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Atharva Sen Barai

RookDuel Avikal - Chess Powered Security for the Quantum Age

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Avikal is a secure archival system designed for long-term data sovereignty. Unlike standard encryption, Avikal utilizes a hybrid security model: it combines post-quantum cryptography with a unique steganographic engine that encodes encryption metadata into playable chess games. Users can secure files with Hindi mnemonic keyphrases, enforce time-locks via Drand or Aavrit, and manage archives via CLI or Desktop app. It is a robust, indigenous solution built for the future of digital archiving.

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Atharva Sen Barai
Maker
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Hi everyone! 👋 I’m Atharva, a 17yo developer and chess player. I’m thrilled to finally share Avikal with the community. I built Avikal because I noticed a major gap in how we archive sensitive data. Existing tools are either outdated, vulnerable to future quantum threats, or too complex for non-technical users to actually trust. I wanted to create something that provides genuine data sovereignty—blending modern security with a unique, strategy-first design. The core differentiator? Avikal isn’t just another encryption tool. It uses a hybrid security model: we pair post-quantum cryptography (ML-KEM-1024) with a steganographic engine that hides metadata in plain sight within valid chess games (PGN). Plus, with built-in time-locking (via drand/Aavrit) and our custom Hindi mnemonic system, it’s designed to be accessible yet institutional-grade. Whether you’re a developer automating backups via our CLI, or an institution needing to seal legal records for the future, I built this to be robust, transparent, and open-source. I’d love to hear what you think of the architecture—especially the hybrid PQC/Chess approach. I'm here to answer any technical questions!