Paperbak, Paper Backups
a year ago
- #encryption
- #data-backup
- #open-source
- PaperBack v1.10 introduces key improvements over v1.00, including proper AES encryption with key stretching and a switch from ECB to CBC mode for better security.
- AES key length is now selectable in the software, with a recommendation against using AES-256 due to its substandard key schedule.
- The software allows backing up files on paper as oversized bitmaps, with a capacity of up to 3MB per page when using compression.
- PaperBack is free, open-source software released under the GNU GPL v3, encouraging modifications and improvements by users.
- Installation is straightforward, requiring no formal setup—just copying the software to a directory with unrestricted write access.
- Setup involves configuring dot density, compression, redundancy, and encryption settings to optimize data storage and recovery.
- Data restoration requires a scanner with at least 900 dpi physical resolution and supports TWAIN interface and uncompressed bitmaps.
- The software uses Reed-Solomon error correction to restore partially damaged data, enhancing reliability.
- PaperBack was inspired by a practical question about data density on paper and developed as a proof of concept over a few weeks.
- The project acknowledges contributions from Phil Karn for Reed-Solomon code, Christophe Devine for AES encryption, and Julian R. Seward for bzip2 compression.