UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hello guys !

I have used "crypt <first> second" command to encrypt "first" to "second" file. i have assign a key for that of course.

Now when i try to look content of "seocnd" file through "cat second" command, the file is encrypted and cannot be read which is according to plan.

But when i decrypt the same file ("crypt <first> second") and gave the same key and try to see contents of file "second", it is still encrypted why ?

after decryption, you should not be able to see the contents of file in plain text ?

Please help me in this regad.

Thanks and Regards
Abid Malik

To decrypt, the input must the encrypted file. You are just running the encyption step twice.

crypt < plain > encrypted ## encrypt file
crypt < encrypted ## view the file

Oops! I guess Perderabo was editing when I was!!

Anyway, you have a few issues here.


First, you can't use cat. If you want to view an encrypted file, you must use the [B]vi -x <filename> command. Usually the crypted file ends in *.x]/B]

Next, when you decrypt the file, you are extracting the file from the encrypted file. I believe that you must give a filename for it to extract to.

It appears that you didn't reverse the order of first second to second first when you were decrypting.

to encrypt:
crypt <file1 >file2.x

to decrypt:
crypt <file2.x >file1

Of course, you will have to cleanup any unencrypted files that you create or clear the screen to erase what went to std out.


This should fix your problem.

Hello there !

First of let me Thank "Kelam_magnus" and "Perderabo" for solving my problem and helping to understand that encryption issue.

I got it very well. You both are right. i tried both ways and it did work fine.

this is what i did.

----------------- for encryption of "first" to "second"------------

$> crypt <first> second
$> enter Key: test
$>
----------------- for decryption----------------------------
$> crypt < second
$> enter Key: test

and it shows me the content of file.

then i tried in vi.. Kelam_magnus is right about -x option of vi. it uses for cryption and decryption.

vi -x second
enter key: test

and here is contents of file.

one thing i notice that the encryption file donot have to be end with .x or anything. i am not positive but it worked fine without it.

Thanks again and see you in my next question.

Abid Malik