Create Password Protected .tar file in linux.

When you have important sensitive data, then its crucial to have an extra layer of security to your files and directories, specially when you need to transmit the data with others over a network.

use "gpg" for creating password protected .tar

1. tar Creation

tar czvpf - /path/tp/directory | gpg --symmetric --cipher-algo aes256 -o myarchive.tar.gz.gpg

this will ask for the password

enter password:

repeat password:

Once you have entred the password then it will start the process.

Extract .tar file.

gpg -d  myarchive.tar.gz.gpg | tar xzvf -

it will ask for the password. once you entered correct password it will start extracting process.

Unlock it .tar with key file 

1. tar czvpf - /path/tp/directory | gpg --symmetric --cipher-algo aes256 -o myarchive.tar.gz.gpg

enter paraphrase key

store this paraphrase key into some file . for e.g. /$HOME/passkey.pem

2. Extract tar with key file

gpg -d --passphrase `cat /path/to/keyfile/passkey.pem` myarchive.tar.gz.gpg | tar xzvf -