Tackling Insurgency Using Cryptography

Computer Science Project Material with Source Code Included

Abstract

This research involves addressing insurgency by implementing cryptography techniques to secure sensitive information and to prevent unauthorised access, to confidential communication. This study aims to design and implement a computer based cryptographic system that can encrypt and decrypt secret messages and help to secure information against insurgents and other unauthorized users. To ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and security of data, the proposed system uses password-based authentication and Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA-256). The goals of the study are to prevent insurgents from intercepting secret messages, to keep classified information out of the hands of unauthorized persons and to protect information that is important to the nation. The system has been designed following Object Oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD) methodology and front-end of the designed system was implemented using Java programming language and MySQL was used as a database management system. The application works as a desktop application, allowing users to establish communication channels with other users, encrypt messages prior to sending and decrypt messages when they are received. The study analysed the pros and cons of current cryptographic systems and came up with a better solution that has better login security and message protection properties. The sources of data for the research were observed, Internet and library research. The system was tested experimentally and found to effectively encrypt and decrypt messages, which helps to minimise chances of information leakage and unauthorized monitoring by insurgents. Based on the findings of the research, it is concluded that cryptography has a great contribution in improving national security by protecting communication networks and sensitive information. The study thus calls on the governments, military and security sectors to adopt cryptographic mechanisms as a viable mechanism to fight insurgency and enhance information security.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.0 Background of the Study

Communication is an essential key during military conflict. Information concerning the status of their adversary is of great demand and is been passed across either by cell phone, e-mail, fax and etc. This information can be accessed by insurgents if not secured and the country’s information can be exposed. Therefore, information security is of great importance to prevent loss of useful information.

Insurgency can be defined as a rebellious movement against an existing government with the aim of overthrowing the government through the use of subversion and armed conflict. One major way insurgents penetrate into a country is by gathering information therefore to tackle insurgency; information has to be secured through the use of cryptography. This method has been used to secure communications over the years.

Cryptography is the science of encrypting secret messages and transmitting the message from a sender to the receiver. The sent message can only be decoded by the receiver who has access to the software and must also know the password and encryption key to ensure high rate of security.

1.1 Statement of the Problem

Insurgency has really caused destruction, poverty and many individuals have lost their life during this period. Insurgency has become the order of the day; people no longer live peacefully in their homes as a result of fear. In recent time, technologies has grown wide, information can be accessed by different people anywhere and at anytime.

One major challenge in our present world is that communications are not secured. If an attempt is made to transmit a message over a public or private channel and it gets to a wrong hand (an adversary: someone who sees all communications occurring on the channel.) the message would be exposed, tampered with or lost.

Therefore the use of cryptography is a very important issue in this present time to avoid data lost and access by other people.

1.2 Motivation of the Study

Insurgency has brought about destruction, poverty and has endangered so many people’s lives. One major way insurgents penetrate into a country is by gathering essential information about the country before setting their operations. They gather information so as to know how and when to push through with their plans.

Insurgency has really caused hazard and fear amongst every citizen in the country: which is actually the motivation behind this study.

1.3 Aim and Objectives

The aim of this work is to develop a system which is responsible for encoding and decoding secret messages against insurgents. The system will be developed in such a way that only the user can have access to it and this will be done by the use of a password to ensure high rate of security.

Its objectives include;

To Prevent insurgents from monitoring secret messages in a country
To secure information from access.
To prevent insurgents from having access to essential information about a country.

1.4 Significance of the Study

The primary goal of this work is to encrypt user’s data and provide a security mechanism. Therefore the significant of this study includes:

To develop a system that will serve as a means of sending information and secured.
The developed system will help the armed-force send secret messages.
The system will also be used to hide useful data.
This method of sending secret messages will help tackle the fear of insurgents.

1.5 Scope of the Study

This work is basically concerned with the tackling of insurgency by securing information through the use of cryptography. It focuses on data secrecy and integrity, which is to ensure that only those authorized will have access to it.

This work does not go deeply into discussing how insurgents operate in a country. The system will be designed using hash function SHA 256.

1.6 Definition of Terms

Adversary:

An opponent.

Conflict:

A violent situation between different people.

Decryption:

To change information that is in code into ordinary language so that it can be understood by anyone.

Encryption:

To put information into a special code especially in order to prevent people from looking at it without authority.

Information:

A comprehensive detail about something.

Insurgents:

Group of people rising against an authority.

Integrity:

Maintaining and assuring that data can only be modified by those authorized to do that.

Password:

A confidential word or phrase.

Rebellious:

To oppose to the government of a country.

Secrecy:

Making sure that nothing is known about something that is being secret.

Security:

The act of protecting a country or something from people.

Subversion:

An act of attacking the authority of a system secretly or indirectly.

Tackling:

A process of dealing with a difficult problem or situation.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Summary

This research work presents a comparative study of how insurgency can be tackled using cryptography technology; it is modeled and implemented using a desktop application (java as the front-end and MySQL database as the back-end). Traditionally, resources reside on the user’s hardware layer. With the technology of cryptography, information can be encrypted and decrypted to enhance security and prevent insurgents from monitoring the communication network of a country.

The first chapter introduced the work, highlighting the basics of what the project is about and the second chapter reviews the related concepts entailed in the work. In chapter three, the experimental design and implementation of the proposed system were given to give readers the basic knowledge of the working mechanism. The fourth chapter was on the actual result obtained after developing the system.

5.2 Conclusion

A cryptography system is designed which hides information to enhance security. The importance of a cryptography system in the era of a globalized e-generation world cannot be overemphasized especially where the need for an on-demand selfless service, resource pooling, unlimited and rapid access to data in organizations, institutions, government etc… is a pertinent priority. Therefore, it is important that cryptography is adopted by government, organizations, to help tackle the problems of insurgency.