# Install ccrypt with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix

Encrypt and decrypt files and streams. Version 1.11 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install ccrypt.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:ccrypt
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install ccrypt
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

- MacPorts (94%):

```sh
sudo port install ccrypt
```

  Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: security/ccrypt/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

### Linux

- Debian apt (92%):

```sh
sudo apt install ccrypt
```

  Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: ccrypt from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

- Nix (92%):

```sh
nix profile install nixpkgs#ccrypt
```

  Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/cc/ccrypt/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:ccrypt
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 1.11
- **Source summary:** Encrypt and decrypt files and streams
- **Homepage:** <https://ccrypt.sourceforge.net/>
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- ccdecrypt (alias)
- ccencrypt (alias)
- ccguess (alias)
- ccrypt (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 1.11
## Project history and usage

ccrypt is Peter Selinger's file and stream encryption utility based on the Rijndael block cipher, the cipher family selected for AES. It packages encryption, decryption, key changes, and terminal-friendly helpers into the ccrypt, ccencrypt, ccdecrypt, ccat, and ccguess commands.

### Project history

The official site identifies ccrypt as software by Peter Selinger, with copyright years 2000-2018. Its documentation emphasizes Unix-style operation on files and streams, a gzip-like interface, and aliases for common modes.

The project reached release 1.9 in 2009 with portability fixes for systems including Mac OS X, Ubuntu, FreeBSD, and Solaris 10. Release 1.10 in 2012 added libccrypt.a and ccguess, and release 1.11 in 2018 updated portability, bugs, Emacs 26 compatibility, and translations.

### Adoption history

The official download page lists source distributions, binaries for several operating systems, Debian packages, Redhat RPMs, Solaris packages, and OS/2 packages. The input package facts also show Homebrew, Debian, MacPorts, Nix, and Ubuntu packaging.

### How it is used

ccrypt encrypts and decrypts files in place by default, adding or removing the .cpt suffix. It can also work as a filter, decrypt directly to stdout with ccat, change keys, use key files, recurse over directories, and provide Emacs integration through ps-ccrypt.

### Why package nerds care

ccrypt is historically interesting as a small AES-era replacement for older Unix crypt workflows. Package maintainers care about it because it is portable C software with many CLI entry points, old platform support, and security-sensitive defaults around key prompting and in-place file updates.

### Timeline

- 2000: Copyright period begins for ccrypt.
- 2009: Version 1.9 released with portability fixes for multiple Unix-like systems.
- 2012: Version 1.10 released with libccrypt.a and ccguess.
- 2018: Version 1.11 released with portability fixes and Emacs 26 compatibility.

### Related projects

- ps-ccrypt provides Emacs support for encrypted .cpt files.
- The official site lists GUI and integration tools such as Qccrypt and CCRYPTGUI.

### Sources

- <https://ccrypt.sourceforge.net/>
- <https://formulae.brew.sh/api/formula/ccrypt.json>


## Security Notes

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.

- **Geiger risk:** blue / medium
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal

## Other Package-Manager Records

- Debian apt - ccrypt - 1.11-5: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: ccrypt from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | secure encryption and decryption of files and streams | https://ccrypt.sourceforge.net/
- Debian apt - elpa-ps-ccrypt - 1.11-5: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: elpa-ps-ccrypt from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Emacs addon for working with files encrypted with ccrypt | https://ccrypt.sourceforge.net/
- Nix - ccrypt: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/cc/ccrypt/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- Ubuntu apt - ccrypt - 1.11-3build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: ccrypt from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | secure encryption and decryption of files and streams | https://ccrypt.sourceforge.net/
- Ubuntu apt - elpa-ps-ccrypt - 1.11-3build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: elpa-ps-ccrypt from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Emacs addon for working with files encrypted with ccrypt | https://ccrypt.sourceforge.net/
- MacPorts - ccrypt: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: security/ccrypt/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1


## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/ccrypt.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/ccrypt.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- external package-manager database matches
- cross-ecosystem install command graph