ByteCrypt

The Project

ByteCrypt is a C-based project that encrypts and decrypts files using direct bit-level manipulation. It works by reading binary data in chunks and applying XOR-based transformations with a key generated from a user-provided password. The process is fully reversible, allowing the same mechanism to both encrypt and decrypt files efficiently. The inspiration behind ByteCrypt was to build a lightweight and accessible file protection tool without relying on heavy external libraries or complex cryptographic systems. I wanted to explore how much could be achieved using core C concepts like file handling, buffers, and bitwise operations, while still creating something practical. One of the main challenges was designing a way to generate a consistent key from a text-based password that was simple yet effective. After exploring different approaches, I implemented the Daniel J. Bernstein (DJB) rolling hash algorithm to derive keys, as it provided a good balance between simplicity and reliability for this project.

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