VisibleKey

Support

This page describes how to use VisibleKey and lists frequently asked questions. Requests for support should in the first instance be made through the Contact Us link above. Response to requests for support are made on a best endevours basis.

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How to Use VisibleKey

Create the secret key

Decide on two easy to remember phrases and a number. The phrases and the number are used in encrypting or decrypting the information. If secure information is to be exchanged between two individuals such as through E-mail it is a good idea if each individual provides one of the phrases. Whether encrypting or decrypting, the phrases and number always need to be entered. To maintain security the phrases and number should not be held in electronic form.

For the phrases some use the first few words of a particular sentence of a particular page of a particular edition of a particular book or periodical....(security can breed paranoia)

Create the secret text using the secret key

The information to be secured can be entered directly into the top box. Information can be copied using "copy and paste" commands into the top box. The "Encrypt" button should be clicked. The "encrypted" information should appear in the middle text box. This can be copied using "copy and paste" commands into an E-mail or into a text file. As a check the "Decrypt" button can be clicked after the "Encrypt" button has been clicked. The decrypted information should appear in the lower text box. This should be the same as the information entered into the top box.

Reveal the secret text using the secret key

Once "encrypted" information has been received from an E-mail or is accessible in a text file it should it copied using "copy and paste" commands into the middle text box. The "Decrypt" button should be clicked. The decrypted information should appear in the lower text box.

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FAQ

Q1. What Web browser software should I use?

You should use the latest version of Web browser software. The most popular brands are Internet Explorer from Microsoft and Navigator from Netscape. The Web browser software needs to be enabled for executing Javascript functions and Java applets.

Q2. What information is transferred over the Internet when I use VisibleKey?

No information is transferred over the Internet when VisibleKey is used. No sensitive information is held in the "Temporary Internet Files" folder. The web page containing the Javascript processing and the Java jar file is transferred to the local computer running the web browser software. The information entered is processed by the Javascript functions handling the form fields. These in turn execute the Java class methods. Java class methods do not execute the "net" classes and so cannot communicate across the Internet.

Q3. What information, warning or error messages does VisibleKey produce?

VisibleKey produces no error messages. If an eavesdropper picked up an encrypted message and then tried to probe with various keys the less assistance provided by VisibleKey the better.

Q4. Can using some Email systems confuse VisibleKey's ability to reveal the secret text?

VisibleKey requires a single space character only between each word. Some Email clients add "line feed" or "carriage return" or other characters which need to be manually removed before decryption. On Windows machines "Notepad" can be used with "Edit,Word Wrap" disabled to remove the excess characters.

Q5. Can I use VisibleKey without accessing the Internet.?

VisibleKey can be used without accessing the Internet. The elements need to be downloaded to your local computer. Email us for more information.