Standard encrypted file format?

Hi, folks,

I'm given to understand that, when encrypting a file, it can be useful
to specify a format for the encrypted file which includes headers and
checksums, etc., as well as the encrypted data itself. This allows the
tool decrypting the file to verify, for example, that the password used
for decryption is the same as that used to encrypt the file.

This also, unfortunately, means that two different tools may not
encrypt/decrypt the same file, encrypted with the same algorithm and
password, the same way.

I've seen two examples for such file formats on the web:
http://fp.gladman.plus.com/cryptogra...y/fileencrypt/
http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache...n&ct=clnk&cd=2

But I was wondering: is there a standard format? Or even a, "Most
commonly used," format?

Thanks,

..ed

www.EdmundKirwan.com wrote:
> Hi, folks,
>
> I'm given to understand that, when encrypting a file, it can be useful
> to specify a format for the encrypted file which includes headers and
> checksums, etc., as well as the encrypted data itself. This allows the
> tool decrypting the file to verify, for example, that the password used
> for decryption is the same as that used to encrypt the file.
>
I don't know about standards here. If your making a new app with a new
file format, then you get to use whatever makes sense for you. If your
want others to adopt your product then you should consider using an
existing documented format (ZIP, OpenPGP). For a new implementation, I
personally would look at using an XML file format since that seems to be
the safest direction for application interoperability.

dMn

Sebastian Gottschalk wrote:
> Yes, you really don't know much about standards. But it seems like you
> believe that technology is a panacea, and that XML would automatically
> imply interoperability.

Ouch. With that level of inaccuracy on every point, I hope you don't
rely heavily on your ability to make conclusions. But I would be glad
to clarify any point if you have a question, which I presume you don't.

dMn