[SOLVED] SSHFS and Encryption

NotAComputerGuy · 01-25-2014, 07:09 AM

Hi all,

I have access to a computer remotely and I would prefer it if others didn't have access to my files.

What I would like to be able to do, is mount the folder using SSHFS and have them automatically unencrypted by my local computer.

Thanks

273 · 01-25-2014, 07:49 AM

I don't know what you mean by having them automatically unencrypted? When you use SSHFS then it would present you with an unencrypted directory as the server process is presenting it to you you're not seeing the raw disk.
Unless I've misunderstood something and SSHFS works differently to SFTP?

NotAComputerGuy · 01-25-2014, 07:55 AM

I'll try explain what I mean better.

'Server' has documents encrypted. If you're logged onto the server computer, you cannot read the documents, even as root. They should be encrypted.

Client computer doesn't actually hold the documents, but can read and write to the documents which are encrypted. As the client holds the key to the encryption, it should be able to understand what they contain.

273 · 01-25-2014, 08:00 AM

Ah interesting concept, I understand now. I'd not realised the "not mounted unencrypted on the server" part. That puts it a bit out of my depth.

NotAComputerGuy · 01-25-2014, 08:10 AM

I think I've just answered my own question, in a very long method.

It uses encfs.
I need to mount the encrypted drive to folder A whereby I only see encrypted files. Use encfs to mount folder A to folder B, magically unencrypting it.

Not sure if there's a way to automagically make this all happen for me.

NotAComputerGuy · 01-26-2014, 03:09 AM

I had this working yesturday evening, but I cannot get it all to work automatically.

I'm mounting the encrypted folder in ~/.secret through SSHFS
I'm then using encfs to mount ~/.secret in ~/Secret.

Thanks