Using vim to encrypt files

Tutorials & Resources
1

Vim has an option to encrypt files that it creates.
If you want to try it do the following

  1. Make sure you havevim installed. In Debian apt install vim. Some distros come with original vi or vim-tiny… they do not have the encryption option

  2. vim -x <filename>
    You will be asked “Enter encryption key:”
    Put in a suitable key, then create your file. Exit vim in the usual way :wq or ZZ

  3. Check your file is encrypted… eg cat <filename> it will look like a binary file if it is encrypted.

  4. To access your encryped file do vim <filename>. You will be asked to enter the key, then the file will appear unencrypted in your window. You can edit and resave if required. The unencrypted file only ever appears in your vim window.

I use it for a few things, including my file of passwords. I can send an encrypted file to my Android tablet and use vim in Termux to view it.

Want to read some more?
Using encrypted documents with vim - Linux Audit

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That’s really cool, Neville! I wonder if Neovim has this functionality, if so I will have to try it out.

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Hi Jimmy,
It would seem neovim does not have encryption built-in , but you can use plugins

There are others
Check out the quality of encryption.
Vim uses blowfish2

Regards
Neville

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