File encryption with EncFS
Command Line – EncFS
© Lead Image © Marvin Ristau de, Fotolia.com
EncFS is an easy and effective CLI application for encrypting files that also allows for customization.
Linux has no shortages of solutions for file encryption. First released in 2001, EncFS [1] is one of the oldest solutions but remains one of the easiest to set up and use. It uses two directories: an unencrypted directory for dropping files into, and an encrypted directory that automatically creates encrypted copies of those files. Any further manipulation of the setup or files is done with the encfsctrl utility [2]. However, some insecure copies of EncFS are still in use, so be careful to get 1.9.5, the latest version, which fixes the vulnerabilities of earlier versions.
EncFS has several other advantages besides its ease of use. One is that because EncFS runs in userspace, using the FUSE libraries [3], ordinary users, not just root, can create its virtual filesystem. Additionally, running in userspace means that an encrypted volume can be administered by existing utilities such as Rsync and fsck. Similarly, standard backup utilities can back up only the EncFS-associated files that have changed.
EncFS can use both removable drives and cloud storage (see below). The volume key that is usually stored in the same directory as the encrypted data can be password protected and stored elsewhere, including on a removable drive or in the cloud for added security. Also, encrypted directories do not have any fixed size, growing as files are added or deleted instead of requiring a fixed space to be allocated. All these features add up to a CLI application that is almost as easy to use as a graphical interface.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
TUXEDO has unveiled a new InfinityBook Pro with an AMD Ryzen AI 300
This new notebook offers serious power that is ready for your business, development, or entertainment needs.
-
Is This the Year of Linux?
Another major organization has decided to kick Windows and Office to the curb, in favor of Linux.
-
Linux Mint 20 Reaches EOL
With Linux Mint 20 at its end of life, the time has arrived to upgrade to Linux Mint 22.
-
TuxCare Announces Support for AlmaLinux 9.2
Thanks to TuxCare, AlmaLinux 9.2 (and soon version 9.6) now enjoys years of ongoing patching and compliance.
-
Go-Based Botnet Attacking IoT Devices
Using an SSH credential brute-force attack, the Go-based PumaBot is exploiting IoT devices everywhere.
-
Plasma 6.5 Promises Better Memory Optimization
With the stable Plasma 6.4 on the horizon, KDE has a few new tricks up its sleeve for Plasma 6.5.
-
KaOS 2025.05 Officially Qt5 Free
If you're a fan of independent Linux distributions, the team behind KaOS is proud to announce the latest iteration that includes kernel 6.14 and KDE's Plasma 6.3.5.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 Now Available
The latest Linux kernel is now available with several new features/improvements and the usual bug fixes.
-
Microsoft Makes Surprising WSL Announcement
In a move that might surprise some users, Microsoft has made Windows Subsystem for Linux open source.
-
Red Hat Releases RHEL 10 Early
Red Hat quietly rolled out the official release of RHEL 10.0 a bit early.