ncrypt

ncrypt | simple file encryption CLI

NB: You probably shouldn't use this! Go find you a battle tested encryption CLI. I'm sure its out there somewhere.

ncrypt is a very simple command line tool for file encryption and decryption.

Usage

Usage of ncrypt:
  -d, --decrypt         decrypt input instead of encrypt
  -i, --input string    input filename (default "stdin")
  -o, --output string   output filename (default "stdout")
      --passwd-stdin    read password from stdin

# Encrypt
ncrypt -i input.txt > input.txt.ncrypt

# Decrypt
ncrypt -i input.txt.ncrypt

Design

ncrypt uses argon2id for key derivation (turning your password input into an encryption key) and xchacha20poly1305 for authenticated encryption.

Why?

In a recent conversation with some folks we were dismayed at the state of encryption of private keys output by openssl. We were wanting for a simple CLI that used modern authenticated encryption to encrypt files with a password. While greate libraries exist like

• Tink
• NaCl / libsodium

we couldn't find a simple ubiquitous encryption CLI that exposed these libraries for command line users.

Whats with the name?

n -> Nathan (me) crypt -> encrypt / decrypt