The problem Decent - A Web based Cryptographic Extension solves

Many messaging apps boast "end-to-end encryption," which scrambles messages for the user and the recipient only. Such types of encryption protect against Man-in-the-Middle Attacks. However, this doesn't guarantee complete privacy. Big data companies often hold both encryption and decryption keys which could enable them to potentially access user’s messages under certain circumstances. So, our chrome-based extension : Decent, aims to address this by using a decentralized encryption method. This approach puts the user in control of the keys, giving them greater privacy and making it harder for any one entity to acess the user's data ensuring complete privacy.

Challenges we ran into

During the implementation of our encryption tool, we encountered a specific challenge related to injecting JavaScript to encrypt the message before sending. This posed a hurdle as it impacted our ability to seamlessly integrate encryption into the communication process.

The main issue stemmed from difficulties in programmatically intercepting and encrypting the message content before it was transmitted from the browser. This challenge was compounded by the need to ensure that the encryption process was robust and resistant to potential security vulnerabilities.

To overcome this challenge, we had to explore alternative approaches to intercepting and encrypting the message content within the browser environment. We experimented with different injection techniques and encryption libraries, seeking a solution that met our security and usability requirements.

After conducting thorough tests and making iterative adjustments, we devised a solution that utilized browser extensions and native JavaScript APIs to intercept and encrypt message content before it was sent. By employing this method, we seamlessly integrated encryption into the communication process while fortifying security measures against potential threats.

Through perseverance and innovation, we overcame this challenge and delivered a robust encryption tool that empowers users to communicate securely and confidently in today's digital landscape.