In computing, the Linux Unified Key Setup or LUKS is a disk-encryption specification created by Clemens Fruhwirth and originally intended for Linux.
While most disk encryption software implements different and incompatible, undocumented formats, LUKS specifies a platform-independent standard on-disk format for use in various tools. This not only facilitates compatibility and interoperability amongst different programs, but also assures that they all implement password management in a secure and documented manner.
The reference implementation for LUKS operates on Linux and is based on an enhanced version of cryptsetup, using dm-crypt as the disk encryption backend. Under Microsoft Windows, LUKS-encrypted disks can be used with FreeOTFE.
The design of LUKS aimed to conform to the TKS1 secure key setup scheme.
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