in reply to Encrypting data on shared disk - is it possible?

Sure! Your method will work just fine, and it's certainly reasonable considering your options.

But, you will want to find a clever way to store your data (away from the prying eyes of mere mortals). If a database (like MySQL) is available, then that would be my first choice. Have your "order retrieval" script be password protected too.

If that is not an option, you could certainly store your data using Storable. Save a hash of the records in a Storable file. That way no one can read your records as plain text.

Keep in mind that these aren't fool proof options. But, what is? :)
  • Comment on Re: Encrypting data on shared disk - is it possible?

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Re: Encrypting data on shared disk - is it possible?
by moodster (Hermit) on May 16, 2002 at 07:45 UTC
    If that is not an option, you could certainly store your data using Storable. Save a hash of the records in a Storable file. That way no one can read your records as plain text.
    Well, since hashing is usually a one-way operation, neither can you. :) Encryption is probably what you want in this case.

    I'd also like to offer my advice to the original poster, and that is to go with a standard encryption algorithm and not roll you own (see the comments for CipherText and CipherTextI for amusing reading on why encryption is hard to do by yourself). There are several good modules on CPAN: Crypt::Blowfish or Crypt::Twofish for example.

    /me recommends Applied Cryptography by Bruce Schneier

    Cheers,
    --Moodster

[reply]
[d/l]
      No, I mean hash like %hash, not like MD5. :) Just another way to store records if a database is not available.
[reply]
[d/l]

In Section Seekers of Perl Wisdom