LUKS: Difference between revisions

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Some external information that may also be helpful is the [https://gitlab.com/cryptsetup/cryptsetup/-/wikis/FrequentlyAskedQuestions cryptsetup FAQ] and [https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dm-crypt/Device_encryption Arch Wiki].
Some external information that may also be helpful is the [https://gitlab.com/cryptsetup/cryptsetup/-/wikis/FrequentlyAskedQuestions cryptsetup FAQ] and [https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dm-crypt/Device_encryption Arch Wiki].


== Guide to Decent LUKS [[Security]] on [[Linux anatomy|Linux]] ==
== Guide to Decent LUKS Security on Linux ==
LUKS is the Linux Unified Key Setup. This guide explains all of the different part of the LUKS system and why they are important. Check out the advanced guide if you want to know more about how to set these options and what they do in more detail.
LUKS is the [[Linux anatomy|Linux]] Unified Key Setup. This guide explains all of the different part of the LUKS system and why they are important for [[Glossary#Security|security]]. Check out the advanced guide if you want to know more about how to set these options and what they do in more detail.


== Ciphers ==
=== Ciphers ===
Ciphers scramble the [[files]] that will be saved, so it's important to pick a good one. Almost all computers have, for many decades now, have had built in support for [[AES]], making it the fastest and most secure option for pretty much everyone.
Ciphers scramble the [[files]] that will be saved, so it's important to pick a good one. Almost all computers have, for many decades now, have had built in support for [[AES]], making it the fastest and most secure option for pretty much everyone.


== On-disk [[Format]] ==
=== On-disk [[Format]] ===
The on-disk format helps prevent the scrambled files from being modified while the computer is turned off. Since most computers already have built in support for [[XTS]], it makes it the fastest and most secure option.
The on-disk format helps prevent the scrambled files from being modified while the computer is turned off. Since most computers already have built in support for [[XTS]], it makes it the fastest and most secure option.


== [[Initialization]] [[Vectors]] ( IV ) ==
=== [[Initialization]] [[Vectors]] ( IV ) ===
By looking at the scrambled files on the disk, it is possible to find some patterns like, for example, images. IV helps prevent this! If you're using XTS, [[plain64]] is the fastest and most secure option.
By looking at the scrambled files on the disk, it is possible to find some patterns like, for example, images. IV helps prevent this! If you're using XTS, [[plain64]] is the fastest and most secure option.


== [[Password]] [[Hashing]] ==
=== [[Password]] [[Hashing]] ===
Password hashing helps make passwords that are not secure harder to break. A ''very'' secure password needs no hashing, but since making a very secure password is difficult, it's a good idea to use hashing. [[Argon2]] is the most secure option for most users.  
Password hashing helps make passwords that are not secure harder to break. A ''very'' secure password needs no hashing, but since making a very secure password is difficult, it's a good idea to use hashing. [[Argon2]] is the most secure option for most users.  


== [[Iteration]] Time ==
=== [[Iteration]] Time ===
Since some computers are faster than others, your computer will test to see how many times it can hash your password in this amount of time. The default is 2 seconds, and that's usually good enough. If your computer is very slow, and you're OK with waiting a bit longer for a more secure hash, you may wanna set it for a bit longer!
Since some computers are faster than others, your computer will test to see how many times it can hash your password in this amount of time. The default is 2 seconds, and that's usually good enough. If your computer is very slow, and you're OK with waiting a bit longer for a more secure hash, you may wanna set it for a bit longer!


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<code>/dev/mapper/dm_name</code>
<code>/dev/mapper/dm_name</code>


Then you will need to format it, via something like:
To [[format]] it, you can use the following:


<code>mkfs.ext4 /dev/mapper/dm_name</code>
<code>mkfs.ext4 /dev/mapper/dm_name</code>