Secure Your Data on Chromebook with Vaults: A Comprehensive Guide

Have you ever wished to protect your personal files and documents on your Chromebook? Look no further than the Vaults app—an effective Linux application that leverages encryption to create secure containers, ensuring the safety of your sensitive data.

Activating Linux on Your Chromebook: A Step-by-Step Guide

Enable the Linux Development Environment

Chromebooks are capable of running Linux applications through the Linux development environment, but it requires activation. To get started, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings: Click the clock icon on your Chrome OS dashboard.
2. Access Advanced Settings: In the menu that appears, locate and click the gear icon to enter Settings. Scroll down and select the "Advanced" menu to unveil additional options.
3. Locate Developers: Within the advanced settings, find the "Developers" section and click on it.
4. Activate Linux: Look for the "Linux development environment" option, and click the "Turn on" button. Chrome OS will initiate the setup process for Linux, downloading a terminal application which you’ll use to access the command line.

Keeping Your Linux Environment Up-to-Date

With the terminal open, it’s essential to keep your Linux container updated. Utilize the following commands to ensure you have the latest software:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Once your Linux environment is current, you’ll be ready to install the Vaults application alongside other Linux apps.

Installing Vaults on Your Chromebook: Essential Steps

Prerequisites: Installing CryFS and GoCryptFS

Before installing Vaults, you need to set up two filesystems—CryFS and GoCryptFS—as the application does not include them by default. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Terminal: Access the terminal by searching "Terminal" in your app menu.
2. Install Filesystems: Run the following command:

sudo apt install cryfs gocryptfs

Once installed, you will have encryption options available. Next, you must set up Flatpak, a sandboxed packaging system which is crucial for installing Vaults.

Setting Up Flatpak

To get Flatpak functioning, enter this command:

sudo apt install flatpak nautilus

After Flatpak is set up, you need to install the Flathub app store, as Vaults is hosted there. Execute the following:

flatpak --user remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Finally, install the Vaults application:

flatpak install flathub io.github.mpobaschnig.Vaults

Creating and Accessing Your Vaults

Setting Up Your First Vault

To start using Vaults, the first step is to create a vault. Launch the Vaults app from the "Linux apps" section of your Chromebook. Here’s how to create your vault:

1. Open Vaults App: Find and click the “+” icon to initiate the process.
2. Create a New Vault: Choose "New vault," name your vault, and select either GoCryptFS or CryFS as your backend. Click "Next" to proceed.

1. Choose a Password: Set a strong password for your vault (input it twice for confirmation) and then click "Next" again.

1. Confirm Storage Locations: The app will inform you of the directory locations for your encrypted data and the mounted unencrypted folder. Click “Add” to finalize your new vault.

Accessing Your Vault

To access your newly created vault, follow these steps:

1. Open Vaults App: Launch the app and locate your vault.
2. Unlock Your Vault: Click the lock icon and enter your vault password. Once authenticated, your vault will decrypt.
3. Open in File Manager: Select the folder icon to open it in the Linux file manager for easy access to your files.

Pro Tip

To simplify adding files to your vault, use the Chrome OS Files app to transfer files into the "Linux" folder, and access them through your Linux file manager to easily add them to your vault.

Conclusion

Using the Vaults app on your Chromebook is an efficient way to protect your important files. By following this guide, you can ensure that your sensitive information remains secure, utilizing powerful encryption methods tailored for your Linux environment. Embrace the power of encryption and safeguard your digital life today!