TrueCrypt 4.0 Released (SourceForge) [LWN.net]

Version 4.0 of TrueCrypt, a cross-platform disk encryption system, is available. "Among the new features is the ability to mount TrueCrypt volumes on Linux (TrueCrypt has been ported to Linux), ability to write to outer volume without risking that a hidden volume within it will get damaged, support for x86-64 (64-bit) and big-endian hardware platforms, support for Windows XP x64 Edition (64-bit) and Windows Server 2003 x64, full support for keyfiles, language packs, network drives, auto-dismount, hot keys, and many more."

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Best Encrypted File System?

Posted Nov 10, 2005 20:17 UTC (Thu) by scripter (subscriber, #2654) [Link]

It seems like people are using encrypted file systems more frequently these days. My employer requries that all source code be kept on an encrypted file system. On Windows, we use PGP Disk or Encrypted File System.

What's the most robust, best supported option for Linux? It would be fantastic if there were one system that multiple distributions supported, out-of-the box. In fact, it would be nice if Fedora, at install time, offered to help configure an encrypted disk/container.

I've heard of ecryptfs (covered by LWN a couple of weeks ago, but it still looks rather new), dm_crypt, encfs (uses FUSE), LUKS (which claims to be the up-and-coming standard for Linux and is based on dm_crypt), cryptoloop (outdated?), and now this. How does the SUSE encrypted disk stack up?

Perhaps LWN could do a writeup of the state of affairs on Linux encrypted file systems, the user-friendliness for end-users, and the risks for users (such as complete data loss if a key is lost). Which ones allow a system admin to recover the data (if any), and how? How does one go about backing up data from an encrypted volume (can a root-privileged backup program see the data, or is is only visible by the user that mounted it?)?

http://ecryptfs.sourceforge.net
http://arg0.net/wiki/encfs
http://luks.endorphin.org

+1 for "Best Encrypted File System"

Posted Nov 14, 2005 2:58 UTC (Mon) by pyxis (subscriber, #15886) [Link]

I too am in favor of an LWN writeup of the state of encrypted file systems on Linux.

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Stefano Spinucci