1. User Registration & Face Enrollment
To start using FaceVault, you need to create an account and enroll your face data.
- Navigate to the registration page.
- Enter your desired username and password.
- Face Enrollment: The system will prompt you to enable your camera. Follow the on-screen
instructions to capture your face from different angles. This creates a unique biometric template for
your account.
Privacy Note: Your raw face images are never stored or sent to the server.
Only a mathematical representation (descriptor) is stored locally on your device.
2. Logging In
Logging in requires two factors: your password and your face.
- Enter your username and password.
- Face Verification: The system will activate your camera to verify your identity. This
unlocks your private encryption key stored on your device.
3. Encrypting & Uploading Files
Once logged in, you can securely store files.
- Click on the "Upload" button.
- Select a file from your computer.
- The file is encrypted locally using a random AES key.
- The AES key is encrypted with your public key.
- The encrypted file and key are sent to the server.
4. Decrypting & Downloading Files
To retrieve your files:
- Click the "Download" or "Decrypt" button next to a file.
- The server sends the encrypted file and key to your browser.
- Face Authentication: You may be asked to verify your face again to unlock your private
key.
- Your private key decrypts the file's AES key.
- The AES key decrypts the file content, and the download begins.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Camera Access Denied
If the application cannot access your camera:
- Ensure you have granted camera permissions to the browser.
- Check if another application is using the camera.
- Reload the page and try again.
Decryption Failed
If decryption fails, it might be because:
- You are trying to access the file from a different device where your face data/private key is not
stored.
- The face verification failed (try better lighting).