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I have encrypted a few folders with encfs. I no longer want to do so; I want these folders unencrypted as before. How do I remove the folders from encfs control?

Thx

Max Popp
  • 411

1 Answers1

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First, I need to explain how encfs works. It basically uses 2 folders:

  • a rootdir folder where the encrypted data is stored (for example ~/encfs/.encrypted). It is a fully normal folder, just the data can't be read directly.
  • a mountPoint folder where the decrypted data is visible. This is the one you use (for example ~/encfs/clear). It is not a typical folder, more similar to a thumb drive.

Every modification that you make in the mountPoint is encrypted by encfs in the rootdir.

If you want to remove the data from encfs' control, you just need to move the files out of the mountPoint to another folder. Encfs will just consider that you have removed the data and will delete the corresponding files from the rootdir.

Then you probably want to get rid of the rootdir and mountPoint folders. The first step is to unmount the mountPoint:

fusermount -u ~/encfs/clear

After that, only the rootdir will remain. You can then simply remove the emptied (good idea to check first if it's really empty) folder ~/encfs/.encrypted.

Aurelien
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