TL;DR:
I recently tested a native Node.js encryption module called hcef, and I can confidently say it's production-ready, fast, and highly secure. It's built in C++ using N-API, and it's one of the few libraries that combine native speed with real cryptographic depth.
Why I Looked Into It
Most Node.js encryption modules rely heavily on built-in crypto or JavaScript-based wrappers. I was looking for something more powerful — something that could:
Handle real-world file encryption (not just in-memory strings)
Use native cryptography (OpenSSL) for performance
Include strong key derivation and tamper protection
Avoid JS performance bottlenecks
Enter hcef.
What Makes hcef Different
Here’s what stood out to me during testing:
AES-256-CBC encryption using OpenSSL — same standard trusted in secure industries
PBKDF2 (100k rounds) + Argon2 — dual key derivation makes brute-force attacks nearly impossible
HMAC-SHA256 — verifies data integrity, catches even a single-bit tamper
Obfuscation layer — Caesar cipher, XOR, byte reversal; adds an extra layer of complexity
Base64 + zlib compression — makes encrypted files transferable and lightweight
Memory Cleansing — sensitive data wiped with OPENSSL_cleanse()
C++ N-API Integration — meaning it's fast, portable, and secure on all platforms
Real-World Testing Results
I tested it in multiple scenarios:
Encrypted and decrypted large text and binary files
Tampered with files to confirm HMAC detection
Simulated brute-force attacks with weak passwords
Ran performance benchmarks vs. pure JS encryption
Everything worked perfectly, and the speed difference was significant.
Final Verdict
If you're looking for a native Node.js file encryption solution that’s more than just a JS wrapper — hcef delivers. It's secure, fast, and doesn't get in your way. I’d love to see this gain more adoption in the community.
Shoutout to the developers behind this — great work!
Links
Top comments (0)