encFS mini App

Overview

With encFS you can create encrypted filesystems. I use it on my Mac for important files and it works great. But I had to open the Terminal App and do the mounting. I wanted something simpler, something I can click on!

So I played around with AppleScript and created this simple App. On first start the App will search for a file .doencfs.plist in the users home directory. This is a simple file in the Apple Property List format:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
    <dict>
        <key>mountpoint</key>
        <string>/Users/myuser/mymountpoint/</string>
        <key>rootdir</key>
        <string>/Users/myuser/myencryptedroot/</string>
    </dict>
</plist>

You can create it in the home directory yourself if you like. If doencfs will not find the file, then it will prompt you to select the encrypted root folder and mountpoint. After that it will write the .doencfs.plist file in your home folder.

If the file is already present or is just created then you will be asked for your encfs password and the directory will be mounted.

You will have to install encFS first. I can recommend the installation with HomeBrew.

Important Note

Please be careful! Do not run it if you already have mounted your encrypted root! It seems that encFS will just mount it again. I do not know what the consequences will be!