Password and Files Encryption/Sync/Backup: Gettin ‘er Done!

One of my to-do list items for quite some time now has been to get my computer files organized and to set up automated backup and synchronization across my computing devices.

I’d kept putting this one off because I wanted to deal with some foundational issues first:

  • pruning down my files and eliminating duplicates both within my desktop machine’s file system as well as with my netbook’s files
  • selecting a sync solution
  • converting my password safe from my former J-Pilot/Palm solution
  • etc.

I did a ton of research and would get close to doing something then another priority would take charge and it would get put on the back burner again. Well, in recent months I’ve finally selected and put in place several needed building blocks:

  • Password Sync: originally I’d selected KeePassX but I then looked further into LastPass, which does much the same thing and has many more features bundled in – they key one being a native cloud sync and backup capability for all our passwords. Works on effectively every platform I would ever consider including my Debian (Linux Mint Debian Edition) and Linux Mint machines, my wife’s Mac and a possible future smart phone/tablet, etc. Firefox, Safari, Chrome, etc. all supported! Done on my machines, pending on the Mac (which got KeePassX in the interim). [Update 1 Jan 2014: Mac is finally done, had to update OS X to enable Safari to update to a version supported by LastPass. I’m not a Mac expert and it is just different enough from Linux/Unix that I had to figure a bit out.] Use my referral code and we’ll both get a free month of LastPass Premium! https://lastpass.com/f?2884566
  • File Sync and Cloud Backup: I selected SpiderOak because of great cross-platform support. Think of it as Dropbox but with built-in cloud encryption so no worries about the files being compromised on the server/network. I’d considered rolling my own solution using a power-sipping always-on Linux ARM-based device with rsync and/or a PogoPlug but realized SpiderOak did what I needed in much easier fashion. Done on my desktop, pending on the others.
  • Local File Encryption: Protecting our sensitive files in case of having a machine fall into someone else’s possession. I selected TrueCrypt because of (getting to sound like a broken record?) similar excellent cross-platform support. I’d considered other solutions including the built-in Windows, Linux and Mac filesystem encryption options, but what I wanted was a single solution that would work with all of them plus enable syncing the secured files across all our devices using SpiderOak. The kicker for me was when I figured out that what really required the local protection of encryption was actually quite small compared to our number of overall files – I don’t care if someone finds out what I paid for our gas bill or my various basic correspondence, yet our financial account details, tax records and similar would need protection (these files end up taking well under a Gig of space). Remember, LastPass protects all our passwords separately. Done on my desktop, others pending.

The best part of all this is that every one of these solutions is free for the basic features we need and they all work across all the machines we have and anticipate being interested in at any point in the future. If/when we grow to need additional features or capacity, they are priced quite attractively (SpiderOak and LastPass). TrueCrypt is totally free for all features. Most are open source too.

Once I realized the amount of encrypted storage required was so small, my interest in consolidating and eliminating file duplicates became a nice-to-have vs. a need (I had previously been concerned that syncing a large TrueCrypt volume over the internet would be a significant performance issue). Getting to a secure solution was more important and a brief scare when I left my netbook behind at a public dance a few weeks ago (with several financial files on it) pushed me to make that part happen sooner rather than later.

Getting a NewEgg mailing with a Shell Shocker special on a 500GB hybrid (solid state and conventional platter) drive for under $80 put the final bit in place – now my netbook could have more space than my total desktop disks, so it would all fit as is without further winnowing. And with the SSD portion of the new drive used as OS and program storage, the machine promises to scream along compared to before and last a lot longer on battery power.

In order to make this solution the best it can be, my first major consolidating step will be to start over with a totally fresh install of the latest Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) with the new disk on my Asus EeePC 1000HA and then layer in the individual pieces as described above. I’m starting on that work now and will post more when done.

I’m excited to have this work finally coming to fruition! After my netbook is done, I’ll be moving on to finishing the same things on my desktop machine and my wife’s Mac (after a required Snow Leopard update there – to update Safari – to support LastPass). Wish me luck!

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2 Responses to Password and Files Encryption/Sync/Backup: Gettin ‘er Done!

  1. Pingback: Clearing out the Cruft with Linux Tools and Best Practices | A New Don

  2. Pingback: QR Codes as a Password/Key Storage Mechanism | A New Don

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