Programming + Cybersecurity
Make a file encryption tool
Encrypt and decrypt files with a password using a well-tested library.
- DifficultyIntermediate
- Estimated time2–7 days
- Budget₹0
- ClassClass 11 to college
- TeamSolo
- You needComputer only
Prerequisites: None beyond your class work
Original · by TechnifyedSoftware ProjectFree to doComputer onlyTwo subjects
Overview
Encrypt and decrypt files with a password using a well-tested library.
Skills you will use
Safety
- Practise only on your own devices, accounts and networks, or on labs made for training. Testing systems you do not own without written permission is illegal.
Materials and tools
- Computer with Python 3 and the cryptography package
Tools and software
Step-by-step roadmap
Start
You will finish with: a command-line tool that encrypts and decrypts files safely.
- 1
Prerequisites
Nothing special to know first. Then collect the 1 item in the materials list.
- 2
Learn
Read up on python: AES, encryption, passwords. Your textbook chapter and one short video are enough.
- 3
Plan
List the features for version one, sketch the screens or data flow and pick the tools. Keep the first version small.
- 4
Build
- Derive a key from the password with a slow key-derivation function and a random salt.
- Encrypt the file with an authenticated cipher.
- Store the salt and nonce with the file.
- Decrypt and verify, failing clearly on a wrong password.
- Explain why you never write your own cipher.
- 5
Test
Try it with wrong, empty and unusual input, and ask someone else to use it without your help.
- 6
Document
Write a README: what it does, how to run it, screenshots and what you learned. Report structure
- 7
Present
Show a live demo of one complete task, then the design and the hardest problem you solved. Presentation structure
- 8
Publish
Put the code on GitHub with the README and, if you can, deploy a live demo.
Expected outcome
A command-line tool that encrypts and decrypts files safely.
Other versions of this project
Advanced version
Add a simple window and secure deletion of the original.
Ways to do this project
Text marked "You write this" is a prompt for your own work; everything else is specific to this project.
Use this as the outline of your README or case study.
- Problem
- You write thisThe problem in one or two sentences.
- Why it matters
- You write thisWho has this problem and what it costs them.
- What was built
- A command-line tool that encrypts and decrypts files safely.
- Technology
- Python
- Architecture
- You write thisOne diagram: the parts and how data moves between them.
- Implementation
- You write thisThe 5 build steps in your own words, with one code or design decision you are proud of.
- Challenges
- You write thisThe hardest bug or decision, and how you got past it.
- Results
- You write thisNumbers: accuracy, speed, users, survey answers.
- Demo and code
- You write thisA link to a live demo or a short video, and to the GitHub repository.
- Lessons learned
- You write thisWhat you would do differently next time.
- Future improvements
- Add a simple window and secure deletion of the original.
- Problem
- Encrypt and decrypt files with a password using a well-tested library.
- Target user
- You write thisOne specific person: who they are and when they would use this.
- Solution
- Encrypt and decrypt files with a password using a well-tested library.
- First version (MVP)
- You write thisThe smallest version that shows the idea working once, end to end.
- Tech stack
- Python
- Architecture
- You write thisA quick sketch of the parts and how they connect.
- Demo
- You write thisThe one scenario you will show live, start to finish, in under two minutes.
- Stretch goals
- Add a simple window and secure deletion of the original.
Team roles
Plan by length
24-hour
- Hours 0–2: agree the problem, the user and the one thing the demo must show
- Hours 2–16: build only the first version
- Hours 16–20: test the demo path end to end and fix what breaks
- Hours 20–24: slides, a 2-minute demo script and a backup recording
48-hour
- Evening 1: problem, user, sketch and task split
- Day 1: first version working end to end
- Day 2 morning: one stretch goal and testing
- Day 2 afternoon: polish, slides and demo practice
1-week
- Day 1: research the problem and talk to two possible users
- Days 2–4: first version
- Day 5: stretch goals
- Day 6: testing and write-up
- Day 7: demo video and presentation
Report and presentation
Report structure
- Title and summary
- Problem and target user
- Features
- Tools and technology
- Design: architecture, data model or screens
- Implementation
- Testing
- Results and screenshots
- Challenges
- Future improvements
- References
Presentation structure
- The problem
- Who it is for
- Live demo
- How it is built (one diagram)
- The hardest part
- Testing and results
- What you learned
- What comes next
Viva questions
Prepare your own answers to these before you present.
- What is the aim of your project, in one sentence?
- What is the principle behind it?
- Why did you choose these materials or tools?
- What result did you get, and was it what you expected?
- What went wrong and how did you fix it?
- How could this be improved or used in real life?
Resources
CS50's Introduction to Programming with Python (CS50P) 2022Harvard University · Free video course
Python for Data ScienceIBM · Free course course
MIT 6.100L Introduction to CS and Programming using Python, Fall 2022Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Free video coursePython documentationdocs.python.orgfreeCodeCampfreecodecamp.orgGitHub Docs: get starteddocs.github.comSource and attribution
Original
Written by Technifyed. Free to use for your own school or college project; write the report in your own words. Added 1 Oct 2026.
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