Green: Files

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cryptkeeper-icon.png" alt="encrypt folders linux" />Easily add encrypted folders to your Linux computer. Locking down your files doesn’t get any easier than CryptKeeper, a shockingly simple piece of encryption software that locks down individual folders. Just tell CryptKeeper where you’d like your new encrypted folder to be and what password you’d like to protect it with.

In the past we’ve covered Truecrypt, which makes class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/encrypted-folders-truecrypt-7/">encrypted folders others cannot view. That’s a great program for Linux, Mac and Windows computers – there’s even an upcoming MakeUseOf manual with in-depth coverage of all its features. Stay tuned for that.

CryptKeeper has its own advantages, however. It does one thing and does it very well. If all you want is a specific folder on your computer to be protected from prying eyes, CryptKeeper has you covered. Since this is all CryptKeeper does, it’s simpler in many ways than Truecrypt.

Encrypting Your Files

CryptKeeper runs in your system tray. Click the icon and you’ll see your encrypted drives:

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cryptkeeper-tray.png" alt="encrypt folders linux" width="430" height="163" />

The first time you click this you’ll see the preferences. Take a look at them and you’ll have the options above. If you already have a EncFS file, you can import it easily. If you don’t know what that means, simply click “New Encrypted Folder” to get started.

You’ll see a window for creating your folder:

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cryptkeeper-new.png" alt="encrypt files linux" width="580" height="156" />

Figure out where you want your encrypted folder to be, and what you want it to be called. Then you’ll have to pick a password for the encrypted folder. Remember that if you forget this password, you’ve basically deleted your encrypted folders. Be sure to class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/create-strong-password-forget/">create a strong password that you won’t forget.

Once you’ve created your encrypted folder, you’ll see it in your file browser:

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cryptkeeper-folder.png" alt="encrypt folders linux" width="580" height="154" />

As you can see, the system mounts the encrypted folder as a “drive”. You can easily move files in and out of this drive just as you would with any other. Moving large files into this folder may be a slow process; encryption takes a while. Still, the security is worth it.

Installation

Installing software on Linux is easy. Just fire up your system’s package manager and install the “cryptkeeper” package. If you’re on Ubuntu it’s even easier: simply class="vt-p" href="apt:cryptkeeper">click here to install CryptKeeper.

Once you’ve installed CryptKeeper you’ll find the software in your menu. Fire it up!

Get It Working In Unity

Fire it up in Ubunty 11.04, however, and you’ll notice that nothing happens. This is because Unity abandoned the old system tray in favour of class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/readd-functionality-ubuntus-tray-indicator-applets">indicator applets. Never fear, though; there is a fix. Simply type these two commands:

gsettings set com.canonical.Unity.Panel systray-whitelist "['JavaEmbeddedFrame', 'Wine', 'Skype', 'Cryptkeeper']"/> setsid unity

The first command allows certain programs to show up in the system tray; the second restarts Unity. Hopefully, with future versions of CryptKeeper, this will not be necessary.

If you’re interested, I found the above commands in class="vt-p" href="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/cryptkeeper/+bug/689071">a bug report about this issue.

Conclusion

Encrypting files is essential if you want to ensure they’re safe. Losing your computer to a thief is bad enough. Having people access your personal files could be even worse. This is a great way to protect yourself.

Do you have any additional safety tips? Share them in the comments below, along with any alternative programs for this process.

href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/encrypt-protect-computer-files-cryptkeeper-linux/">Encrypt & Protect Your Computer Files With CryptKeeper [Linux] is a post from: href="http://www.makeuseof.com">MakeUseOf

More articles about: href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/data/" title="data" rel="tag">data, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/encryption/" title="encryption" rel="tag">encryption, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/privacy/" title="privacy" rel="tag">privacy, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/security/" title="security" rel="tag">security, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/security-tips/" title="security tips" rel="tag">security tips/>

The Interface

mp3DirectCut has a clear interface, which provides easy access to all key features. Editing and playback buttons sit at the bottom of the window, navigation in the middle, topped by the MPEG audio data waveform.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/mp3DirectCut04.png" border="0" alt="compress mp3 file" />

Just underneath the menubar sits a list of smaller buttons that provide one-click access to further editing features, including ID3 tag editing or moving selection by frame. If you’re unsure what a button will do, hover with the mouse over it for a tooltip clue.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/mp3DirectCut03.png" border="0" alt="compressing mp3 files" />

