send and receive messages without anyone else being able to read them without the proper password (key). It requires a numerical password (key) that must be used when encrypting and decrypting messages. Two versions are available; ELFIN1 (or elfin.exe) and ELFIN2 (elfin2.exe). Both are version zero at this time. (note: elfin2v1 and elfin2v2 are the latest)
The original ELFIN was written primarily for radio operators, especially those using Morse code, so that messages could be coded and sent without divulging the contents. It only allowed lower case letters, numbers and the space bar so the operator could key directly on the computer keyboard as the code was copied and so there was a noticeable difference in the letter o and a zero (0) on the screen. Message length in elfin is 255 characters (about 3 screen lines) at which time a new session must be started.
ELFIN2 added upper case letters and special characters for emails and more sophisticated messages. It still maintains the original elfin code-to-screen feature but is menu driven for easier use. Elfin2 also allows messages of unlimited length to be save to disk in the encryption mode and decrypted automatically from received text files. Keyboard to screen is still limited to 255 characters (including spaces).
In both ELFIN and ELFIN2, there is no provision to backspace or hit a carriage return. If you make a mistake in typing you must either start over or continue with the hope that the message is clear.
The password (encryption key) is user selectable and is entered using numbers only. It is the first thing that both programs will ask for and must be entered or no encryption will take place. No symbols, spaces, letters or special characters are allowed. Six digits or more will be sufficient, 255 is the max. The more digits in the password the more secure it is, but harder to remember the password.
ELFIN1 will then go to the message screen and prompt you to enter your message one character at a time. The only acceptable characters at this time in ELFIN1 are numbers, lower case letters and the space bar. The maximum length of the message is 255 characters (keystrokes including spaces). You will notice a positive encryption above your typed message and a negative encryption below your typed message. Either will work and is just a matter of preference. In this version (elfin1) you will have to copy the one that you want to use and send it in a message type of your choice (sorry, there is no 'cut and paste'). Type the * when done and the program exits automatically. To decrypt, run the program again and enter the same password used to create the message then type in the encrypted text. You will notice the decrypted message either above or below your typed text with the opposite side showing a double encrypted text (also usable for extra security).
ELFIN2 has the expanded character set and goes to the menu after entering the password. Options 1 an 2 are keyboard to screen just like ELFIN1. Options 3 and 4 will write the encryption to a file named "elfintxt.txt" or will decode from an encrypted file with the same name. There is no choice on the name of the file for the program, but you may rename the file for transmission and archive purposes as long as it is renamed to elfintxt.txt and place in the default folder (the elfin folder if you are running dosbox) before decryption takes place. To find your default folder, run ELFIN2 and choose Option 3 to create a file to disk. Enter a test message and then search for it with the search function (control panel in the start menu on the task bar). The folder that elfintxt.txt is in is your default folder for ELfIN2. Option 5 will allow you to change the password (key) without leaving the program. Option 6 exits the program.
Messages encrypted in ELFIN1 cannot be decrypted by ELFIN2 and vice versa.
This program was compiled on a Windows XP platform but the EXE file should work with all versions (Windows 7 & 8 with DOSBOX).
The files can be downloaded below. The elfin.zip file includes elfin1, elfin2, and dosbox with all of its supporting files pre-configured to use a folder named elfin on the c: drive as the virtual c:\ drive. It is better to go to dosbox.com and download dosbox from that location to make sure you have the correct version for your computer. To use elfin.zip, download and unzip. If your unzip routine creates an elfin folder for you, just move this folder to the c: drive. If not, create an elfin folder in drive c: and move all the files and folders to the elfin folder. To run, double click on dosbox and then enter either elfin or elfin2 at the c:\ prompt (whichever you want to run). Enter exit at the c:\ prompt to close dosbox when done. If the dosbox configuration fails to take you directly to your virtual C:\ drive, go to the dosbox.com site and download and run the dosbox configuration from there. Dosbox will then find your location of your notepad file and allow you to edit the configuration file for your computer.
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Elfin2 will not encode a capital G (oops). Elfin2v1 fixes that and can be downloaded below. They will not talk to each other, though (well, they sort of will). Elfin2v2 allows for multiple password use per message and will work with 2v1.
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The new .zip package below contains the newer version of elfin2v1 along with the original content.
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