Encrypt Files And Folders In Ubuntu Using Seahorse

Seahorse is a Gnome front end for GnuPG - the Gnu Privacy Guard program. It is a tool for secure communications and data storage. Data encryption and digital signature creation can easily be performed through a GUI and Key Management operations can easily be carried out through an intuitive interface.

In addition it includes an agent for storing private passphrases, as well as a GnuPG and OpenSSH key manager.

Using this small application in Ubuntu (Gnome), you can quickly secure confidential files. Here is how.

Install Seahorse:

sudo apt-get install seahorse-plugins

Then restart Nautilus:

killall nautilus && nautilus &

After the installation, go to System > Accessories > Passwords and Encryption Keys and select File > New > PGP Key, then enter your name, email. You may also change the encryption method (or just leave the default option) and the encryption key length, but be aware that the longer the key, the more it will take to secure a file (but obviously, the file will be more secure). When you finish with this, you'll have to enter a passwords. That's it.

Now, to encrypt a a file or folder, right click it and select "Encrypt". This will pack the file / folder in an encrypted .pgp file. Double click that file to unpack your encrypted files (it will require a password, obviously).

[via UbuCentrum]