diff --git a/cmd/swarm/access.go b/cmd/swarm/access.go
index 12cfbfc1a..1e69526ec 100644
--- a/cmd/swarm/access.go
+++ b/cmd/swarm/access.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func accessNewPass(ctx *cli.Context) {
 		password  = getPassPhrase("", 0, makePasswordList(ctx))
 		dryRun    = ctx.Bool(SwarmDryRunFlag.Name)
 	)
-	accessKey, ae, err = api.DoPasswordNew(ctx, password, salt)
+	accessKey, ae, err = api.DoPassword(ctx, password, salt)
 	if err != nil {
 		utils.Fatalf("error getting session key: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func accessNewPK(ctx *cli.Context) {
 		granteePublicKey = ctx.String(SwarmAccessGrantKeyFlag.Name)
 		dryRun           = ctx.Bool(SwarmDryRunFlag.Name)
 	)
-	sessionKey, ae, err = api.DoPKNew(ctx, privateKey, granteePublicKey, salt)
+	sessionKey, ae, err = api.DoPK(ctx, privateKey, granteePublicKey, salt)
 	if err != nil {
 		utils.Fatalf("error getting session key: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -110,23 +110,38 @@ func accessNewACT(ctx *cli.Context) {
 	}
 
 	var (
-		ae          *api.AccessEntry
-		actManifest *api.Manifest
-		accessKey   []byte
-		err         error
-		ref         = args[0]
-		grantees    = []string{}
-		actFilename = ctx.String(SwarmAccessGrantKeysFlag.Name)
-		privateKey  = getPrivKey(ctx)
-		dryRun      = ctx.Bool(SwarmDryRunFlag.Name)
+		ae                   *api.AccessEntry
+		actManifest          *api.Manifest
+		accessKey            []byte
+		err                  error
+		ref                  = args[0]
+		pkGrantees           = []string{}
+		passGrantees         = []string{}
+		pkGranteesFilename   = ctx.String(SwarmAccessGrantKeysFlag.Name)
+		passGranteesFilename = ctx.String(utils.PasswordFileFlag.Name)
+		privateKey           = getPrivKey(ctx)
+		dryRun               = ctx.Bool(SwarmDryRunFlag.Name)
 	)
-
-	bytes, err := ioutil.ReadFile(actFilename)
-	if err != nil {
-		utils.Fatalf("had an error reading the grantee public key list")
+	if pkGranteesFilename == "" && passGranteesFilename == "" {
+		utils.Fatalf("you have to provide either a grantee public-keys file or an encryption passwords file (or both)")
 	}
-	grantees = strings.Split(string(bytes), "\n")
-	accessKey, ae, actManifest, err = api.DoACTNew(ctx, privateKey, salt, grantees)
+
+	if pkGranteesFilename != "" {
+		bytes, err := ioutil.ReadFile(pkGranteesFilename)
+		if err != nil {
+			utils.Fatalf("had an error reading the grantee public key list")
+		}
+		pkGrantees = strings.Split(string(bytes), "\n")
+	}
+
+	if passGranteesFilename != "" {
+		bytes, err := ioutil.ReadFile(passGranteesFilename)
+		if err != nil {
+			utils.Fatalf("could not read password filename: %v", err)
+		}
+		passGrantees = strings.Split(string(bytes), "\n")
+	}
+	accessKey, ae, actManifest, err = api.DoACT(ctx, privateKey, salt, pkGrantees, passGrantees)
 	if err != nil {
 		utils.Fatalf("error generating ACT manifest: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/swarm/access_test.go b/cmd/swarm/access_test.go
index 384d25630..106e6dd91 100644
--- a/cmd/swarm/access_test.go
+++ b/cmd/swarm/access_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import (
 	gorand "math/rand"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -39,6 +38,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/swarm/api"
 	swarm "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/swarm/api/client"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/swarm/testutil"
+)
+
+const (
+	hashRegexp = `[a-f\d]{128}`
+	data       = "notsorandomdata"
 )
 
 var DefaultCurve = crypto.S256()
@@ -53,23 +58,8 @@ func TestAccessPassword(t *testing.T) {
 	defer cluster.Shutdown()
 	proxyNode := cluster.Nodes[0]
 
-	// create a tmp file
-	tmp, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "swarm-test")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	defer os.RemoveAll(tmp)
-
-	// write data to file
-	data := "notsorandomdata"
-	dataFilename := filepath.Join(tmp, "data.txt")
-
-	err = ioutil.WriteFile(dataFilename, []byte(data), 0666)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	hashRegexp := `[a-f\d]{128}`
+	dataFilename := testutil.TempFileWithContent(t, data)
+	defer os.RemoveAll(dataFilename)
 
 	// upload the file with 'swarm up' and expect a hash
 	up := runSwarm(t,
@@ -86,14 +76,14 @@ func TestAccessPassword(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	ref := matches[0]
-
-	password := "smth"
-	passwordFilename := filepath.Join(tmp, "password.txt")
-
-	err = ioutil.WriteFile(passwordFilename, []byte(password), 0666)
+	tmp, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "swarm-test")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(tmp)
+	password := "smth"
+	passwordFilename := testutil.TempFileWithContent(t, "smth")
+	defer os.RemoveAll(passwordFilename)
 
 	up = runSwarm(t,
 		"access",
@@ -193,12 +183,8 @@ func TestAccessPassword(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("expected decrypted data %q, got %q", data, string(d))
 	}
 
