DEVELOPMENT OF A SECURE FILE SHARING APPLICATION USING BASIC ENCRYPTION TECHNIQUES FOR EDO STATE UNIVERSITY IYAMHO

In an era where digital file sharing is integral to personal and professional communication, ensuring data security remains a critical challenge. This project presents the development of a secure file-sharing application designed to address vulnerabilities in existing platforms by integrating lightweight encryption, intuitive user interfaces, and robust access control mechanisms. Targeted at individual users and small to medium enterprises, the application employs symmetric encryption techniques, such as AES-128, to safeguard data confidentiality and integrity during transmission and storage. A user-friendly interface enhances accessibility for non-technical users, while role-based access control ensures authorized access to shared files. The system supports both peer-to-peer and cloud-based sharing models, with client-side encryption and decryption to maximize privacy. Developed using a prototype methodology, the application incorporates iterative user feedback to optimize usability and security. By offering an open-source, cost-effective alternative to commercial solutions, this project contributes to information security research and promotes secure data exchange practices, particularly in resource-constrained environments like Nigeria. The implementation demonstrates the efficacy of lightweight encryption in consumer applications, fostering compliance with data protection standards and empowering users to share files securely