{{Short description|Software for illustrating cryptographic and cryptanalytic concepts}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} {{Infobox software | name = CrypTool
| screenshot = Ct 1.4.30 en.png<!-- Image name is enough --> | caption = E-Learning Program for Cryptography | screenshot alt = | collapsible = | author = | developer = Bernhard Esslinger | released = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1998}} | discontinued = | latest release version = CT 1.4.42 (December 2021)<br /> CT 2.1 (release 2024.1) (January 2024)<!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} --><br /> JCT 1.0.9 (September 2023) | latest release date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} --> | latest preview version = <!-- comment CT 1.4.31 Beta 6b (October 2013)<br /> --> <!-- comment CT 2.1 (2018.2 Beta) (March 2018)<br /> -->| latest preview date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} --> | programming language = | operating system = CT1 and CT2: Microsoft Windows,<br />JCT: Win, Linux and macOS | platform = | size = | language = | language count = <!-- Number only --> | language footnote = | genre = Cryptography, Encryption, Privacy, E-Learning | license = Apache Licence 2.0 | alexa = | website = {{URL|www.cryptool.org}} | standard = | AsOf = }} '''CrypTool''' is an open-source project<ref>{{cite web |last1=Esslinger |first1=Bernhard |title=CrypTool: An Open-Source E-Learning Project for Cryptography and Cryptanalysis |website=Gesellschaft fuer Informatik, Crypto Day at SAP. This presentation delivers an overview. |url=http://fg-krypto.gi.de/fileadmin/fg-krypto/CrypTool-Project_Crypto_Day_Walldorf_2016-09_v09.pdf |publisher=University of Siegen |accessdate=26 September 2018 |date=22 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108175506/http://fg-krypto.gi.de/fileadmin/fg-krypto/CrypTool-Project_Crypto_Day_Walldorf_2016-09_v09.pdf |archive-date=8 January 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> that is a free e-learning software for illustrating cryptographic and cryptanalytic concepts.
== History == The development of CrypTool started in 1998. Originally developed by German companies and universities, it is an open-source project since 2001.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Esslinger |first1=Bernhard |title=CrypTool: Modern open-source e-learning programs for cryptography and cryptanalysis |url=https://www.frisc.no/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/finse2013-esslinger.pdf |website=Forum for Research and Innovation in Security and Communications |accessdate=26 September 2018 |date=23 April 2013}}</ref>
Currently 4 versions of CrypTool are maintained and developed: CrypTool 1 (CT1), CrypTool 2 (CT2), JCrypTool (JCT), and CrypTool-Online (CTO). All are available in English and German.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CT1 Downloads - CrypTool |url=https://www.cryptool.org/en/ct1/downloads/ |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=www.cryptool.org}}</ref>
The goal of the CrypTool project is to make users aware of how cryptography can help against network security threats and to explain the underlying concepts of cryptology.<ref>{{cite web |title=CrypTool for Awareness |website=CrypTool Portal |url=https://www.cryptool.org/en/ctp-education/awareness |accessdate=26 September 2018}}</ref>
The development of CT1 started in 1998. It is written in C++ and designed for the Microsoft Windows operating system.
In 2007, development began on two additional projects, both based on a pure-plugin architecture, to serve as successors to the original CT1 program:
* '''CrypTool 2'''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Thesis of Rachel J. McRae|url=https://local.cis.strath.ac.uk/wp/extras/msctheses/papers/strath_cis_publication_2747.pdf}}</ref><ref>CrypTool 2: ''[https://www.cryptool.org/trac/CrypTool2/wiki/WikiStart Developer site of the CT2 project]'' Besides release and beta versions, each day a so called "Nightly Build" is produced for download.</ref><ref>CrypTool 2: ''[https://www.facebook.com/CrypTool2 Facebook Site of the CT2 project]''</ref> (built with C#/.NET/WPF) (abbreviated CT2) :uses the concept of visual programming to clarify cryptographic processes. Currently, CT2 contains more than 150 crypto functions. 265px|Brute-force attack on a reduced version of AES in CrypTool 2
* '''JCrypTool 1.0'''<ref>JCrypTool 1.0: ''[https://github.com/jcryptool GitHub project of JCT]'' Beta versions are updated each weekend as so called "Weekly Builds" for download.</ref><ref>JCrypTool 1.0: ''[http://www.cryptool.org/en/jcryptool Site of the JCT project]''</ref> (built with Java/Eclipse/RCP/SWT) (abbreviated JCT) :runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and offers both a document-centric and a function-centric perspective. Currently, JCT contains more than 100 crypto functions. One of its focal points are modern digital signatures (like Merkle trees and SPHINCS).
The browser software CrypTool-Online (CTO) has been in development since 2010 and is now the one most widely used.
Since 2023, the project has been managed by the CODE research institute at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kryptografie-Lernsoftware CrypTool wird jetzt an der Bundeswehr-Uni in München weiterentwickelt |url=https://www.secupedia.de/news/kryptografie-lernsoftware-cryptool-wird-jetzt-an-der-bundeswehr-uni-in-muenchen-weiterentwickelt/ |access-date=29 August 2024 |website=Secupedia|date=8 May 2023 }}</ref>
CrypTool is used in schools, universities,<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Sasa |last1=Adamovic |first2=Marko |last2=Sarac |first3=Mladen |last3=Veinovic |first4=Milan |last4=Milosavljevic |first5=Aleksandar |last5=Jevremovic |title=An Interactive and Collaborative Approach to Teaching Cryptology |journal=Educational Technology & Society |year=2014 |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=197–205 |jstor=jeductechsoci.17.1.197}}</ref> companies and agencies for education and awareness training.<ref>{{cite web |title=Winter School in Information Security. Overview presentation, Finse 1222, April 21-26, 2013 |url=http://www.frisc.no/arrangementer/finse-winter-school-2013/ |website=Forum for Research and Innovation in Security and Communications |accessdate=26 September 2018 |date=6 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite FTP |last1=Eckert |first1=Claudia |author1-link=Claudia Eckert (computer scientist)|last2=Clausius |first2=Thorsten |last3=Esslinger |first3=Bernd |last4=Schneider |first4=Jorg |last5=Koy |first5=Henrik |title=CrypTool, 2003-08-07 |url=ftp://ftp.etech.haw-hamburg.de/pub/Cryptool/CrypToolPresentation_1_3_05_en.pdf |server=Technische Universitaet Darmstadt |url-status=dead |accessdate=26 September 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kopal |first1=Nils |title=Solving Classical Ciphers with CrypTool 2 |url=http://www.ep.liu.se/ecp/149/010/ecp18149010.pdf |website=Linköping University Electronic Press |accessdate=26 September 2018}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
*Asymmetric key algorithm *Topics in cryptography *Cryptosystem
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{official website|http://www.cryptool.org/}} * [https://www.cryptool.org/en/cto/ CrypTool-Online (CTO)] * [https://mysterytwister.org/ International Cipher Contest "MysteryTwister" (MTW)] * [https://www.cryptool.org/media/presentations/cryptool1-presentation-english.pdf Presentation about the CrypTool-1 program] with more than 100 slides and many screenshots
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Category:1998 software Category:Free educational software Category:Cryptographic software Category:Free software programmed in C++ Category:Free software programmed in Java Category:Free software programmed in C Sharp Category:Windows-only free software Category:Cryptography contests Category:Cryptologic education Category:Software using the Apache license <!-- # The CrypTool subproject MysteryTwister is a bi-lingual crypto contest. -->