Without knowing the key how to decrypt a file in Linux Mint 9

**horuy** · 13-01-2011

I have a Dell laptop in my home which I currently have Linux mint version 9 install in it a day before yesterday. I encrypted a .pdf file in windows XP SP2 which was performing well inside the laptop. Also I can make several changes inside and able to edit that properly. Following that I have removed windows xp sp2 from my laptop by formatting it and install linux mint in it. Now can I decrypt as well as open the .pdf file in linux Mint and I don’t know the key to open the .pdf file. So anyone knows how to open and decrypt that file so please forward your reply.

**SalVatore** · 13-01-2011

I don’t think so that there is any way to decrypt a particular file if you don’t know the key for that properly. If you have encrypted that same on linux mint operating system on the same laptop then you can able to decrypt it very easily without havig the key. So try to remember the key for the .pdf file which you require to decrypt it then open it will open. Otherwise I don’t think so that there is any chances of decrypting the file for the same. So you can check that file in your system location and try to copy paste in the windows operating system then only I think that it will open.

**mesterio** · 13-01-2011

There is only way to decrypt a file which you are trying to open in the linux mint through a keygen. If key is not available in your system then I don’t so that there is a way to open it. As you told that you had formatted you laptop and install linux mint in that. So I think that the change in operating system causing you problem in opening the file. So my suggestion is if you want to open a file and to decrypt it then you try to copy the file in pen drive and check out in friend’s operating system that having windows xp then there is a chance to open it very easily and then decrypt it properly.

**Enriqueta** · 13-01-2011

There is need to install a GnuPG in the Linux system before decrypt or encrypting a file. Here is the code

Code:

gpg -c file

It inquires for password as well as makes encrypted file.gpg through symmetric code (default is CAST4, but I'd put forward to add --cipher-also AES256 ;-)). Of course it inquire for password.

Decrypting is quite straightforward too:

Code:

gpg -d file.gpg (as an answer to stdout)
gpg -o file -d file.gpg (as an answer to file)

It looks like to `detect' the cipher used and, perceptibly, inquires for password.
It's probable to comprise the password from file (--passphrase-file file) or even on the commandline as (yes, security. --passphrase string).

**Luis234** · 13-01-2011

Encrypt with proper cipher. if you have concern about that you are not remembering your password i.e. passphrase, you cannot make progress the data as it use very strapping encryption.

To decrypt file you need to perform the following gpg command:

Code:

$ gpg myfinancial1.info.gpg
THE output givens as: 
gpg myfinancial1.info.gpg

gpg: CAST5 encrypted data
Go through passphrase:<YOUR-PASSWORD>
Decrypt file as well as write output to file vivek1.info.txt you can go thorugh command:

Code:

$ gpg myfinancial1.info.gpg –o vivek1.info.txt

Remember if file extension is .asc, it is a ASCII code thorugh which it is encrypted file as well as if file extension is .gpg, it is a binary encrypted file.

**Kickapoo** · 14-01-2011

GnuPG, the open substitute for PGP, is an excellent device to supervise cryptographic signatures to files or e-mails for authority as well as integrity, as well as a device to encrypt and decrypt responsive files. Previously, we appear into GPG can do much extra than that. Many e-mail programs offer GPG support so you can utilize GPG seamlessly with your e-mail consumer This permit you to digitally sign e-mails to guarantee recipients that you did certainly write the communication. It also permit you to encrypt messages to a receiver with their community key, meaning that only the personage with the passphrase to the corresponding private key can decode and read the e-mail.