Cryptool

__NOTOC__Infobox_Software
name = CrypTool

caption = E-Learning-Programme for Cryptology


developer = Prof. Bernhard Esslinger, [http://www.TU-Darmstadt.de/ University of Darmstadt] [http://www.Uni-Siegen.de/ and Siegen]
latest_release_version = 1.4.21
latest_release_date = July 14, 2008
latest_preview_version = 2.0.xxxx Beta
latest_preview_date =
operating_system = Win 32
genre = Cryptology, Privacy, E-Learning
license = GPL
website = [http://www.cryptool.org/ www.cryptool.org]

CrypTool is a free software illustrating the cryptographic concepts. It is the world's most widespread e-learning software in the area of cryptology. A great number of analysis tools and algorithms are efficiently implemented. The graphical interface and the abundant online documentation allow the user, even a newbie, to be introduced to cryptography mysteries. The most classic mechanisms, as well as asymmetric cryptography RSA, elliptic curve cryptography, digital signatures or Diffie-Hellman key exchange, are explained by visual animations. It also contains a tutorial about primes and elementary number theory.

This software is developed in an open source project. Originally it was developed by German companies and universities. Its role is to make the users aware of network security threats and explain to them some of the underlying concepts. It is designed rather as an e-learning tool than as a programme to be used productively. The package is available in English, German, Polish and Spanish.

The current release version CrypTool 1.x is written in C++, and it runs only on the operating system Microsoft Windows. A port of CrypTool 1.x to Linux with Qt4 just started. Additionally two new sub projects are running since 2007 to develop the new designed successors in a pure-plugin architecture: CrypTool 2.0 using C#/.NET/WPF ( [http://cryptool2.vs.uni-due.de] developer site) and JCrypTool 1.0 using Java/Eclipse/RCP/SWT ( [http://sourceforge.net/projects/jcryptool/] the according SourceForge project).

CrypTool received international awards as an educational software (TeleTrusT Special Award 2004, EISA 2004, IT Security Award NRW 2004, Selected Landmark in the Land of Ideas 2008).

The whole package is downloaded approximately 3000 times a month (about 1/3 of it in English).It is used in schools, universities, companies and agencies for education and awareness training.

The development of CrypTool started in 1998. Current version is 1.4.21 which was released in July 2008.

ee also

*Asymmetric key algorithm
*Cryptosystem

External links

* [http://www.cryptool.org/ www.cryptool.org] The official site
* [http://cryptool2.vs.uni-due.de Developer page of the CrypTool 2.0 project]
* [http://sourceforge.net/projects/jcryptool/ SourceForge Project for JCrypTool 1.0]
* [http://www.cryptoolinux.net CrypTooLinux project porting CT 1.x to Linux]
* [http://www.cryptool.org/download/CrypToolPresentation-en-1_4_21.pdf CrypTool presentation] with around 100 slides and many screeshots giving an overview over the CrypTool project and CrypTool's features.