Unable to use the -k key option on windows

[multibobwork]

Hi,
I have created a secret key and encrypted the file with the key on linux machine.I then tried to decrypt the file on the same machine using this secret key with the below command .The decryption is working fine.

aescrypt -d -k secret.key /home/myhome/encryption_test/test_file.aes

However when I tried to copy these files on to my windows machine and try to decrypt the file using the secret key,its throwing an error that ‘-k is an illegal option’.

aescrypt -d -k secret.key test_file.aes

aescrypt: illegal option -- k
Error: Unknown option '?'
Enter password:

I know the key generation is only on Linux/UNIX but why can't I use the key option on Windows.

Regards,

- multibob

[paulej]

The Windows command-line version still does not have support for the -k switch. This is planned, but just has not been implemented, yet.

[multibobwork]

Hi,

We want to use AES Crypt on all plaforms so it would be really helpful to do this on Windows. Since the code is there on UNIX it should not be that hard you may also want to port the keygen. But first make windows use the -K. I do not like PBE (Password Based Encryption). Since the person is using a password to create the key. Any suggestion until -K is done. Can I translate the generated key into HEX characters that can be consumed by the password parmeter at least it is generated and stronger.

Regards,

- Bob

[paulej]

The "key" and "password" are actually the same thing. The only difference is that -p puts the password on the command line and -k pulls the password from a file. The contents of the key files can be put on the windows command line using -p.