zip --encrypt -r secured_backup.zip my_folder/
Optional: To add a password, you will need to add the .tar file into a 7z archive and set a password in the encryption section.
When password-protecting your archives, keep these security guidelines in mind:
Do you need to inside a script or cron job? Are you dealing with exceptionally large file sizes ? password protect tar.gz file
-aes-256-cbc : Specifies the Advanced Encryption Standard with a 256-bit key in Cipher Block Chaining mode. -e : Explicitly tells OpenSSL to encrypt the stream. Decrypting with OpenSSL
gpg --symmetric --cipher-algo AES256 myfiles.tar.gz
The gpgtar utility is a convenient wrapper that combines tar and gpg into one seamless command. This is often the easiest method. zip --encrypt -r secured_backup
To decrypt the OpenSSL file and extract the contents immediately, use this command:
gpg catches the data stream, encrypts it on the fly, and saves the final secure file. How to Decrypt and Extract It: gpg -d archive.tar.gz.gpg | tar -xzvf - Use code with caution. Method 3: Use OpenSSL (Alternative Linux/macOS Method)
tar czf - my_folder | gpg -c -o my_folder.tar.gz.gpg This is often the easiest method
OpenSSL is another widely available utility that offers powerful cryptographic functions. It is ideal if you need to use specific encryption algorithms like AES-256. How to Compress and Encrypt
openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -salt -pbkdf2 -in existing_file.tar.gz -out secured_file.tar.gz.enc Use code with caution. Alternative: Using the Zip Format