[PLUG] Command to encrypt files

Damo Gets damo.gets at gmail.com
Mon Aug 18 17:58:25 UTC 2014


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On Mon, Aug 18, 2014 at 6:03 AM, <plug-request at lists.pdxlinux.org> wrote:

> Michael R wrote:
>
>  Jon Drews wrote:
> > New member here. I would like to know if there is a command to encrypt
> > files? I thought it was "crypt" but I see that is in section 3 of the man
> > pages, meaning it's a programming function.
>
>  Another option is to store the file(s) is a zip archive. If they are already in
>  a compressed format you can skip attempts to compress with the -0 option.
>
>    zip -0 -e <FILESPEC>

Not sure I'd rely on the encryption built into zip(1); even the manpage
says it is relatively weak.  When I need to email someone something
sensitive I generally use 7za(1) which uses 256-bit AES*.  If you install
the p7zip package you;ll get a zip(1)-like wrapper for 7za which you might
find more intuitive.  And depending on your desktop environment you may
be able to encyrpt/decrypt using 7za by right-clicking on files/directories
in the file manager (works in Nautilus'; select Compress.. >>".7z" & "Other
Options" for encrypting).

  Just wanted to mention here that, if you're working with email, a few GUI packages can make the process a little simpler.  I've only been implementing these GUI tools on OpenBSD, and I'll admit they've been a little 'crashy', but I'm sure on Linux, where they've got a userbase large enough to facilitate beta testing quickly, these issues should be worked out.  I know at least one person who is having no real problems with _Thunderbird_, with appropriate encryption plugins installed; _claws_, or _claws-mail_ is the one that I've been using lately.
  Both of these mail clients will help you with generating a PGP key (through GPG, unless otherwise specified), as well as auto-signing your messages when you're emailing, checking digital signatures on signed messages coming in to your account, encrypting by default to recipients that email you encrypted content, and auto-decrypting messages encrypted to you.  Not sure about symmetric encryption through those clients, but once you've got them installed, along with GPG, you'll have gpg available for symmetric encryption at the command line, if you so desire.
  I won't get into the encryption algorithm 'holy wars' at this time.  ;)  
 
You could also use openssl for encrypting files but it's awkward and
apparently regularly appearing bugs...

  The _HORROR_.  *grin*


- -- 

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the owner of this
corporeal, rotting porksuit, nor its fiat-currency waving handlers.

- -Damo
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