CrypTool

CrypTool
CrypTool
	E-Learning Program for Cryptography
Developer(s)	Bernhard Esslinger
Initial release	1998; 27 years ago
Stable release	CT 1.4.42 (December 2021); CT 2.1 (release 2024.1) (January 2024); JCT 1.0.9 (September 2023)
Repository	github.com/jcryptool/core ;
Operating system	CT1 and CT2: Microsoft Windows,; JCT: Win, Linux and macOS
Type	Cryptography, Encryption, Privacy, E-Learning
License	Apache Licence 2.0
Website	www.cryptool.org

CrypTool is an open-source project^[1] that is a free e-learning software for illustrating cryptographic and cryptanalytic concepts.

History

The development of CrypTool started in 1998. Originally developed by German companies and universities, it is an open-source project since 2001.^[2]

Currently 4 versions of CrypTool are maintained and developed: CrypTool 1 (CT1), CrypTool 2 (CT2), JCrypTool (JCT), and CrypTool-Online (CTO). All are available in English and German.^[3]

The goal of the CrypTool project is to make users aware of how cryptography can help against network security threats and to explain the underlying concepts of cryptology.^[4]

The development of CT1 started in 1998. It is written in C++ and designed for the Microsoft Windows operating system.

In 2007, development began on two additional projects, both based on a pure-plugin architecture, to serve as successors to the original CT1 program:

CrypTool 2^[5]^[6]^[7] (built with C#/.NET/WPF) (abbreviated CT2)

uses the concept of visual programming to clarify cryptographic processes. Currently, CT2 contains more than 150 crypto functions.

JCrypTool 1.0^[8]^[9] (built with Java/Eclipse/RCP/SWT) (abbreviated JCT)

runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and offers both a document-centric and a function-centric perspective. Currently, JCT contains more than 100 crypto functions. One of its focal points are modern digital signatures (like Merkle trees and SPHINCS).

The browser software CrypTool-Online (CTO) has been in development since 2010 and is now the one most widely used.

Since 2023, the project has been managed by the CODE research institute at the Bundeswehr University Munich.^[10]

CrypTool is used in schools, universities,^[11] companies and agencies for education and awareness training.^[12]^[13]^[14]

References

^ Esslinger, Bernhard (22 September 2016). "CrypTool: An Open-Source E-Learning Project for Cryptography and Cryptanalysis" (PDF). Gesellschaft fuer Informatik, Crypto Day at SAP. This presentation delivers an overview. University of Siegen. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 January 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
^ Esslinger, Bernhard (23 April 2013). "CrypTool: Modern open-source e-learning programs for cryptography and cryptanalysis" (PDF). Forum for Research and Innovation in Security and Communications. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
^ "CT1 Downloads - CrypTool". www.cryptool.org. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
^ "CrypTool for Awareness". CrypTool Portal. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
^ "Thesis of Rachel J. McRae" (PDF).
^ CrypTool 2: Developer site of the CT2 project Besides release and beta versions, each day a so called "Nightly Build" is produced for download.
^ CrypTool 2: Facebook Site of the CT2 project
^ JCrypTool 1.0: GitHub project of JCT Beta versions are updated each weekend as so called "Weekly Builds" for download.
^ JCrypTool 1.0: Site of the JCT project
^ "Kryptografie-Lernsoftware CrypTool wird jetzt an der Bundeswehr-Uni in München weiterentwickelt". Secupedia. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
^ Adamovic, Sasa; Sarac, Marko; Veinovic, Mladen; Milosavljevic, Milan; Jevremovic, Aleksandar (2014). "An Interactive and Collaborative Approach to Teaching Cryptology". Educational Technology & Society. 17 (1): 197–205. JSTOR jeductechsoci.17.1.197.
^ "Winter School in Information Security. Overview presentation, Finse 1222, April 21-26, 2013". Forum for Research and Innovation in Security and Communications. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
^ Eckert, Claudia; Clausius, Thorsten; Esslinger, Bernd; Schneider, Jorg; Koy, Henrik. "CrypTool, 2003-08-07" (PDF). Technische Universitaet Darmstadt (FTP). Retrieved 26 September 2018.^{[dead ftp link]} (To view documents see Help:FTP)
^ Kopal, Nils. "Solving Classical Ciphers with CrypTool 2" (PDF). Linköping University Electronic Press. Retrieved 26 September 2018.