Private Messages Enhancements - PMCrypt - Private Message Encryption

Keywords: Private, Message, PM, Encrypt, Encode, Security

Description:
Encrypts Private Messages within the MySQL database. Allows for on-the-fly decryption without the need for a shared key.


Details:
This hack will encrypt sent messages within your MySQL database. No longer will they be viewable in plaintext, thus affording your members a little more security with their private correspondance.

Please be aware that this is not a total security solution. This was devised with simplicity as well as security in mind -- such as that the encryption method used is NOT to be assumed "unbreakable" by any stretch of the imagination.

The messages are encrypted using a method developed and credited to AITOR SOLOZABAL MERIN by where text is encrypted/decrypted using a simple but powerful XOR method without a known key. Implicitly, the key is defined by the string itself in a character by character way. There are 4 items to compose the unknown key for the character in the algorithim:

1. The ascii code of every character of the string itself
2. The position in the string of the character to encrypt
3. The length of the string that include the character
4. Any special formula added by the programmer to the algorithm to calculate the key to use

This product does not explicitly rely on any vBulletin functions, thus there should not be any problems with future upgrades, etc.

This product was developed by request of FGENETICS and DOOGIE88.


Installation:
1. Download and import the product-pmcrypt1.1.0.xml file via the Product Manager.

2. Enable the product via the AdminCP (vBulletin Options > Private Message Encryption)

3. ???

4. Profit


Version History:
v1.0.0 - Initial Release
v1.0.1 - Fixed bug when replying to an encrypted message.
v1.1.0 - Fixed issue with reply and preview. Encapsulated encryption within base64_encode(); for storage. Smilies no longer run risk of breaking encryption.

* Once enabled, all PM's sent thereafter will be encrypted. This means that should you choose to disable and/or uninstall the product, said PM's will remain encrypted -- rendering them unreadable.

* Please note that this modification was developed on a forum with a userbase of 1 (myself). I've tested it for basic functionality but I cannot guarantee functionality or behavior on your forum. So, please -- make backups before installing this product!

[VIP Hawaii]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! IT WORKS!

Originally Posted by cclaerhout

Here is a fix working for me on vB 3.8.6.

Better to say it again : UPDATE your previous version with this one. DO NOT uninstall your previous version !




If someone finds a way to DECRYPT ALL the PM database, then it will be a pleasure for me to UNINSTALL this hack.