mirror of
https://github.com/Llewellynvdm/Tomb.git
synced 2024-12-23 02:28:58 +00:00
giving the README a good start
This commit is contained in:
parent
4fed7db5dd
commit
3c3f1834f3
81
README
81
README
@ -12,7 +12,84 @@ X~ `?888888hx~ ...ue888b .888: x888 x888. 8888 .
|
||||
' "*88888888* 'Y" `~ " `"` `%888*%"
|
||||
^"***"` "`
|
||||
|
||||
a simple commandline tool to manage encrypted storage
|
||||
by Jaromil
|
||||
a simple commandline tool to manage encrypted storage v.0.8
|
||||
http://crypto.dyne.org by Jaromil
|
||||
|
||||
Tomb aims to be a free and open source system for easy encryption and
|
||||
backup of personal files, written in code that is easy to review and
|
||||
links shared OS components.
|
||||
|
||||
At present time, Tomb consists of a simple shell script (Zsh) that
|
||||
uses using standard filesystem tools (GNU) and and the cryptographic
|
||||
API of the Linux kernel (cryptsetup and LUKS).
|
||||
|
||||
In future Tomb will grow to facilitate proper use of encryption by
|
||||
unexperienced users, probably also prividing a graphical user
|
||||
interface, as well a porting to Apple/OSX.
|
||||
|
||||
** Who needs Tomb
|
||||
|
||||
Our target community are desktop users with no time to click around,
|
||||
sometimes using old or borrowed computers, operating in places
|
||||
endangered by conflict where a leak of personal data can be a threat.
|
||||
|
||||
If you don't own a laptop then it's possible to go around with a USB
|
||||
stick and borrow computers, still leaving no trace and keeping your
|
||||
data safe during transports. Tomb aims to facilitate all this and to
|
||||
be interoperable across popular GNU/Linux operating systems.
|
||||
|
||||
** How does it works
|
||||
|
||||
Tomb generates 'key files' and protects them with a password choosen
|
||||
by the user; the key files are then used to encrypt loop-back mounted
|
||||
partitions, like single files containing a filesystem inside: this way
|
||||
keys can be separated from data for safer transports when
|
||||
required.
|
||||
|
||||
** Stage of development
|
||||
|
||||
Tomb is an evolution of the 'mknest' tool developed for the dyne:bolic
|
||||
GNU/Linux distribution, which is used by its 'nesting' mechanism to
|
||||
encrypt the Home directory of users.
|
||||
|
||||
As such, it uses well tested and reviewed routines and its shell code
|
||||
is pretty readable. The name transition from 'mknest' to 'tomb' is
|
||||
marked by the adaptation of mknest to work on the Debian operating
|
||||
system, used by its author in the past 3 years.
|
||||
|
||||
** How can you help
|
||||
|
||||
Code is pretty short and readable: start looking around it and the
|
||||
materials found in doc/ which are good pointers at security measures
|
||||
to be further implemented.
|
||||
|
||||
Best of all at this stage would be if you like to code a Graphical
|
||||
Interface, possibly in QT4, that would use the script to make simple
|
||||
operations: something pretty easy and intuitive, with a few big
|
||||
buttons, for unexperienced users, can be a good start.
|
||||
|
||||
** Aren't there enough encryption tools already?
|
||||
|
||||
I've felt the urgency of publishing Tomb for other operating systems
|
||||
than dyne:bolic since the current situation with TrueCrypt[1] is far
|
||||
from optimal. TrueCrypt makes use of statically linked libraries, its
|
||||
code is not hosted on CVS nor considered free[2] by GNU/Linux
|
||||
distributions because of liability reasons, see Debian[3], Ubuntu[4],
|
||||
Suse[5], Gentoo[6] and Fedora[7].
|
||||
|
||||
Seen from this perspective, Tomb is intended as a rewrite of most
|
||||
functionalities offered by TrueCrypt in a new application, confident
|
||||
it won't take much relying on previous experience and aiming at:
|
||||
|
||||
- short and readable code, linking shared libs and common components
|
||||
- easy graphical interface, simple for ad-hoc (DIY-deniable)
|
||||
- transparent and distributed development hosted using GIT
|
||||
- GNU General Public License v3
|
||||
|
||||
[1] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrueCrypt]
|
||||
[2] [http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/distributions/2008-October/000276.html]
|
||||
[3] [http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=364034]
|
||||
[4] [https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/109701]
|
||||
[5] [http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-buildservice/2008-10/msg00055.html]
|
||||
[6] [http://bugs.gentoo.org/show\_bug.cgi?id=241650]
|
||||
[7] [https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/ForbiddenItems#TrueCrypt]
|
||||
|
Loading…
Reference in New Issue
Block a user