Which encryption object do you recommend?...

[RGBreality]

Hey, folks!

I have set up a screensaver/game in which I download and upload a high scores list to and from an FTP server, so that these high scores can be used globally.

One thing I'd like to do is encrypt the INI file which is used to handle the high scores. I'd like to encrypt it on the FTP server as well as on the local computer in which the screensaver/game is installed, so that no one can tamper with the scores and attempt to upload a bogus INI file.

Which encryption object (that comes with MMF2 Developer) do you recommend? Do you use one in which you create a separate key (which is imported from a file location), or do you recommend one in which the key is generated by the application itself? Obviously, the same key would need to be used both to decrypt and encrypt the same file.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

Thank you very much in advance!


Most appreciatively...

RGBreality

[Dynasoft]

FTP is wrong for this, replacing the whole scores file is not what you want...

You need something that only allows adding scores. What's wrong with the easy online highscores tutorial?

[RickyRombo]

I'd like to say you're going about this very wrong, and after I say that I'll recommend the AES Fusion object if you still insist on doing this (which I hope you don't)

[RGBreality]

Hey, folks!

Thank you for your feedback. I'm definitely not married to this approach in setting up an worldwide high score function.

I am not able to use the Easy 1-2-3 tutorial because I can't successfully get PHP installed on the computer which will host the high scores. The computer is pretty wacked and is known to have problems; ideally it needs to be rebuilt. But since I'm doing this for my company and the IT department doesn't have the resources presently to rebuild said computer, I'm left to plan something else.

I have have a mySQL database set up to use; however, without being able to access it remotely, I was left to think of something else.

I am not familiar with the AES Fusion object. What does that do? I'll have to go look for it.

Like I said, I am grateful for the feedback. I'm still a novice with MMF2, so I am definitely open to suggestions by more experienced developers!

EDIT: So, I've installed the AES Fusion object. I see that the only action is has is to create an encryption key. Once I've created a key, how does the AES Fusion object work? (Most encryption tools I've used use the key to encrypt decrypt a file.)

Most sincerely...

RGBreality

[Dynasoft]

I believe it's encrypt/decrypt functions are expressions, not actions, that's why you can't find them

It's still wrong to use FTP though, one error in transfer from one user and all highscores will be trashed.

[RGBreality]

Hey, Dynasoft!

It would be idea if I could use some sort of database, as I have three variables which I need to keep track of in the high scores (player name, score, and "shot to hit ratio"). So, I can't use a standard High Score object, nor use one from Lacewing.

If I were to not use an INI file to save high scores on a trashy computer in which PHP can't be installed properly, do you have any other suggestions in how I can maintain universal high scores?

Thank you for your help!


Most sincerely...

RGBreality

[Jeff]

What about using PHP/mySQL on a free or cheap server?
Its really the way to do online high scores.

If your planning to use the FTP object the biggest problems I see are
-- People will sniff out your FTP password and hack your server
-- What if your game gets popular and many people are trying to upload and download the file at the same time?

So I would spend $4 a month or use one of the free hosts to host your database.

[DavidN]

What is installed on the computer that's going to be hosting the high scores? PHP isn't the only method (though it's a convenient one) - any other server-side language that can interact with mySQL should be able to do it.

[RGBreality]

Hey, Jeff and DavidN!

Thanks for the suggestion Jeff. I'll have to discuss it with "the powers that be." Since this screensaver/game is for a Marketing effort, it would be "powers beyond me" that could and would decide whether to use another ISP to host high scores. While Marketing has been open to developing a screensaver/game to promote our company branding (and have people who have never heard of our company get some familiarity with it through the screensaver), I don't think they would be open to spending much money "just to have a world-wide high scoring system."

As far as what's on that computer, I do have mySQL already set up with a database. Beyond MMF2, I am not a developer, so I can't code. If there are any free/open-source tools which I could use to help my effort (or anything built into MMF2), I'm definitely open to such ideas.


RGBreality

[James]

As I said in one of your other topics, you could use the Lacewing Server object in an MMF2 server application, and save the scores in whatever format you want.

You could even use the new Lacewing Webserver object and the Get object as the client.