X-Git-Url: http://git.chise.org/gitweb/?a=blobdiff_plain;f=README;h=64700a6e4e2def128501b0ebe2d1ed39f075c6ac;hb=2e94c33259041a3d708a3dc267371a5ef29d3ad0;hp=95b786b5f00693a2e9404d0babfb26807f5c43fe;hpb=478e44b89438bc4e2d219e1782fc48c829a36d12;p=elisp%2Fepg.git diff --git a/README b/README index 95b786b..64700a6 100644 --- a/README +++ b/README @@ -1,60 +1,37 @@ * What's this? -EasyPG is yet another GnuPG interface for Emacs. It consists of three -parts: transparent file encryption utility, Gnus/PGG backend, and -elisp library to interact with GnuPG. +EasyPG is yet another GnuPG interface for Emacs. It consists of two parts: -* Requirements +epa.el - EasyPG Assistant, a basic GUI of GnuPG +epg.el - the EasyPG library which interacts with GnuPG -** GNU Emacs 21.4 or later +NOTE: EasyPG is not a fork or a re-implementation of Gnus/PGG. -** XEmacs 21.4 or later +* Requirements -** GnuPG 1.4.3 or later +** GNU Emacs 21.4 or later, XEmacs 21.4 or later -** Gnus 5.10.8 or later (optional) +** GnuPG 1.4.3 or later * Quick start -** Transparent file encryption utility - -EasyPG provides transparent file encryption utility similar to -crypt++, alpaca.el, hedgehog. To try this feature, add the following -line to your ~/.emacs and C-x C-f ~/test.txt.gpg. - -(require 'epg-file) +** Installation -** Gnus/PGG backend +$ ./configure +$ sudo make install -EasyPG provides an implementation of the backend interface of -Gnus/PGG. To use EasyPG instead of pgg-gpg, install pgg-epg.el and -add the following line to your ~/.gnus. +Add the following line to your ~/.emacs -(setq pgg-scheme 'epg) +(require 'epa-setup) * Advantages over other competitors There are many competitors of EasyPG such as Mailcrypt, Gnus/PGG, gpg.el, etc. EasyPG has some advantages over them. -** EasyPG avoides potential security flaws of Emacs. +** EasyPG avoides potential security flaws of Emacs -*** `call-process-region' writes data in region to temporary files. - -`call-process-region' writes data in region to temporary files. -Gnus/PGG and gpg.el use `call-process-region' to communicate with a -gpg subprocess. Your passphrases leak to the filesystem! - -*** There is no way to clear strings safely. - -If Emacs crashed and dumps core, passphrase strings in memory are also -dumped within the core file. `read-passwd' function clears passphrase -strings by `(fillarray string 0)'. However, Emacs performs compaction -in gc_sweep phase. If GC happens before `fillarray', passphrase -strings may be moved elsewhere in memory. It is recommended that as -soon as you are done with passphrase you should clear it manually. -However, Gnus/PGG and gpg.el can keep passphrase strings in cache for -a while and this behavior is their default! +See "Security consideration" section. ** GnuPG features are directly accessible from Emacs @@ -63,3 +40,24 @@ still support PGP 2.*, 5.*, 6.*. As the name indicates, EasyPG is inspired by GPGME (GnuPG Made Easy), and the library interface is close to GPGME. With EasyPG you can benefit from a lot of features of GnuPG. + +* Security consideration + +** `call-process-region' writes data in region to a temporary file + +`call-process-region' writes data in region to a temporary file. +EasyPG does *not* use `call-process-region' to communicate with a gpg +subprocess. + +** `(fillarray string 0)' is not enough to clear passphrases + +If Emacs crashed and dumps core, passphrase strings in memory are also +dumped within the core file. `read-passwd' function clears passphrase +strings by `(fillarray string 0)'. However, Emacs performs compaction +in gc_sweep phase. If GC happens before `fillarray', passphrase +strings may be moved elsewhere in memory. + +Fortunately, there is gpg-agent to cache passphrases in more secure +way, so the EasyPG library dares *not* to cache passphrase by itself. +Elisp programs can set `epg-context-passphrase-callback' to cache +user's passphrases.