Yeah, I was inspired by self-extracting archives. I wanted to share files with basically no dependencies.
The goal was:
1. Something that didn't require any installation (assuming a web browser)
2. Have a single file with no network that could self-decrypt
3. Be fully auditable
The second point is done by having (sort of(*)) reproducible builds and embedded OpenPGP signatures.
The first point is made by cleverly manipulating the HTML structure so that it can decrypt without breaking the PGP signature. It can even decrypt using bare openssl (which was a design goal too, though getting the exact structure right took some work and bug reports).
The third point is accomplished by the first two, and by the source being freely available.
cool project!
also does everyone have to enable js to vote, or did i troll too hard? (sorry!)
I assume the "air gapped" part is merely indicating no internet required?
Offline would be a better word.
Self-decrypting HTML? That's an innovative approach.
Yeah, I was inspired by self-extracting archives. I wanted to share files with basically no dependencies.
The goal was:
1. Something that didn't require any installation (assuming a web browser)
2. Have a single file with no network that could self-decrypt
3. Be fully auditable
The second point is done by having (sort of(*)) reproducible builds and embedded OpenPGP signatures.
The first point is made by cleverly manipulating the HTML structure so that it can decrypt without breaking the PGP signature. It can even decrypt using bare openssl (which was a design goal too, though getting the exact structure right took some work and bug reports).
The third point is accomplished by the first two, and by the source being freely available.
(*) Depends on the OS at the moment.
I'm going to move this description to the top and re-up the post - I hope that's ok!
Somebody already has copied this innovative approach and travelled to past apparently: https://acme.com/software/securepage/
Methods like these go way further back than 2010... I recall one that had a reward promised if you could break it.
EDIT: Here's a patent from 2006 [0]
[0] https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloa...
Cool!
Maybe this is the source?
https://github.com/ApelegHQ/ts-cms-ep-sfx
Added above. Thanks!
Correct