Vfs folder huge size and unencrypted data

[Ubergine (Tarek)]

What is the problem you are having with rclone?

I found that there is a folder at this path C:\Users\xyz\AppData\Local\rclone\vfs that has around 50 GBs of data (size) and/or 5 GB of data (size on disk) from all my remotes including the the encrypted ones; in an unencrypted form. I am unsure if this is a bug or by design and if it's related to caching or not.
I remember if I had caching turned off, just browsing my remote was painfully slow more than it's already slow.

Run the command 'rclone version' and share the full output of the command.

rclone v1.59.1
- os/version: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 22H2 (64 bit)
- os/kernel: 10.0.22621.1413 (x86_64)
- os/type: windows
- os/arch: amd64
- go/version: go1.18.5
- go/linking: static
- go/tags: cmount

Which cloud storage system are you using? (eg Google Drive)

Google Drive

The command you were trying to run (eg rclone copy /tmp remote:tmp)

 rclone mount pvt: X: --vfs-cache-mode full --vfs-cache-max-size 1G

The rclone config contents with secrets removed.

[gdrive]
type = drive
scope = drive
token = 
team_drive = 

[pvt-gdrive]
type = crypt
remote = gdrive:Backup/pvt
password = 
password2 = 

[pvt]
type = crypt
remote = D:/Backup/pvt
password = 
password2 =

[apps]
type = crypt
remote = D:Backup/apps
password =
password2 = 

[apps-gdrive]
type = crypt
remote = gdrive:Backup/apps
password =
password2 = 

[docs]
type = crypt
remote = D:Backup/docs
password = 
password2 = 
[apps-elements]
type = crypt
remote = F:Backup/apps
password = 
password2 = 

[docs-elements]
type = crypt
remote = F:Backup/docs
password = 
password2 = 

[pvt-elements]
type = crypt
remote = F:Backup/pvt
password = 
password2 = 

[photos-gdrive]
type = crypt
remote = gdrive:Backup/photos
password = 
password2 =

[photos-elements]
type = alias
remote = F:/Photos

[photos]
type = alias
remote = D:/Photos

[docs-gdrive]
type = crypt
remote = gdrive:Backup/docs
password =
password2 = 

[Animosity022]

By design, the cached area is the same contents on the mount.

Some debate on it but not sure there is anything to change as the user can already see the crypted contents on the mount so that same user can also see the cache area.

[Ubergine (Tarek)]

So it safe to delete the vfs folder? Also what's the point of leaving encrypted data in an unencrypted form for caching? This defeats the whole point of encryption.

[karlh (Karl)]

I've deleted mine before without issue. Interesting cache size is not honoured. I've stored my cache on an encrypted external drive. I am going to add the cache folder to my cleaning app for regular purging.

[Animosity022]

@Ubergine

So it safe to delete the vfs folder?

If you delete the folder, anything not uploaded is lost.

@Ubergine

Also what's the point of leaving encrypted data in an unencrypted form for caching? This defeats the whole point of encryption.

Not sure as if you have the encrypted data mounted, you've already got access to the decrypted data. I'm not saying your conclusion is wrong, but I draw a different one. If the goal is to not leave any decrypted data, you can cache the non crypted mount and just mount the crypt. Little ugly but depends on what your particular requirements are.

@karlh

I've deleted mine before without issue. Interesting cache size is not honoured

Cache size works and is honored so you'd want to create a new topic and share your details if you've think you've found an issue.