Create an Encrypted Folder in Ubuntu with Cryptkeeper
Since it's tax time here in the US, I figured it would be good to post something to help you keep your information safe. Today I'll show you how to install and use the Cyptkeeper applet in Ubuntu.
Cryptkeeper is a GNOME applet for managing EncFS encrypted folders. To install it, make sure the Universe Repository is enabled and install it with Synaptic. Alternatively, install it from the command line with:
The installation should have added your userid to the fuse group. If it didn't, you can add it with:
where userid is your log in ID.
Because your group settings have changed, you need to log out and log back in. Once you are logged back in, you can start Cryptkeeper from the menu with Applications->System Tools->Cryptkeeper.
You should see an icon in your System Tray that looks like a pair of keys. This can vary a bit based on your current icon theme. This is the Cryptkeeper icon.
- Click mouse button 1 on the Cryptkeeper icon and select New encrypted folder.
- Enter a name for your new folder and select a location for it. I'm calling mine safe and putting it in my home folder.
- Click the Forward button.
- In the next screen, enter a password twice and click Forward.
- Click OK in the last screen.
Depending on your Gnome settings, a Nautilus File Manager window may have popped up for your new encrypted folder. Cryptkeeper actually creates a small encrypted folder that it mounts as an encrypted drive.
Create a basic text file in your new encrypted folder to try it out. To hide your encrypted folder, click the Cryptkeeper icon and uncheck the box next to it.
To reopen your encrypted folder, just click on the Cryptkeeper icon and check the box next to it. Enter your encryption password at the prompt, and you're in.
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13 Responses to “Create an Encrypted Folder in Ubuntu with Cryptkeeper”
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thanks for the how to
after all is done and I have an encrypted folder with my files
my question is:
how can I remove this data and not be encrypted anymore ?
limitations:
1-encrypted folder is 200GB
2-free space is 10GB
thanks
@ Veronica - You should be able to start up Cyptkeeper to access your files and move them to a non-encrypted folder. The size of the encrypted folder should shrink as you move the files out (I haven't tried this, but it seems like it should work).
Good luck!
@ Linerd: you are exactly correct in your instructions to Veronica. To verify, I just created an encrypted folder, just as you describe above. I put a bunch of files in - checked to make sure I could use them - a-ok. I closed the drive (unchecked the check box), and couldn't access the encrypted stuff. Perfect. I opened/mounted the drive (clicked the checkbox), copied a file out, and re-closed. Then I opened the file I copied out - no issues.
Thanks.
the command is wrong:- sudo apt-get install cyptkeeper
it should be "cryptkeepr"
Mahesh - I don't know where you're getting your information, but the package name is indeed "cryptkeeper". http://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=cryptkeeper&searchon=all&suite=karmic§ion=all
He is referring to the typo in your command.
sudo apt-get install cyptkeeper -> sudo apt-get install cryptkeeper
Unfortunately, he has a typo in his comment too which makes it very confusing.
Thanks for pointing that out. My eyes moved right over that typo in the blog post. I've made the correction. Thanks to Mahesh as well for trying to straighten me out.
Thanks for the guide. It worked perfectly in Ubuntu 9.10.
OK, after I use a folder and decide to delete it completely, how do I remove the folder from the cryptkeeper list? If I completely erase the folder, I should have no record of ever having it.
Nevermind. dumb dumb me didn't even think of right clicking on a folder in the list to remove and delete it. I figured it out... I guess I just need sleep or more coffee.
The problem is after i unmount it, anybody can right click on the folder name in the 'key' menu and delete the whole thing. Then what purpose does it serve? If anybody can just delete it if they aren't able to open it? Isn't that a bug?
You should quit Cryptkeeper after you unmount it. Also, I think if it gets deleted from Cryptkeeper, that doesn't actually delete your encrypted folder, it just removes it from the list. You should be able to add it back in by importing it. I haven't tested that and I'm away from my Linux box right now. Try just creating a new encrypted folder and put a few text files in there for testing purposes. Then try deleting it and see if you can import it back in. In my example I called the folder safe. This shows up under my home folder as .safe_enfs.
well it dosent work for me because when i try to press on it nothing heappens whats that abought?