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| <<Include(WikiGuide/Toolkit/MenuBar)>> | #language en #pragma section-numbers on #title Full System Encryption with Extras |
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| = Full disk manual encryption = | ||<tablestyle="float:right; font-size: 0.9em; width:40%; background:#F1F1ED; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" style="padding:0.5em;"><<TableOfContents(2)>>|| |
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| ||<tablestyle="float:right; font-size: 0.9em; width:40%; background:#F1F1ED; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" style="padding:0.5em;"><<TableOfContents>>|| | |
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| == Background == | = Purpose = |
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| === Default installation options === | |
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| The Ubuntu Installer provides two encryption options upon installation. | This document is for you if you wish to use '''full system encryption''' with all of these features: |
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| 1. Encrypted home folder. This protects only your personal data, not the programs or anything else (although swap is encrypted). 1. Full-disk encryption, which protects everything, including the surreptitious installation of malware. |
* LUKS * LVM * encrypted Boot * manual partitioning |
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| Unfortunately, both of these options have important problems. | and optionally any of these features: |
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| 1. Encrypted home folder * Leaves the system open to anyone with physical access to install a keylogger or any other malware. * Hibernation isn't enabled. * Temporary files are stored by default on unencrypted `/tmp`, which is unencrypted, and can leave exposed data. 1. Full-disk encryption * You cannot dual-boot with another system, and your entire disk is wiped. So, if you have Windows, well, goodbye Windows! * Boot is unencrypted, leaving an open vector for malware. * It doesn't support manual partitioning; * or hibernation; * or dual-booting; * or multiple disks (e.g. one SSD and one hard drive). |
* encrypted hibernation * hybrid suspend * dual-booting * multi-disk installation |
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| === The manual system === | As LVM is used, you can also use snapshots. This advanced topic is not covered here, but it is mentioned in the partitioning section. |
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| ==== The pros ==== | |
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| * Full encryption using LUKS; * including Boot * Manual partitioning; * with LVM * |
= Caveats = |
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| == Why use encryption? == | It is important for you to know the possible limitations (described in the [[/Background|Background]]) and the potential problems. * Always, when you install a system, there is a chance of '''data loss'''. No matter how careful you are, sometimes a person makes a silly mistake. For example, you accidentally delete the Windows partition. Or, something else can go wrong (I've had an installation cause data loss because a previously-unused part of the hard drive was faulty and caused it to crash). Therefore: {{{#!wiki warning Take a '''''full backup''''' of '''''all of your data''''' before you start the process. }}} If you know how to use [[http://clonezilla.org/|CloneZilla]], you would be well advised to back up your entire disk beforehand. * The process optionally enables '''hibernation'''. While this should work well, some people have reported hardware that doesn't support it. So, you will need to test this on your machine after installation. * A consequence of full system encryption is that you need to type in your passphrase '''each time you power on''' your computer, including after hibernation. * An unfortunate and inconvenient quirk is that if you mistype the passphrase, you have to reboot your computer to try again. I do not know a way around this. * If you share your computer with anyone else, '''they need to know the passphrase''', even if they only use Windows. * You need a '''strong passphrase''' to prevent a hacker with physical access to your machine from breaking the encryption. You can look up "strong passphrase" for yourself; here's a [[https://theintercept.com/2015/03/26/passphrases-can-memorize-attackers-cant-guess/|pretty good method]] for paranoid mode. * Having a strong passphrase does not obviate the need for a '''good account password'''. Without a password, or with only a weak password: * You cannot lock the computer when it is unattended and powered on. * Anyone with physical access, or a hacker with Internet access, will find it easy to access your account and steal data or install malware such as a keylogger. Remember that the ''passphrase for your computer'' and the ''password for your account'' are not the same. One lets you access your computer in the first place, whereas the other lets you log in after you have accessed your computer.<<FootNote(In this context, the terms "passphrase" and "password" are interchangeable, but in this document, I use "passphrase" for your computer decryption, and "password" for your account login.)>> * This process has been tested for a modern computer with EFI. See [[/Basics#EFI|Basics → EFI]] for further information. * Encrypting everything is more CPU-intensive. Modern computers tend to have fast multiple CPUs and dedicated AES (encryption) chips, so on a modern computer, this poses no problem at all. You would be likely to notice slower responses only on very old computers. * This process has been test on Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial Xerus) and partially on Ubuntu 16.10 (Yakkety Yak). It is unlikely to work on previous versions. It will probably will work on later versions, at least for a few years. = Distributions other than Ubuntu = This process has not been tested on other Linux versions, but all Ubuntu-based distributions (, e.g. [[http://lubuntu.net/|Lubuntu]] and [[https://linuxmint.com/|Mint]]) are likely to work with this process. = Document Structure = Because the default Ubuntu Installer supports only the first two of the above-mentioned features (i.e. LUKS and LVM), and even then only for full-disk encryption, this installation process is rather more complicated than you might prefer. Thus, this document is organised into several sections. They are intended to be read in the order given here. 1. [[/Background|Background]]<<BR>>A summary of the options; features; benefits and downsides; and purpose and limitations.<<BR>> It contains important notes and further caveats, so please read the Background before proceeding. 1. [[/Basics|Basics of]]… * Hybrid suspend * Command line interface (CLI), aka the terminal * EFI (aka UEFI) * Partitioning… * … including naming of partitions and file systems * LUKS * LVM * Text files, including how to edit them If you are new to Linux, or you don't know much about some or all of these features, this section is for you. You can safely skip the Basics if you are already familiar with all of these concepts.<<BR>> 1. [[/Overview|High-level overview]]<<BR>>What this process will achieve, and what you need to do to prepare. It includes freeing space on your hard drive if your current system has taken it all. 1. [[/Process|Detailed process]]<<BR>>Exactly how to prepare your system and install Ubuntu with encryption. Checkpoints are given along the way. It takes into account dual-booting and, optionally, paranoid mode. 1. [[/Troubleshooting|Troubleshooting]]<<BR>>Sometimes something goes wrong and you struggle to figure out what. Errors and their messages can seem bewildering. Here are some pointers. ---- ---------- |
1. Purpose
This document is for you if you wish to use full system encryption with all of these features:
- LUKS
- LVM
- encrypted Boot
- manual partitioning
and optionally any of these features:
- encrypted hibernation
- hybrid suspend
- dual-booting
- multi-disk installation
As LVM is used, you can also use snapshots. This advanced topic is not covered here, but it is mentioned in the partitioning section.
