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Thread: What is a simple way to Encrypt/Secure a Password File?

  1. #1
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    Talking What is a simple way to Encrypt/Secure a Password File?

    Hello everyone,

    Please point me towards the directions, to encrypt/secure a file, that I use to store my passwords. The easier for a newbie, is best for me.

    I use:

    /home/******/Desktop/Documents/Passwords file. Where****** is my user name.

    Thank you.
    Last edited by mikodo; August 15th, 2009 at 09:21 PM.

  2. #2
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    Re: What is a simple way to Encrypt/Secure a Password File?

    I use bcrypt all the time which is easily available in the repositories
    Code:
    sudo apt-get install bcrypt
    Using a strong key (strong password ie: letters, numbers special characters, and no dictionary words) the blowfish algorithm used to encrypt files with has still to this day not been broken.

    to encrypt a file using is as simple as

    Code:
    bcrypt <filename>
    It asks you to enter a password (twice for verification) and its encrypted. It adds the extension .bfe at the end of the file so you know its encrypted.

    to unencrypt just do the same thing

    Code:
    bcrypt <filename>
    and it asks you for the password.
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  3. #3
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    Re: What is a simple way to Encrypt/Secure a Password File?

    gpg -c filename

    or just right click the file and select encrypt since it is probably already installed on your system!

  4. #4
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    Re: What is a simple way to Encrypt/Secure a Password File?

    Quote Originally Posted by Firestem4 View Post
    I use bcrypt all the time which is easily available in the repositories
    Code:
    sudo apt-get install bcrypt
    Using a strong key (strong password ie: letters, numbers special characters, and no dictionary words) the blowfish algorithm used to encrypt files with has still to this day not been broken.

    to encrypt a file using is as simple as

    Code:
    bcrypt <filename>
    It asks you to enter a password (twice for verification) and its encrypted. It adds the extension .bfe at the end of the file so you know its encrypted.

    to unencrypt just do the same thing

    Code:
    bcrypt <filename>
    and it asks you for the password.

    Thank you for the reply,

    I installed bcrypt from Synaptic and tried your commands. Seems I am missing something. Please see attached screen shot of terminal.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  5. #5
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    Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

    Re: What is a simple way to Encrypt/Secure a Password File?

    You're in the wrong directory for the file. If the file is in a folder called Documents on your Desktop then you need to run the command
    Code:
    cd ~/Desktop/Documents
    Then run the command you want to.

  6. #6
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    Re: What is a simple way to Encrypt/Secure a Password File?

    Quote Originally Posted by HermanAB View Post
    gpg -c filename

    or just right click the file and select encrypt since it is probably already installed on your system!

    Hello again, HermanAB

    I tried gpg -c PASSWORDS with the following screen shot of terminal results. I am not sure what I am missing.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  7. #7
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    Re: What is a simple way to Encrypt/Secure a Password File?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ranemills View Post
    You're in the wrong directory for the file. If the file is in a folder called Documents on your Desktop then you need to run the command
    Code:
    cd ~/Desktop/Documents
    Then run the command you want to.
    Thank you for the code: I ran it and was able to encrypt using bcrypt PASSWORDS in terminal. Now I don't now how to open it or decrypt it.

    Please advise, See Screenshot of Terminal.

    Thanks
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by mikodo; August 15th, 2009 at 03:20 AM.

  8. #8
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    Re: What is a simple way to Encrypt/Secure a Password File?

    I don't have any experience with encryption but from the screenshot it doesn't like it did encrypt to me. Is the file name all uppercase? I believe the terminal is case-sensitive.

    As to unencrypting:

    Quote Originally Posted by Firestem4 View Post

    to unencrypt just do the same thing

    Code:
    bcrypt <filename>
    and it asks you for the password.
    And I'd assume opening is just like any normal file once it is unencrypted.

    Hope that helps a bit.

  9. #9
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    Re: What is a simple way to Encrypt/Secure a Password File?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ranemills View Post
    I don't have any experience with encryption but from the screenshot it doesn't like it did encrypt to me. Is the file name all uppercase? I believe the terminal is case-sensitive.

    As to unencrypting:



    And I'd assume opening is just like any normal file once it is unencrypted.

    Hope that helps a bit.

    Thank you; I believe the file is now encrypted because I cannot open it on the desktop by clicking it on the desktop either as seen on the desktop Snapshot below:
    Attached Images Attached Images

  10. #10
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    Unhappy Re: What is a simple way to Encrypt/Secure a Password File?

    Well what started to be an easy exercise, has now got my PASSWORDS file unaccessible to me.

    To recap what I have done:

    Installed bcrypt from Synaptic Package Manager

    ran
    Code:
    cd ~Desktop/Documents
    in Terminal

    ran
    Code:
    bcrypt PASSWORDS
    in Terminal

    Entered in the required new encryption password twice

    And found I cannot open the PASSWORDS file either in Terminal or by clicking on the icon in panel in Gnome desktop.

    Please see earlier screenshots of my attempts at opening the file PASSWORDS in previous posts.

    I am at a loss, as to what to do now.

    Thank you
    Last edited by mikodo; August 15th, 2009 at 01:19 AM.

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