HOW TO: add passwords to, and encrypt, certain folders. (Easy step by step guide)

#1 December 8, 2008

Start by installing fuse-utils and encfs in a terminal:

sudo apt-get install fuse-utils encfs

add your user to the fuse group (replacing USERNAME with your login name) in a terminal:

sudo adduser USERNAME fuse

open /etc/modules with an editor and add the fuse module

gksudo gedit /etc/modules

fuse

then start fuse by typing in a terminal:

sudo modprobe fuse

Create 2 directories, one hidden and one normal. The normal one will be the mountpoint and the hidden one will hold the encrypted files. in a terminal:

mkdir ~/files
mkdir ~/.files

OR right click in nautilus then "Create Folder" (The terminal option is quicker)

now mount ".files" at mountpoint "files" encfs

encfs ~/.files ~/files

Open the files folder and put your documents/vids/pics and other stuff in it.

Then unmount it using fusermount. You will see your files are invisible. If you look in the '.files' folder you will see that they are also encrypted.

fusermount -u ~/files

..............................................................

Remember

To call up your files type

encfs ~/.files ~/files

and to hide them again type

fusermount -u ~/files

..............................................................

What I did was create a simple bash script to open and close the files and placed it in /usr/bin and create a link in my menu with alacarte.

This is the script:

#! /bin/bash
read -p "Would you like to open your encrypted files (y/n)?"
[ "$REPLY" == "n" ] || encfs ~/.Files ~/Files
read -p "Would you like to unmount your encrypted files (y/n)?"
[ "$REPLY" == "n" ] || fusermount -u ~/Files
read -p "To open or close your encrypted files run this program again. Press Enter"

Paste it in to gedit and save it as encfsscript in your home directory

Make it executable

in a terminal:

chmod 755 ~/encfsscript

Open superuser nautilus and cut and paste the script in /usr/bin

in a terminal:

gksudo nautilus

Open alacarte and make a link in your menu

in a terminal:

alacarte

Go to the folder where you want to put the link and click "New Item"

Choose a nice icon by clicking on the picture.

Then add these details:

Type: Application in Terminal Name: Encrypted Files Command: encfsscript Comment: Mounts and Unmounts Encrypted Files!!

I'd be very interested to hear how you got on, let me know!

Also let me know if you find any mistakes and typos!!