Encrypting files and folders with EncFS
Unmaintained?
The EncFS version 1.7.4 available with all the major distributions is now more than three years old. Although no newer versions have been released, maintainer Valient Gough does continuously update the source code of EncFS in the Subversion repository [5]. When asked, Gough confirmed the arrival of a new 1.7.5 version of EncFS soon, but it will only contain minor bugfixes and, particularly for Linux users, introduce hardly noticeable changes.
In the meantime, however, work on the next major version is in full swing. EncFS 2.0 will include many improvements under the hood, such as moving the build system to cmake and introducing unit tests. In the future, it also will be possible to use other security back ends besides OpenSSL.
Additional Software
A number of additional programs related to EncFS simplify the task of managing encrypted directories, thanks to a graphical user interface, or better integrate EncFS into the system. For example, Cryptkeeper [6], which is a system tray applet (Figure 3), provides the main functions of EncFS.
The simple KDE application KEncFS [7] can integrate and unmount EncFS directories (Figure 4). However, it does not seem to be under active development currently and thus has been missing from the repositories of almost all distributions for some time. If you still want to use the tool, you will need to compile it from the source code.

Gnome EncFS Manager [8] is another program with a tray applet for managing EncFS under Gnome (Figure 5).
This tool also attempts to automate typical processes, such as unmounting EncFS directories on logout.
A tool for PAM (Pluggable Authentication Module), called pam-encfs [9], allows you to mount an EncFS directory automatically at login, saving you the bother of entering a password – at the expense of security. The password used to encrypt a directory with EncFS must be the same as the system login password.
A better alternative to pam-encfs exists for Gnome users at least: gnome-encfs [10] stores EncFS passwords in the Gnome keyring and thus (optionally) lets you mount EncFS directories at login.
Future
EncFS is available not only for Linux but for Windows and Mac OS X, too. Thus, it is no trouble to exchange encrypted data across operating system boundaries. You can encrypt, say, your Dropbox folder or a directory on your external hard drive using EncFS and still use it on another platform.
The encfs4win [11] project supports the use of EncFS under Windows. To install the encryption software on Mac OS X, you need the homebrew package manager (brew install encfs
). Apple fans also have the option of using EncFSVault [12] to replace the original Apple FileVault.
Infos
- EncFS: http://www.arg0.net/encfs/
- FUSE: http://fuse.sourceforge.net
- Disc encryption comparison: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Disk_Encryption#Comparison_table
- eCryptfs: http://ecryptfs.org
- EncFS SVN: http://code.google.com/p/encfs/
- Cryptkeeper: http://tom.noflag.org.uk/cryptkeeper.html
- KEncFS: http://kde-apps.org/content/show.php/?content=134003
- Gnome Encfs Manager: http://www.libertyzero.com/GEncfsM/
- pam-encfs: https://code.google.com/p/pam-encfs/
- gnome-encfs: https://bitbucket.org/obensonne/gnome-encfs/
- encfs4win: http://members.ferrara.linux.it/freddy77/encfs.html
- EncFSVault: http://code.google.com/p/encfsvault/
« Previous 1 2
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
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
-
Arch Linux 2023.12.01 Released with a Much-Improved Installer
If you've ever wanted to install Arch Linux, now is your time. With the latest release, the archinstall script vastly simplifies the process.
-
Zorin OS 17 Beta Available for Testing
The upcoming version of Zorin OS includes plenty of improvements to take your PC to a whole new level of user-friendliness.
-
Red Hat Migrates RHEL from Xorg to Wayland
If you've been wondering when Xorg will finally be a thing of the past, wonder no more, as Red Hat has made it clear.
-
PipeWire 1.0 Officially Released
PipeWire was created to take the place of the oft-troubled PulseAudio and has finally reached the 1.0 status as a major update with plenty of improvements and the usual bug fixes.
-
Rocky Linux 9.3 Available for Download
The latest version of the RHEL alternative is now available and brings back cloud and container images for ppc64le along with plenty of new features and fixes.
-
Ubuntu Budgie Shifts How to Tackle Wayland
Ubuntu Budgie has yet to make the switch to Wayland but with a change in approaches, they're finally on track to making it happen.
-
TUXEDO's New Ultraportable Linux Workstation Released
The TUXEDO Pulse 14 blends portability with power, thanks to the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU.
-
AlmaLinux Will No Longer Be "Just Another RHEL Clone"
With the release of AlmaLinux 9.3, the distribution will be built entirely from upstream sources.
-
elementary OS 8 Has a Big Surprise in Store
When elementary OS 8 finally arrives, it will not only be based on Ubuntu 24.04 but it will also default to Wayland for better performance and security.
-
OpenELA Releases Enterprise Linux Source Code
With Red Hat restricting the source for RHEL, it was only a matter of time before those who depended on that source struck out on their own.