Encryption Recommendation?

[daveski]

I would like to find a simple encryption package to be used to encrypt/decrypt an occasional file.  Preferably it would be easy to use without the complications of adding containers, etc., and other top-heavy methods.  I would be using it on a KDE MiniMe installation only, not to send encrypted files over the internet.  Thanks,   David

[Just17]

Look at KGpg symmetrical encryption


http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,99569.msg845596.html#msg845596

I should also have mentioned  peazip-gtk2  which provides for encryption - advanced features I think.

EDIT
        Just had a look and Q7z is small and light and does password protection

[rich2005]

@daveski

All of those will work. I am a fan of peazip, use it all the time and it will encrypt files to an archive using 7zip format.
kgpg also works but a bit overkill
AFAIK nothing simple in the repo that will do a quick encryption and delete the existing file.  Although you could always make a bash file I suppose.

Just a suggestion & possibility is ccrypt, available at sourceforge. Nothing has to go in the OS, one file only and that runs from your home folder. Not even really worth asking for a package. (edit: I will do this anyway. Other distros seem to include it.)

Still not very convenient to run from a console but I have this in my Krusader "home useractions" file, so it does not show in the root version - safe enough for me.  I would think something similar possible for Dolphin.

[daveski]

Thanks for the replys.  Rich2005, I experimented with Q7z and got it to work.  But on some type of files (.mht, .mab) when I right-click the file and select Q7z, the program opens with Extract rather than Create.  Since this is the first time Q7z has operated on this file, it needs to use the Create mode.  How can this be done?

[muungwana]

There is a program in the repository called "zuluCrypt",install it and then look for it in the menu.

start it up,go to "menu->zc->encrypt a file" and it will give you an option to encrypt a file,the option to decrypt it is there too.

using the tool,you can also create an encrypted container that will allow you to "store" multiple files encrypted.

Creating an encrypted container and then store your files in it is better in my option because you store the files encrypted and you can also edit them "in place".With encrypting individual files,you have to decrypt them when you want to access them and when you edit them,you have to re-encrypt them and then deleting the original encrypted file,its a bit too cumbersome.

The program will also allow you to create encrypted containers if you decide to go that route.

[rich2005]

I think Q7Z is more leaning towards backup and archiving whole directories. You said the occasional file

Even peazip with which I am more familiar is a bit overkill, Anyway some screenshots
adding a file - make sure the password is set (right click dialog) http://i.imgur.com/He4SlLf.jpg
looks more complicated than it is.
same with extracting - make sure the password is set otherwise you get a zero length file http://i.imgur.com/YbNPt1k.jpg

If you are using a "light" installation then you can always use 7zip and a commandline.  Use whatever filemanager to open a terminal at the file location
To archive the command 7z a -p archivename filename(s) - remember tab auto-completes names
To extract the command 7z e -ppassword archivename
something like this


the problem with this is, as earlier comment, archiving does not delete the original file, not very secure if you do not remove the plaintext.

[daveski]

Thanks for all of the information.  Q7z could not handle some types of files I wanted encrypted.  And ZuluCrypt proved complicated in use, given its limited help instruction.  Encryption is an important subject; I would like to see encryption be the subject of an article in the PCLOS Magazine.  David

[pags]

Thanks for all of the information.  Q7z could not handle some types of files I wanted encrypted.  And ZuluCrypt proved complicated in use, given its limited help instruction.  Encryption is an important subject; I would like to see encryption be the subject of an article in the PCLOS Magazine.  David

There's this:
http://pclosmag.com/html/Issues/201108/page19.html

I know you said you didn't want a container...but it is the most secure method...there won't be an "un-encrypted" version "lying around" that needs to be deleted (and, if you're really paranoid, the free space should be wiped after deletion, because the data would still be there...)

[muungwana]

How to encrypt a file using zulucrypt

1. start it up
2. at the menu,click "zc" followed by "encrypt a file"
3. at the dialog that will show up,click the icon that is to the right of the "source path" field.
4. select the file you want to encrypt at the dialog that will show.
5. enter the key at the "key" and and "repeat key" fields.
6. click "create" to create an encrypted version of the file.

How to decrypt a file using a zulucrypt
1. start it up
2. at the menu,click "zc" followed by "decrypt a file"
3. at the dialog that will show up,click the icon that is to the right of the "source path" field.
4. select the file you want to dencrypt at the dialog that will show.
5. enter the key at the "key" fields.
6. click "create" to create an encrypted version of the file.

The above steps seem self evident to me from the GUI.

[daveski]

Muungwana:

Creating an encrypted container and then store your files in it is better in my option because you store the files encrypted and you can also edit them "in place".With encrypting individual files,you have to decrypt them when you want to access them and when you edit them,you have to re-encrypt them and then deleting the original encrypted file,its a bit too cumbersome.
/quote]

I agree that the Zulucrypt gui is self-evident when encrypting/decrypting a file.  But when I created an encrypted container, the self-evidence went out the window.  How do files get into the container.....do they have to be encrypted first?  It is at this point that I thought a PCLOS Magazine article would be useful.   David

[muungwana]

After you create an encrypted container,you "open" it by doing the following:

go the menu and then click "open encrypted container in a file"

At the dialog that will show up,click the "star looking" icon and then select the encrypted container file you created previously

The "mount" field will be auto filled for you.

Enter the password you used when you created the encrypted volume and then click "open".

If you entered the correct password(you will be told if its wrong), an entry will be created in zulucrypt main window showing the path to the encrypted container and the mount point path.

There will be a folder at the mount point path and the folder will point to the inside of the encrypted volume.Just copy your files you want to store encrypted into the folder.

When you are done,go to zuluCrypt main window,right click on the volume and click "close".The folder will "disappear" and your files will be safe in the encrypted container.The only way to access the files will be to repeat the steps above and to open it with the correct password.

I will write an article in the magazine soon.If the above is not clear,ask for clarification.The important thing for now it to know how to use the tool,technical stuff may follow if you are interested in them

A folder will be created in your home directory

[daveski]

Muungwana:
After creating a ZuluCrypt container with a key and opening it, I was able to copy or drag/drop files into it.  But it is confusing if ZC is not used to "close the all opened volumes".  A right-click to close solved it.  Thanks for your help, and I look forward to your article in the Magazine regarding ZuluCrypt.   David

[muungwana]

i will write an article when version 4.6.1 hit the repository.

"menu->zc->close all opened volumes" will close all opened volumes.This way of closing is preferred when you have multiple volumes open and you want all of them to be closed because manually closing individual volumes will be tedious.

If you only have one volume opened or if you want to close only a specific volume,the preferred way is to click to volume and then select "close" option.