Thursday, November 8, 2012

Encrypt/Decrypt Files From Nautilus Context Menu Under Ubuntu 12.10/12.04



In this tutorial, we will see how to encrypt or decrypt your files using the Nautilus context menu (right-click
 menu) under Ubuntu. To do this, we will need to install the seahorse-nautilus plugin. But, before installing it, you need to add a PGP key so that you can encrypt with it your files.

Adding A PGP Key

Open the Unity Dash and search and open "Passwords and Keys":



Click the add button, select "PGP Key", then click Continue:


Enter now your details (full name, email address, etc.) and click Create:



Submit now a passphrase for this new key:


Wait now until the key is completely generated.

Installing Seahorse-Nautilus

Open the terminal and install the seahorse-nautilus plug-in under Ubuntu 12.10/12.04 or older with this command:

sudo apt-get install seahorse-nautilus

Reset nautilus with these commands:

nautilus -q 
nautilus

Encrypt/Decrypt Files

Right click now any file and select Encrypt:



In the window that will pop-up, select your key, set "Sign message as: Your key" and click OK:


Another window will pop-up which will allow you to save your encrypted file. You will be required now to enter the passphrase associated with your PGP key:


Your file is now encrypted. To decrypt it, double-click the file or right click it and select "Open With Decrypt File":


Enter your passphrase to unlock it.

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