Category: Encryption

How to use deja-dup for data backups on Linux

Deja-dup is a Gnome application. It can be used for data backups of the computer to a USB drive, another hard disk, folder or even to the cloud. Data backups are encrypted using the Gnu Privacy Guard (GPG) shared key as they are done. The first backup takes time, depending on the data to be … Continue reading How to use deja-dup for data backups on Linux →

How to create and use LUKS encrypted partition in Linux

It is easy to create a LUKS container and a partition within it, using the GUI on Linux. The application that enables this easily is the gnome-disk-utility. However, if you want to use the command line to set up a LUKS encrypted device, read on. Exercise appropriate caution before doing any of the below with … Continue reading How to create and use LUKS encrypted partition in Linux →

Error when opening a LUKS encrypted container file /dev/loop0 Device or resource is busy on Ubuntu 18.10 Gnome Desktop

When you enter the command below in a terminal window: $ sudo /sbin/losetup /dev/loop0 /home/user1/folder1/containerdatafile <enter> Device error or resource busy error message appears and the device is not setup. The reason is that /dev/loop0 is taken by snap. To overcome the error, change /dev/loop0 to something else like /dev/loop35 Or, if you do not … Continue reading Error when opening a LUKS encrypted container file /dev/loop0 Device or resource is busy on Ubuntu 18.10 Gnome Desktop →

How to add user with encrypted home folder in Xubuntu 18.04 LTS or Ubuntu 18.10

After a long while, upgraded from Xubuntu 16.04 LTS to Xubuntu 18.04 LTS and was in for a surprise. No encrypted home folder. Support for this was dropped as ecryptfs-utils was no more maintained by it's maintainer. However, fret not. Encrypted home folders can still be created as below. Make sure you take a backup … Continue reading How to add user with encrypted home folder in Xubuntu 18.04 LTS or Ubuntu 18.10 →

Recover encrypted ecryptfs home folder from encrypted dm-crypt luks disk volume

Whew... saved by the skin of teeth. The grub2 bootloader of my computer got corrupt. I was not able to boot into the computer and all was lost. For security reasons, I set up LVM with full disk encryption. Thereafter, each user's home folder was further encrypted with ecryptfs (the default you get when you … Continue reading Recover encrypted ecryptfs home folder from encrypted dm-crypt luks disk volume →

How to restore TWRP recovery after encrypting internal storage on LineageOS 14.1 on Motorola G 2014 (titan)

I installed LineageOS 14.1 on an old Motorola G 2nd Generation (2014) android phone, also known as titan. All went well and it worked like a charm. I wanted to encrypt the internal storage and accordingly, did so from the Settings -> Security option on the phone. It worked well and said the phone was … Continue reading How to restore TWRP recovery after encrypting internal storage on LineageOS 14.1 on Motorola G 2014 (titan) →

How to mitigate the threat of being a victim of ransom ware

Ransom ware seems to have gotten the better of many ordinary users. However, it is not a threat that has no mitigation measures available to the ordinary user, but is more of following good basic security and hygiene practices, to not fall prey to a ransom ware threat. Do the following: If you use Linux, … Continue reading How to mitigate the threat of being a victim of ransom ware →

Cannot connect to OpenWRT router using SSH after OpenWRT firmware upgrade

OpenWRT is a very powerful router firmware. Since I wanted to upgrade the router firmware, I took a backup of the configuration and then did a complete erase of the configuration settings at the time of firmware upgrade. After logging in, and setting up SSH as a means to log in to the router, SSH … Continue reading Cannot connect to OpenWRT router using SSH after OpenWRT firmware upgrade →