CNTLM

CNTLM is an authentication proxy that can solve problems with applications trying to get through a Windows proxy that requires authentication. I need this to clone from GitHub repos when behind a workplace proxy server. Getting it installed, however, may involve a little fancy footwork.

1. Rename the .exe to something else as some policies won’t allow it to be installed. How about mostly_harmless.exe?
2. Use the command line options -H -u -d to get the hashes for your config file: mostly_harmless.ini
3. Launch the application: mostly_harmless -c mostly_harmless.ini
4. Edit your git.config: [http] proxy=http://127.0.0.1:3128

Hurrah!

EncFS on Mac OS X and Android

I wanted to keep a backup of my private PGP key and I wanted to install it on multiple devices: a couple of Mac OS X Mavericks laptops and my Android smartphone, a Moto G 4.4.2.

Naturally this needs to be encrypted but the limitations to setting up that encryption are surprising. In the end I found that I could use EncFS on both the Macs and the smartphone.

Cryptonite lets me create an EncFS folder, which I called private.enc, on the MicroSD in my USB2Go meenova adaptor.

On the Macs you need to drop to the terminal:

brew update
brew install osxfuse

System Preferences > FUSE for OS X > Install FUSE for OS X

brew install encfs

Check you’ve plugged in your external USB drive then mount the encrypted folder:

encfs /Volumes/M/private.enc ~/private

The mount point will appear as OSXFUSE Volume 0 (encfs) in your home directory. You can import your key file directly from here.

Once done, before ejecting your USB drive, remember to unmount the FUSE folder:

umount ~/private/

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