TITLE:
Enable Excel-Based Basic Cybersecurity Features for End Users by Using Python-Excel Integration
AUTHORS:
Mohamed Breik, Osama Magdy, Essam Amin, Tarek Aly, Mervat Gheith
KEYWORDS:
Python, End-User Approach, Excel, Excel Add-In, Cybersecurity, URL Check, API, Virustotal API, Encryption, Decryption, Vigenère Cipher, Python-Excel Integration
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Software Engineering and Applications,
Vol.17 No.6,
June
24,
2024
ABSTRACT: In the digital age, the global character of the Internet has significantly improved our daily lives by providing access to large amounts of knowledge and allowing for seamless connections. However, this enormously interconnected world is not without its risks. Malicious URLs are a powerful menace, masquerading as legitimate links while holding the intent to hack computer systems or steal sensitive personal information. As the sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks increase, identifying bad URLs has emerged as a critical aspect of cybersecurity. This study presents a new approach that enables the average end-user to check URL safety using Microsoft Excel. Using the powerful VirusTotal API for URL inspections, this study creates an Excel add-in that integrates Python and Excel to deliver a seamless, user-friendly interface. Furthermore, the study improves Excel’s capabilities by allowing users to encrypt and decrypt text communications directly in the spreadsheet. Users may easily encrypt their conversations by simply typing a key and the required text into predefined cells, enhancing their personal cybersecurity with a layer of cryptographic secrecy. This strategy democratizes access to advanced cybersecurity solutions, making attentive digital integrity a feature rather than a daunting burden.