A Closer Look

When you open, edit, or save files mp3DirectCut may show a note, such as the one below. Similar tips can be found throughout the program. This is a great feature for new users, as the notes highlight important points and guide the user.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/mp3DirectCut01.png" border="0" alt="compressing mp3 files" />

mp3DirectCut is very intuitive to use. You can edit mp3 files using the mouse, menu, buttons, or keyboard shortcuts. For several actions there is more than one way to get to the same result, making it easier to find it right away. As mentioned above, if you’re unsure what a button does, just have a peek at the tooltip.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/mp3DirectCut05.png" border="0" alt="compressing mp3 files" />

For example you can change the volume of an MP3 file or only a section by dragging the grey grips of a cue up or down or click the keyboard shortcut [CTRL] + [UP] or [DOWN]. The brown color indicates that the volume was adjusted. You can then jump to the next cue to the left or right using the respective key in the navigation window or by clicking the keyboard shortcut [CTRL] + [LEFT] or [RIGHT].

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/mp3DirectCut07.png" border="0" alt="mp3 compression" />

To summarize, the program is straightforward and easy to learn using trial and error. If you’re stuck, there is always the class="vt-p" title="mp3DirectCut User Manual" href="ftp://148.228.156.172/pub/Programas/Lupo%20PenSuite%20v6.62%20Full/Apps/mp3DirectCut/Manual.htm#basic">user manual that you can consult. You can also find the link under > ? > Manual.

So to conclude, let me just highlight the…

3 Best Features

These are the best features as I see them.

Editing Several Files In Parallel

File > New program window will open an additional instance of mp3DirectCut, allowing you to edit several audio files in parallel.

High Speed Recording

With > Special > “High speed” recording you can record 33 rpm longplay records with 45 rpm playback and also set other grabbing speeds as needed.

Pause Detection… & Saving Split File

So you recorded an entire LP and now you want to split it up into single MP3 files? Go to > Special > Pause detection, and adjust the settings. When the tool is done adding the cues, close the Pause detection window.

You now need to change the cues to mark the end of a file. One after another, click each cue and go to > Edit > Names and part properties (or click the respective button), where you need to check > Cue. When you have done all cues, go to > File > Save split to save every region beginning with a cue to a new file.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/mp3DirectCut06.png" border="0" alt="compress mp3 file" />

If you need more help figuring out this program, know that mp3DirectCut comes with a good class="vt-p" title="mp3DirectCut User Manual" href="ftp://148.228.156.172/pub/Programas/Lupo%20PenSuite%20v6.62%20Full/Apps/mp3DirectCut/Manual.htm#basic">user manual, which also features a list of keyboard shortcuts and command line options.

Looking for more MP3 editing tools? Have a look at these articles:

class="vt-p" title="The Top 5 Free Tools To Split Or Merge Music Files" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-5-free-tools-split-merge-music-files/">The Top 5 Free Tools To Split Or Merge Music Files
class="vt-p" title="Media Cope – An All In One Media Player, Cutter & Converter" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/media-cope-an-all-in-one-media-player-cutter-converter/">Media Cope – An All In One Media Player, Cutter & Converter
class="vt-p" title="Normalize MP3 Volume Levels with MP3Gain" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/normalize-all-your-mp3-volume-levels-with-mp3gain/">Normalize MP3 Volume Levels with MP3Gain
class="vt-p" title="18 Online Tools to Edit, Mix and Enhance your Videos" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/free-video-editing-tools/">18 Online Tools to Edit, Mix and Enhance your Videos
class="vt-p" title="Remove MP3 ID3 Music Tags With ID3 Tag Remover" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/remove-mp3-id3-music-tags-with-id3-tag-remover/">Remove MP3 ID3 Music Tags With ID3 Tag Remover

What are your favorite features or what do you think is missing in mp3DirectCut editor? Please share your impressions in the comments.

href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/edit-record-compressed-mp3-files-decompressing-mp3directcut/">Edit & Record Compressed MP3 Files Without Decompressing With MP3DirectCut is a post from: href="http://www.makeuseof.com">MakeUseOf

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Green

Thursday, 23 June 2011

Encrypt & Protect Your Computer Files With CryptKeeper [Linux]