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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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VPS encryption (self.linux)

submitted 3 months ago by ouch to c/[email protected]

31 comments fedilink hide all child comments

How would you protect files of a VPS (Virtual Private Server) from snooping by the service provider?

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[–] NegativeLookBehind -3 points 3 months ago (2 children)

LUKS

VPN

Encrypt sensitive files

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago

That only works if the decryption is happening on hardware you control. You can not trust any part of the VPS including the memory and CPU

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (3 children)

So how do you decrypt the LUKS vault when you have no sshd running as that thing is not up yet?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

you can but an ssh server in your initramfs.
dropbear-initramfs i guess was the name in debian.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Pretty cool!

Android and ChromeOS both also just use fuse for userspace (and user-files) encryption. This could totally be used too.

But of course, if something is not on your RAM it is not safe

[–] NegativeLookBehind 1 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Do VPSs typical give you LOM? Honest question. Maybe LUKs isn’t good if you can’t console in.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

LUKS, or anything that relies on the server encrypting, is highly vulnerable (see [email protected]'s response).

Your best bet would be encrypting client side before it arrives on the server using a solution like rclone, restic, borg, etc.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

Yes. No proof their LUKS prompt isnt tampered with

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Yeah, at least the ones I used have some kind of console/terminal you can use and often you can access BIOS and reinstall the OS if you want.

[–] JubilantJaguar 1 points 3 months ago

Another option: encrypt a sparse file rather than a disk volume. Mount the file to local filesystem and open and close it there.