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EGA file encryption The European Genome-Phenome Archive (EGA) stands as a significant initiative in the field of genomics, facilitating the secure storage and sharing of vast amounts of genomic data. Jointly hosted by the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), the EGA offers a robust infrastructure for managing encrypted data, ensuring the privacy and integrity of sensitive genomic information. Both CRG and EMBL-EBI play pivotal roles in the EGA, each institution bringing unique expertise in managing different types of encryptions. EMBL-EBI EGACryptor encryption system, while CRG utilises Crypt4GH, resulting in two distinct encryption file types: cip and c4gh, respectively. How can I check the file encryption? To access your dataset of interest on the European Genome-Phenome Archive (EGA) and determine the corresponding encryption file extension, please follow these step-by-step instructions: Utilise the search or navigation features provided on the EGA website to locate the dataset you are interested in. Once you find the dataset webpage, click on the "Files" tab, typically located on the dataset's webpage. Upon reaching the "Files" tab, you will be presented with a table containing comprehensive information about the files associated with the dataset. This table will include various columns, such as "File Name," "Size," and "Location." The "Location" column is particularly relevant for determining the encryption file extension. Figure 1: File table showing all the information available for the files in a dataset. This table is specific for each dataset. To identify the encryption file extension corresponding to a specific file, locate the "Location" column in the table. If the file is archived in Spain, the file will have the .c4gh extension, indicating that it is encrypted using Crypt4gh. Conversely, if the file is archived in the UK, the encrypted file extension will be .cip, indicating the usage of EGACryptor for encryption. It is worth noting that a file can be available in both locations, meaning it will be accessible with both file extensions (.c4gh and .cip). This allows users to choose the encryption method that aligns with their preferred platform or analysis tools.
