software for encrypting files?

mifan · 08-10-2005, 08:54 PM

I was wondering what software everyone was using to encrypt individual files or folders. I am interested in finding something easy to use and can work with windows. (I know gnupg works, but are there any others?)

puffinman · 08-10-2005, 09:26 PM

OpenSSL does pretty much any kind of symmetric key encryption you could possibly want. It is mainly a C library but it comes with lots of handy programs too. I'm not sure how well it works with windows.

Matir · 08-10-2005, 10:30 PM

For whole partitions, one can use dm-crypt.

sundialsvcs · 08-12-2005, 10:39 AM

OpenSSL and GnuPG are both excellent packages and widely-available. There are many subtle issues to consider when you must provide "real" cryptographic security, and these packages have carefully considered all of them. You won't find a better package that you can tell anyone about.

Matir · 08-12-2005, 10:41 AM

Which brings up an interesting question: can gnupg encrypt a file based solely on a passphrase? That is, where I have no "key file" for the encryption?

puffinman · 08-12-2005, 10:46 AM

Quote:

can gnupg encrypt a file based solely on a passphrase?

Yes, the --symmetric option does this. See the gpg man page.

Matir · 08-12-2005, 10:50 AM

Ah, my bad. Another Atlantan gentoo user?! Can it be!?

puffinman · 08-12-2005, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Another Atlantan gentoo user?! Can it be!?

It sure can. I use gentoo now more than slackware, so I should probably reverse them in my profile. Why, is gentoo that rare in Atlanta? Does geographical location even matter anymore?

Matir · 08-13-2005, 09:13 AM

Nah, but a couple of other Atlantan gentoo users and i have been trying to arrange some sort of meet and greet on the Gentoo Forums: http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.p...645750#2645750

Now I'll leave this topic back on encryption.