Arch Linux

Arm-the-Homeless

Member

Registered: 2008-12-22

Posts: 273

encfs: Recover .enfs6.xml file?

During that whole boost update fiasco, encfs overwrote my .encfs6.xml file (which is used to decrypt the files).

I don't have a backup of it, but I do know the password. Is there any way how I can make a new one?

Rupes

Member

Registered: 2010-05-02

Posts: 2

Re: encfs: Recover .enfs6.xml file?

You can try unmounting the partition the file was on (use a live cd if it necessary) and then:

grep -a -B100 -A100 "EncFS 1.5" /dev/sda3 > ~/recoveryfile

Replace sda3 with your partition. Change the encfs version number to search for if necessary (mine is 1.5).
Alternatively search for any other string you can find in an encs6 xml file, e.g.encodedKeyData, saltLen, saltData.

The resulting file will hopefully contain the info you need. Copy the relevant lines, create a new .encfs6.xml file and try it out. Worked for me. If it doesn't work for you I don't think there is much you can do. Good luck.