2. Caveats
It is important for you to know the possible limitations (described in the Background) and the potential problems.
Always, when you install a system, there is a chance of data loss. No matter how careful you are, sometimes a person makes a silly mistake. For example, you accidentally delete the Windows partition. Or, something else can go wrong (I've had an installation cause data loss because a previously-unused part of the hard drive was faulty and caused it to crash). Therefore:
Take a full backup of all of your data before you start the process.
If you know how to use CloneZilla, you would be well advised to back up your entire disk beforehand.
The process optionally enables hibernation. While this should work well, some people have reported hardware that doesn't support it. So, you will need to test this on your machine after installation.
A consequence of full system encryption is that you need to type in your passphrase each time you power on your computer, including after hibernation.
- An unfortunate and inconvenient quirk is that if you mistype the passphrase, you have to reboot your computer to try again. I do not know a way around this.
If you share your computer with anyone else, they need to know the passphrase, even if they only use Windows.
You need a strong passphrase to prevent a hacker with physical access to your machine from breaking the encryption. You can look up "strong passphrase" for yourself; here's a pretty good method for paranoid mode.
Having a strong passphrase does not obviate the need for a good account password. Without a password, or with only a weak password:
- You cannot lock the computer when it is unattended and powered on.
- Anyone with physical access, or a hacker with Internet access, will find it easy to access your account and steal data or install malware such as a keylogger.
Remember that the passphrase for your computer and the password for your account are not the same. One lets you access your computer in the first place, whereas the other lets you log in after you have accessed your computer.1
This process has been tested for a modern computer with EFI. See Basics → EFI for further information.
- Encrypting everything is more CPU-intensive. Modern computers tend to have fast multiple CPUs and dedicated AES (encryption) chips, so on a modern computer, this poses no problem at all. You would be likely to notice slower responses only on very old computers.
- This process has been test on Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial Xerus) and partially on Ubuntu 16.10 (Yakkety Yak). It is unlikely to work on previous versions. It will probably will work on later versions, at least for a few years.
3. Distributions other than Ubuntu
This process has not been tested on other Linux versions, but all Ubuntu-based distributions (, e.g. Lubuntu and Mint) are likely to work with this process.
4. Document Structure
Because the default Ubuntu Installer supports only the first two of the above-mentioned features (i.e. LUKS and LVM), and even then only for full-disk encryption, this installation process is rather more complicated than you might prefer. Thus, this document is organised into several sections. They are intended to be read in the order given here.
Background
A summary of the options; features; benefits and downsides; and purpose and limitations.
It contains important notes and further caveats, so please read the Background before proceeding.- Hybrid suspend
- Command line interface (CLI), aka the terminal
- EFI (aka UEFI)
- Partitioning…
- … including naming of partitions and file systems
- LUKS
- LVM
- Text files, including how to edit them
If you are new to Linux, or you don't know much about some or all of these features, this section is for you. You can safely skip the Basics if you are already familiar with all of these concepts.
High-level overview
What this process will achieve, and what you need to do to prepare. It includes freeing space on your hard drive if your current system has taken it all.Detailed process
Exactly how to prepare your system and install Ubuntu with encryption. Checkpoints are given along the way. It takes into account dual-booting and, optionally, paranoid mode.Troubleshooting
Sometimes something goes wrong and you struggle to figure out what. Errors and their messages can seem bewildering. Here are some pointers.
In this context, the terms "passphrase" and "password" are interchangeable, but in this document, I use "passphrase" for your computer decryption, and "password" for your account login. (1)
paddy-landau/sandbox (last edited 2017-04-04 18:58:46 by paddy-landau)