Encryption

SoftwareShield System Feature Guide > IronWrapping > IronWrap Protection > Encryption

## Encryption

You may choose in a variety of locations to use encryption. You may encrypt the host, you may encrypt embedded binary files and you may encrypt embedded data files. You may choose different encryption algorithms and keys for each of these elements. The main benefit of encryption is to make the IronWrapped product impossible to use without the appropriate key being used first to decrypt the image. This substantially enhances the protection of your product.

### Test Platform

- Platform: WinXP SP2
- CPU: Celeron 2.8G
- RAM: 1GB

### Encryption Algorithms

If you choose to use encryption, you may use any of the installed encryption algorithms. You may even install your own encryption algorithm into the DRM Kit as a plug-in (see Add Cryptor for more information on installing encryption algorithms). The encryption algorithms installed by default are:

Name | Encryption Speed (KB/S) | Decryption Speed (KB/S) | Max Key Length
BLOWFISH | 41639 | 28218 | 448
TWOFISH | 43774 | 34929 | 256
SKIPJACK | 6288 | 6199 | 80
RC2 | 10661 | 10796 | 1024
SERPENT | 10401 | 10169 | 256

* Speeds provided are a sample only as tested from a number of programs and may not be representative of your binaries and data files speeds.

So, when deciding which encryption algorithm to use, in general it is a matter of personal preference. All of the algorithms provided are exceptionally strong.

### Encryption Keys

The encryption key you enter into any of the "Key" fields where you choose to encrypt the host or embedded files is really an encryption "password". This string may be on any length because it is used as the input to a hash algorithm which in turn generates the true encryption key of the correct length used by the algorithm. In many cases, the encryption password is not stored in its entirety in the distribution and the full key can only be obtained by performing a code exchange which unlocks that element in your protected program.

### More Information

For more information on how to set compression for the host file, see: IronWrap Host Tab

For more information on how to set compression for embedded data files, see: Embed Data File

For more information on how to set compression for embedded binary files, see: Embed Binary File

For more information on installing your own compression algorithm into the DRM Kit as a plug-in see: Add Compressor