securetar
Python module to handle tarfile backups.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. Secure Tar is a straightforward, actively maintained wrapper for encrypted tar backups with low install friction and no known vulnerabilities. Install it if you need to create encrypted tar archives in Python 3.11+ and want a simpler API than managing cryptography directly. The Apache-2.0 license poses no restrictions for most use cases.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.11.0 or later; cryptography and PyNaCl must be installed as runtime dependencies.
- Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel.
- Active maintenance with a recent commit on 2026-07-29 and regular releases; currently at version 2026.4.1 released 2026-04-07.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache-2.0 (permissive) — Apache-2.0 is permissive, allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you may use, modify, and distribute this package freely as long as you include the license notice.
last release 2026-04-07 (129 days) · last repo commit 2026-07-29 · 13 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 577,298 downloads/mo, #5,925 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install securetar
from securetar import SecureTarFile, atomic_contents_add
from pathlib import Path
with SecureTarFile("backup.tar", "w", b"AES128_KEY_SIZE") as tar:
atomic_contents_add(tar, Path("."), arcname=".")- Whether the encryption key size (e.g., 'AES128_KEY_SIZE') is validated or if arbitrary byte strings are accepted.
- Performance characteristics when handling large archives or streaming very large files.
- Whether atomic_contents_add supports recursive directory traversal by default or requires explicit configuration.
What it is and what it does
Secure Tar is a Python library that extends the standard tarfile module with encryption and secure file handling. It provides a streaming wrapper around tarfile that lets you create encrypted tar archives and handle file backups securely. The library supports both plain and encrypted archives, optional gzip compression, and a pattern for nesting multiple tar files within an outer tar container—all without writing intermediate files to disk.
The package depends on cryptography and PyNaCl for encryption operations and requires Python 3.11.0 or later. It's designed for backup workflows where you need to create encrypted archives programmatically, with a simple context-manager API that mirrors the standard tarfile interface. The library is actively maintained and has no known security vulnerabilities.
Use it for
- Create encrypted backup archives of application data or configuration directories with a single API call.
- Build nested backup structures (outer tar containing multiple inner compressed tars) without intermediate file writes.
- Add file filtering during archive creation to exclude sensitive or temporary files from backups.
- Automate secure backup pipelines that require encryption without managing raw cryptography details.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
Secure Tar is a straightforward, actively maintained wrapper for encrypted tar backups with low install friction and no known vulnerabilities. Install it if you need to create encrypted tar archives in Python 3.11+ and want a simpler API than managing cryptography directly. The Apache-2.0 license poses no restrictions for most use cases.
Install
securetar on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel. Active maintenance with a recent commit on 2026-07-29 and regular releases; currently at version 2026.4.1 released 2026-04-07.
Requires Python 3.11.0 or later; cryptography and PyNaCl must be installed as runtime dependencies.
License in practice
Apache-2.0 is permissive, allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you may use, modify, and distribute this package freely as long as you include the license notice.
Quickstart
pip install securetar
from securetar import SecureTarFile, atomic_contents_add
from pathlib import Path
with SecureTarFile("backup.tar", "w", b"AES128_KEY_SIZE") as tar:
atomic_contents_add(tar, Path("."), arcname=".")Verify before relying
- Whether the encryption key size (e.g., 'AES128_KEY_SIZE') is validated or if arbitrary byte strings are accepted.
- Performance characteristics when handling large archives or streaming very large files.
- Whether atomic_contents_add supports recursive directory traversal by default or requires explicit configuration.
Package facts
| License | Apache-2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.11.0 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagescryptographyPyNaCl |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 129 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 577,298 / month, #5,925 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Intended Audience :: DevelopersOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: securetar-2026.4.1-py3-none-any.whl
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See also tarsafe · fastar · backports.tarfile · rpmfile · unix-ar · tzst · android_backup · pyunpack · sendsafely · pyzipper