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Secure File Storage Over Non-Trusted FTP?

Posted by kdawson on from the beeping-sounds-while-backing-up dept.

hmckee writes "Does any software exist that enables me to store/backup/sync files from my local computer to a non-trusted FTP site? To accomplish this, I'm using a script to check timestamps, encrypt and sign the files individually, then copy each file to an offsite FTP directory. I've looked over many different tools (Duplicity, Amanda, Bacula, WinSCP, FileZilla) but none of them seem to do exactly what I want: (1) multi-platform (Windows and Linux), stand-alone client (can be run from a portable drive). (2) Secure backup (encrypted and signed) to non-trusted FTP site. (3) Sync individual files without saving to a giant tar file. (4) Securely store timestamps and file names on the FTP server. Any help or info on alternative solutions appreciated."

2 of 384 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Really is a pity by ThePromenader · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'd translate "wasn't possible" to "couldn't be bothered". Once SSH installed (and it is there by default in most *nix distros), you have but one 'user' file to configure (to 'jail' you within a certain hierarchy). Ta-da! Change your host and use SFTP.

    --

    No, no sig. Really.

    ThePromenader
  2. Manent fits the bill perfectly. by gsasha · · Score: 5, Informative

    Well, it's feature list is exactly what you want and some more :). Here's the project description:
    Manent is an algorithmically strong backup and archival program. It features efficient backup to anything that looks like storage. Currently it supports plain filesystems ("directories"), FTP, and SFTP. Planned are Amazon S3, optical disks, and email (SMTP and IMAP). It can work (making progress towards finishing a backup) over a slow and unreliable network. It can offer online access to the contents of the backup. Backed up storage is completely encrypted. Backup is incremental, including changed parts of large files. Moved, renamed, and duplicate files will not require additional storage. Several computers can use the same storage for backup, automatically sharing data. Both very large and very small files are supported efficiently. Manent does not rely on timestamps of the remote system to detect changes.
    Check it out: http://freshmeat.net/projects/manent. It's under active development (the UI and the setup are currently in fetal stage) but the basic functionality is there and is well tested.
    Disclaimer: I am the author.