Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nokvault?

Nokvault is a modern CLI tool for encrypting and protecting local folders and files. It uses AES-256-GCM encryption with Argon2id key derivation to provide strong security for your data.

Is Nokvault free to use?

Yes! Nokvault is open source and free to use under the MIT License. You can use it for personal or commercial purposes.

What platforms does Nokvault support?

Nokvault supports Windows, Linux, and macOS. Pre-built binaries are available for all platforms on the GitHub Releases page.

How secure is Nokvault?

Nokvault uses industry-standard encryption:

• AES-256-GCM authenticated encryption
• Argon2id key derivation (winner of Password Hashing Competition)
• Unique initialization vectors for each file
• Memory zeroization for sensitive data
• Constant-time operations to prevent timing attacks

Can encrypted files be recovered if I lose my password?

No. Nokvault does not store passwords or provide password recovery. If you lose your password or keyfile, encrypted data cannot be recovered. Always keep secure backups of your keyfiles.

Is my data sent to any servers?

No. Nokvault works entirely locally. All encryption and decryption happens on your machine. No data is ever transmitted over the network.

Can I encrypt entire directories?

Yes! Nokvault supports recursive directory encryption. Simply provide a directory path:

nokvault encrypt ./documents

What happens to the original files after encryption?

By default, original files remain unchanged. Encrypted versions are created with a .nokvault extension. You can manually delete originals after verifying the encrypted files work correctly.

Can I use Nokvault in scripts and automation?

Yes! Use the --no-prompt flag with environment variables or keyfiles:

export NOKVAULT_PASSWORD="your-password"
nokvault encrypt file.txt --no-prompt

How do I decrypt multiple files at once?

You can use shell loops or provide a directory path:

# Decrypt entire directory
nokvault decrypt ./encrypted-documents

# Or use a loop
for file in *.nokvault; do
  nokvault decrypt "$file" --keyfile ~/.keys/master.key --no-prompt
done

I'm getting "authentication failed" errors

This usually means:

• Incorrect password or keyfile
• Keyfile path is wrong
• File was encrypted with a different key
• File may be corrupted

Double-check your credentials and ensure you're using the same keyfile/password used for encryption.

The binary won't run on my system

Make sure you downloaded the correct binary for your platform and architecture. On Linux/macOS, ensure the binary is executable:

chmod +x nokvault

Encryption is very slow

Large files or directories can take time to encrypt. This is normal. You can:

• Use --verbose to see progress
• Exclude unnecessary files with --exclude
• Consider using compression for text files: --compress

Can I use Nokvault files across different operating systems?

Yes! Encrypted files are platform-independent. A file encrypted on Windows can be decrypted on Linux or macOS, and vice versa.