GNU Privacy Guard (GnuPG or GPG) is a free software alternative to the PGP suite of cryptographic software. This is quick guide, howto Encrypt and Decrypt files on Linux with password using GPG.
This guide deals with both the interactive mode and the non interactive mode. Interactive mode is useful when the purpose is encrypt some files on the command line. Non interactive mode is useful when the purpose is encrypt files using scripts. This guide also deals with single file encryption/decryption and multiple files encryption/decryption simultaneously.
Linux Encrypt/Decrypt File on Linux using GPG
Encrypt File on Linux using GPG
Interactive Mode
gpg -c filename.txt
## OR ##
gpg --symmetric filename.txt
Enter passphrase: [Enter your passphrase here]
Repeat passphrase: [Repeat your passphrase here]## First run output ##
gpg: directory '/home/username/.gnupg' created
gpg: new configuration file'/home/username/.gnupg/gpg.conf' created
gpg: WARNING: options in'/home/username/.gnupg/gpg.conf' are not yet active during this run
gpg: keyring '/home/username/.gnupg/pubring.gpg' created
Enter passphrase: [Enter your passphrase here]
Repeat passphrase: [Repeat your passphrase here]
Non Interactive Mode
gpg --yes--passphrase=[Enter your passphrase here]-c filename.txt
Decrypt File on Linux using GPG
Interactive Mode
gpg filename.txt.gpg
gpg: CAST5 encrypted data
Enter passphrase: [Enter your passphrase here]
gpg: encrypted with 1 passphrase
gpg: WARNING: message was not integrity protected
## First run output ##
gpg: keyring '/home/username/.gnupg/secring.gpg' created
gpg: CAST5 encrypted data
Enter passphrase: [Enter your passphrase here]
gpg: encrypted with 1 passphrase
gpg: WARNING: message was not integrity protected
Note: If file already exists then you get following info when decrypt file
File 'filename.txt' exists. Overwrite? (y/N) y
Non Interactive Mode
gpg --yes--passphrase=[Enter your passphrase here] filename.txt.gpg
Quick Example Howto Use GPG on Command Line (Bash) Scripts
Following example is really simple backup from just created directory and files. Then script encrypts tar.gz package and remove original tar.gz file. After encryption file is safe to copy example to another server via FTP or so.
GNU Privacy Guard (GnuPG or GPG) is a free software alternative to the PGP suite of cryptographic software. This is quick guide, howto Encrypt and Decrypt files on Linux with password using GPG.
