Local File Encryption On Mac With 7-zip

Encrypt files locally on the mac with 7-zip. The following is a python wrapper around the 7-zip encryptor/decryptor which provides the following.

• Using 'random character overwrite deletion' to automatically remove the original unencrypted file/folder after the encryption is completed.
• Upon successful decryption, remove the .7z file.
• Verify the password is entered in properly during encryption using multiple entries.
• Clearly denote encrypted files with ENCRYPTED being added to the file name. Also increment the file names incase of duplicates.
• Password entry is in python programs stdin (not in command line which has history), and is visibly hidden during entry.
• Unlike other tools, everything is open source! 7-zip, the packages, this code!

Setup

1. Go to the official 7-zip website, download the execuatable. Or use homebrew to install 7-zip.
2. Determine the path to the execuatabe and paste it in the .env file.

SEVEN_ZIP_PATH=""

3. Install the following python packages

pip install getpass python-dotenv

Runtime

Encryption:

python encrypt.py {optional file/folder name}

Decryption:

python decrypt.py {optional file/folder name}

Recommendation

Test out the functionality on test files prior to running on important files.

Optional

Add the encryption functionality to your ~/.zshrc file so you can access it it anytime.

encrypt() {
    python {GLOBAL PATH TO DIRECTORY}/7zip_method/encrypt.py "$@"
}
decrypt() {
    python {GLOBAL PATH TO DIRECTORY}/7zip_method/decrypt.py "$@"
}

Then run:

source ~/.zshrc

Now you can type the following in your shell to access the encryption functionality

encrypt
  OR 
decrypt

Notes

Several functions were written by chatGPT.

In general if you see an issue or area improvement, email me (found on profile page)