Image forming apparatus and method for inputting encryption key setting

An image forming apparatus for forming an image based on input image data, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• input means for capturing a key value of an encryption key input by a user during the setting of the encryption key;
• key value determining means for determining whether key values input by the user by a predetermined number of times match each other;
• non-volatile storage means for storing the key value input as an encryption key if the key value determining means determines that the key values match each other;
• and
• encryption and decryption means for encrypting the image data using an encryption key prior to the storage of the input image data onto image storage means, and for decrypting the encrypted image data subsequent to the reading of the encrypted image data from the image storage means.

A method for inputting the setting of an0 encryption key for use in the encryption of image data, the encryption key being used to store input image data in image storage means, the method comprising the steps of:

• capturing key values of the encryption key input by a user;
• determining whether the key values input by the user by a predetermined number of times match each other;
• and
• storing, in non-volatile storage means, the input key value as the encryption key when the key values match each other in the key value determining step.