I have to say I really love these Ubuntu tips. I would certainly try this had I not already encrypted my entire disk using the alternate install CD, as was previously detailed here on Lifehacker :)

windsurfer619

I may give this a try when I get home tonight although, as Intrepid Ibex is around a month away from release, it seems as though I might as well wait.

I do worry a little about encrypting data in that should I somehow lose access to my machine all of my data is lost.

Jai

If that's true, then I won't be able to access my linux home dir from Windows? I'm not sure I enjoy such forced features.

sunken

this will only encrypt the private the directory in your home folder, not the whole home folder as i understand it. if you don't want to use it, don't put any files into it

tdcrenshaw

@jblackhall: You are correct as long as you log in using your own UID and PW you would have access.

CyberCowboy

@sunken: If you log in to your Ubuntu box (or use SAMBA) the drive should appear s normal in Windows due to the decrypting happening on the Ubuntu box. I've been doing this for a while with TruCrypt

CyberCowboy

@sunken: I'm not 100% sure, but I thought that any time that you're logged in under you own username and password (via ssh or remote desktop) you'll have access to the directory. I could be wrong though.

jblackhall

@tdcrenshaw: I believe you are right. I misinterpreted what the post meant.

sunken

@sunken: That would work for ssh. I was referring to dual-booting into Windows and accessing the ext3 partition directly using IFS Drive.

sunken

I'm somewhat surprised by this, since my impression is that eCryptfs is not yet stable. It was touted as a major feature of Fedora 8, but currently appears to be broken in that distro (it seems to work when I build 'ecryptfs-utils' from the latest source, but fails when I use the F8 package). The eCryptfs FAQ states outright that it's still in development, and that file migration may be required after future updates:

eCryptfs is still in a developmental stage. When you upgrade the eCryptfs kernel module, it is possible that the eCryptfs file format has been updated. For this reason you should copy your files to an unencrypted location and then copy the files back into the new eCryptfs mount point to migrate the files.... [ecryptfs.sourceforge.net]

RobDLG

sudo apt-get install cryptkeeper

uses encFS to make folders. It does not mount at startup but keeps an icon in the taskbar that lets you mount different encrypted folders that you have created. Easiest system I have ever used. Also, it deals with importing/exporting encrypted directories easily.

yurivr

Don't try to encrypt your directory full of porn videos, it takes too long.

YakiraHapjo

TrueCrypt can encrypt volumes, and hide their presence. It's available for both Ubuntu and Windows...

[www.truecrypt.org]

:)

Telic

DON'T FOLLOW THIS ADVICE! You **will** experience data loss!

[bugs.launchpad.net]

This article needs to be taken down along with the lifehacker article referencing it.

nighttimestereo

Here's how to encrypt external drives: http://www.emcken.dk/weblog/archives/164-Encrypted-USB-drive-in-Ubuntu.html They're really easy to mount, too, so I can access those mov......uh.....backups, yeah, that's the ticket.

ZivenElephonkey

@Telic I second that...TrueCrypt is an option that is stable and simple to use. I love the ability to use keyfiles in addition to the password.

TobyM