How can I decrypt files using Python?

How can I decrypt files using Python?

You can use libraries like cryptography or PyCrypto to decrypt files in Python. Do you have a specific encryption method in mind?

I'm using AES encryption. Can you show me an example?

Sure! Here's a simple example using the cryptography library:

from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.ciphers import Cipher, algorithms, modes
from cryptography.hazmat.backends import default_backend

key = b'your-16-byte-key'
iv = b'your-16-byte-iv'

cipher = Cipher(algorithms.AES(key), modes.CBC(iv), backend=default_backend())
decoder = cipher.decryptor()

with open('encrypted_file.bin', 'rb') as f:
    encrypted_data = f.read()

decrypted_data = decoder.update(encrypted_data) + decoder.finalize()

with open('decrypted_file.txt', 'wb') as f:
    f.write(decrypted_data)

Make sure to replace the key and IV with your own values.

What if I don't know the key?

If you don't know the key, decrypting the file is nearly impossible without brute-forcing it, which can be very time-consuming and may not be feasible depending on the key length.

Are there any security risks I should be aware of?

Yes, always ensure that your keys are stored securely and never hard-coded in your scripts. Use environment variables or secure vaults for sensitive information.