CLANDESTINE FILES FOR WRITEMONKEY
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Version: 1.5, requires Writemonkey 2.7.0.0 or higher
Release date: October 3rd 2014
Author: Josip
Description:
Save and open password protected files using powerful AES-256 encryption.
Installation:
Unzip the "Clandestine files" directory into the plugins directory.
Deployment:
This plugin is initialized at start-up. Use CTRL+E,L to lock currently opened file.
How it works:
Clandestine files plugin uses regular zip file format to save locked writemonkey file. Zip files can be encrypted using strong AES-256 encryption which is unbreakable by today's standards. That is as long you use passwords that cannot be guessed or brute forced easily.
To lock a file, first open or create normal text file, for example "some_file.md". Then hit CTRL+E,L to bring up password dialog. Enter your password (twice), hit Enter and that's it. The plugin will create new file - "some_file.md.LCKD". This file is now encrypted but you can use it as any ordinary writemonkey file. You'll be asked for a password when you attempt to open it.
CAUTION! Use good passwords, but do not forget them. Forgotten password cannot be recovered by any means except by your remembrance. If that fails, your words are lost!
Additional points:
- Nice side effect of using zip standard is that clandestine files are not only encrypted, but also compressed.
- Passwords are never stored anywhere, except implicitly into the locked file itself.
- After you lock the file, unlocked version is never written anywhere, not even as a temporary file.
- LCKD extension is mandatory for writemonkey clandestine files but you can use some other extension if you need to - see _config.incl file, setting FILE_EXTENSION.
- Clandestine files can be unlocked using many regular zip clients --> just rename "name.ext.LCKD" file to "name.ext.zip" and open it as any other zip file. You'll be asked for password, of course.
- When you create locked file from an ordinary file, the original file is deleted by default. You can prevent that by changing the DELETE_ORIGINAL_FILE setting in _config.incl file.
- You can choose how often you'll be asked for a password (ASK_FOR_PASSWORD setting in _config.incl file). Clandestine files plugin can remember provided passwords for the duration of current session - until wm is closed. The options are:
- 1 = always / will ask for the password every time you attempt to open the file
- 2 = per session / will ask for a password the first time and then remember it until wm is closed
- 3 = assume the same / like "per session" but will also assume other files are encrypted with the last successfully used password and will attempt to use it to open previously unopened locked files