Linux distro with file encryption?


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Are there any Linux distrobutions available (for free, ideally) that have built-in file encryption tools (like PGP Whole Disk encryption, Windows' EFS, TrueCrypt disk encryption, etc)?

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Yes, for encrypting entire filesystems, TrueCrypt is available for Linux, but there are also other solutions such as LUKS. You can check here for links to instructions for various distributions.

For more specific information on how it works, there are entries for doing this on the Ubuntu and ArchLinux wikis (and others, I'm sure). Generally though, you should just be able to search "[distro name] LUKS" and you'll find various sites showing how to get it up and running on your distribution.

Edited by David Scaife
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They all do.

They all also have the ability to mount isos, and a wide variety of other utilities.

If you can imagine it, chances are, Linux can do it.

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Ubuntu 8.10 will have a "priavte" encrypted folder by default for each user. Ubuntu can also be encrypted if you use the alternate installer (the default one does not offer the option)

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Ubuntu can also be encrypted if you use the alternate installer (the default one does not offer the option)

How do I run this alternate installer?

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What would be better -- TrueCrypt? Or the built-in encryption support? By "better," I mean stronger encryption.

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My goodness! What local cretins are you trying to prevent from access to your data? Does the NSA live in your house? :p

Go with any encryption, and you will be safe from pretty much anyone that steals your computer, then runs off with it to take it to a lab to crack the encryption.

If you want someone else to pick one for you, then I will say TrueCrypt.

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My goodness! What local cretins are you trying to prevent from access to your data? Does the NSA live in your house? :p

Go with any encryption, and you will be safe from pretty much anyone that steals your computer, then runs off with it to take it to a lab to crack the encryption.

If you want someone else to pick one for you, then I will say TrueCrypt.

would you recommend every ubuntu user to install and use truecrypt ?

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My goodness! What local cretins are you trying to prevent from access to your data? Does the NSA live in your house? :p

I need something that nobody can crack (or at least something that will prevent anybody from having access to the data in the next decade). :shiftyninja:

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would you recommend every ubuntu user to install and use truecrypt ?
Not me, it is hard on performances and if you have a desktop, why would you need encryption (forget the robbers)?
I need something that nobody can crack (or at least something that will prevent anybody from having access to the data in the next decade). shiftyninja.gif

You are not protected against brute force password attack from an emulator (with the laptop drive image use as virtual drive). It will take less than a decade to someone who really want your data to get them. The most secure way is a TMP soldered on the moterboard that control encrypted disk access (from bios or EFI if possible). It leave only one way: manual brute force attack. If your password is like g4F5HfU8Kk3, then it will be so long that you can count your data as impossible to get.

Edited by Elv13
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Not me, it is hard on performances and if you have a desktop, why would you need encryption (forget the robbers)?

You are not protected against brute force password attack from an emulator (with the laptop drive image use as virtual drive). It will take less than a decade to someone who really want your data to get them. The most secure way is a TMP soldered on the moterboard that control encrypted disk access (from bios or EFI if possible). It leave only one way: manual brute force attack. If your password is like g4F5HfU8Kk3, then it will be so long that you can count your data as impossible to get.

How do I get one of these mobos with a TMP on it?

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would you recommend every ubuntu user to install and use truecrypt ?

Nope. Unless you are seriously worried about someone physically stealing your computer for use in trying to access your secret pr0n financial data.

For most people, an ext3 filesystem is "encryption" enough! :p

If your password is like g4F5HfU8Kk3, then it will be so long that you can count your data as impossible to get.
:o How did you figure out my password?

I gotta change it now... :angry:

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Nope. Unless you are seriously worried about someone physically stealing your computer for use in trying to access your secret pr0n financial data.

For most people, an ext3 filesystem is "encryption" enough! :p

well i have ext3 here, so im safe then. :p

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^^^ Just on the serious side, ext3 is not encrypted at all. I was just joking around that ext3 is not natively read by Windows.

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^^^ Just on the serious side, ext3 is not encrypted at all. I was just joking around that ext3 is not natively read by Windows.

Which makes it appear encrypted to about half of the computer "experts" out there.

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How do I get one of these mobos with a TMP on it?

Well, you shop for one, it is not that rare, all apples mb have one, and many other maker.

@Fred Derf:

But the computer will boot on Linux, no on windows, so it will not look encrypted ;)

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