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 →

How to shred a file on Linux leaving no remnants

Sometimes we have files on our hard disks that we would like to remove for good. If you have set up full disk encryption when you installed Linux on your computer, you will have an encrypted hard disk which is pretty much useless to anyone without the password that only you know. However, sometimes, to … Continue reading How to shred a file on Linux leaving no remnants →

How to quickly create a 150 GB file on Ubuntu

There are various methods to create a 150 GB file on Linux, but the fastest way to do so is to use fallocate. Open a terminal window and enter the command below: $ fallocate 150G filename <enter> The above command creates a 150 gb file named filename.

How to open and use Google Drive in Linux using google-drive-ocamlfuse

Google has till date not released a Linux client for Google Drive. Result, we are dependent on 3rd party tools or applications to access Google Drive from Linux. There are a few solutions like: Grive InSync google-drive-ocamlfuse Of the above, InSync is a paid software available for about US$ 10, that solves all problems with … Continue reading How to open and use Google Drive in Linux using google-drive-ocamlfuse →

How to retrieve the mount passphrase of encrypted home folder of a user

Login as the user whose passphrase you want to see. Enter the following command in a terminal window: $ sudo ecryptfs-unwrap-passphrase ~/.ecryptfs/wrapped-passphrase <enter> Enter the user's login password when asked. You will be see a long string of digits & numbers (hexadecimal). That is the passphrase. Record it in a safe place for future retrival … Continue reading How to retrieve the mount passphrase of encrypted home folder of a user →

Kernel panic when safely removing an External USB Drive

Had an experience today! When selecting the "Safely Remove" menu option to unmount an external USB Drive and then removing the USB cable connecting to the drive from the computer, the system gave a 'Kernel Panic' error and froze. Found that the problem was due to the partition type on the external hard disk being … Continue reading Kernel panic when safely removing an External USB Drive →

Partition Transcend USB external drive (Storejet) into 2 partitions

You can partition a transcend USB external disk drive into 2 partitions using gparted. Visit http://www.gparted.org to get the software. Using gparted, the USB drive can have 2 partitions one ext4 for Linux and one NTFS for Windows. Using NTFS allows the backup of larger files to happen without intervention. Had you used a FAT32 … Continue reading Partition Transcend USB external drive (Storejet) into 2 partitions →