ccrypt is a tool for encrypting and decrypting files and streams. It is based on the Rijndael block cipher, a version of which is also used in the Advanced Encryption Standard. This cipher is believed to provide very strong security.
The algorithm provided by ccrypt is not symmetric, i.e., one must specify whether to encrypt or decrypt. The most common way to invoke ccrypt is via the commands ccencrypt and ccdecrypt. There is also a ccat command for decrypting a file directly to the terminal, thus reducing the likelihood of leaving temporary plaintext files around. In addition, there is a compatibility mode for decrypting legacy files from the ancient Unix crypt(1) command. An emacs mode is also supplied for editing encrypted text files.
Encryption and decryption depends on a keyword (or key phrase) supplied by the user. By default, the user is prompted to enter a keyword from the terminal. Keywords can consist of any number of characters, and all characters are significant (although ccrypt internally hashes the key to 256 bits). Longer keywords provide better security than short ones, since they are less likely to be discovered by exhaustive search.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Cross-platform support – runs under Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, HP-UX, AIX, Solaris, Minix, Android, macOS, and Windows.
Website: ccrypt.sourceforge.net
Support:
Developer: Peter Selinger, Joshua Redstone
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
ccrypt is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| CLI File Encryption Tools | |
|---|---|
| SOPS | Editor of encrypted files |
| age | Simple file encryption tool |
| GnuPG | Implementation of the OpenPGP standard |
| Sequoia PGP | Comprehensive OpenPGP implementation |
| horcrux | File splitter with encryption and redundancy |
| rage | Simple encryption tool using the age format |
| Kryptor | Simple, modern, and secure file encryption and signing tool |
| Picocrypt | Very small (hence Pico), very simple, yet very secure encryption tool |
| fscrypt | Go tool for managing Linux filesystem encryption |
| enc | Designed as a modern, approachable alternative to GnuPG |
| ccrypt | Tool for encrypting and decrypting files and streams |
| Encpipe | Billed as the simplest encryption tool in the world |
| Volaris | Encryption tool designed to prioritize privacy and security |
| eddy | Simple and fast CLI file encryption |
| Xecrets Cli | AxCrypt compatible encryption tool |
| nacrypt | Simple and easy-to-use file encryption utility |
| v02enc | Symmetric encryption for multiple recipients |
| rsecure | AES-GCM file encryption and decryption tool |
| PurrCrypt | Fur-ociously secure encryption tool |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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