-	wrongPasswordFilename := filepath.Join(tmp, "password-wrong.txt")
-
-	err = ioutil.WriteFile(wrongPasswordFilename, []byte("just wr0ng"), 0666)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
+	wrongPasswordFilename := testutil.TempFileWithContent(t, "just wr0ng")
+	defer os.RemoveAll(wrongPasswordFilename)
 
 	//download file with 'swarm down' with wrong password
 	up = runSwarm(t,
@@ -227,22 +213,8 @@ func TestAccessPK(t *testing.T) {
 	cluster := newTestCluster(t, 2)
 	defer cluster.Shutdown()
 
-	// create a tmp file
-	tmp, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "swarm-test")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	defer tmp.Close()
-	defer os.Remove(tmp.Name())
-
-	// write data to file
-	data := "notsorandomdata"
-	_, err = io.WriteString(tmp, data)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	hashRegexp := `[a-f\d]{128}`
+	dataFilename := testutil.TempFileWithContent(t, data)
+	defer os.RemoveAll(dataFilename)
 
 	// upload the file with 'swarm up' and expect a hash
 	up := runSwarm(t,
@@ -250,7 +222,7 @@ func TestAccessPK(t *testing.T) {
 		cluster.Nodes[0].URL,
 		"up",
 		"--encrypt",
-		tmp.Name())
+		dataFilename)
 	_, matches := up.ExpectRegexp(hashRegexp)
 	up.ExpectExit()
 
@@ -259,7 +231,6 @@ func TestAccessPK(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	ref := matches[0]
-
 	pk := cluster.Nodes[0].PrivateKey
 	granteePubKey := crypto.CompressPubkey(&pk.PublicKey)
 
@@ -268,22 +239,15 @@ func TestAccessPK(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	passFile, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "swarm-test")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	defer passFile.Close()
-	defer os.Remove(passFile.Name())
-	_, err = io.WriteString(passFile, testPassphrase)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
+	passwordFilename := testutil.TempFileWithContent(t, testPassphrase)
+	defer os.RemoveAll(passwordFilename)
+
 	_, publisherAccount := getTestAccount(t, publisherDir)
 	up = runSwarm(t,
 		"--bzzaccount",
 		publisherAccount.Address.String(),
 		"--password",
-		passFile.Name(),
+		passwordFilename,
 		"--datadir",
 		publisherDir,
 		"--bzzapi",
@@ -309,7 +273,7 @@ func TestAccessPK(t *testing.T) {
 		"--bzzaccount",
 		publisherAccount.Address.String(),
 		"--password",
-		passFile.Name(),
+		passwordFilename,
 		"--datadir",
 		publisherDir,
 		"print-keys",
@@ -390,37 +354,24 @@ func TestAccessACTScale(t *testing.T) {
 	testAccessACT(t, 1000)
 }
 
-// TestAccessACT tests the e2e creation, uploading and downloading of an ACT type access control
+// TestAccessACT tests the e2e creation, uploading and downloading of an ACT access control with both EC keys AND password protection
 // the test fires up a 3 node cluster, then randomly picks 2 nodes which will be acting as grantees to the data
-// set. the third node should fail decoding the reference as it will not be granted access. the publisher uploads through
-// one of the nodes then disappears. If `bogusEntries` is bigger than 0, the test will generate the number of bogus act entries
-// to test what happens at scale
+// set and also protects the ACT with a password. the third node should fail decoding the reference as it will not be granted access.
+// the third node then then tries to download using a correct password (and succeeds) then uses a wrong password and fails.
+// the publisher uploads through one of the nodes then disappears.
 func testAccessACT(t *testing.T, bogusEntries int) {
 	// Setup Swarm and upload a test file to it
-	cluster := newTestCluster(t, 3)
+	const clusterSize = 3
+	cluster := newTestCluster(t, clusterSize)
 	defer cluster.Shutdown()
 
 	var uploadThroughNode = cluster.Nodes[0]
 	client := swarm.NewClient(uploadThroughNode.URL)
 
 	r1 := gorand.New(gorand.NewSource(time.Now().UnixNano()))
-	nodeToSkip := r1.Intn(3) // a number between 0 and 2 (node indices in `cluster`)
-	// create a tmp file
-	tmp, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "swarm-test")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	defer tmp.Close()
-	defer os.Remove(tmp.Name())
-
-	// write data to file
-	data := "notsorandomdata"
-	_, err = io.WriteString(tmp, data)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	hashRegexp := `[a-f\d]{128}`
+	nodeToSkip := r1.Intn(clusterSize) // a number between 0 and 2 (node indices in `cluster`)
+	dataFilename := testutil.TempFileWithContent(t, data)
+	defer os.RemoveAll(dataFilename)
 
 	// upload the file with 'swarm up' and expect a hash
 	up := runSwarm(t,
@@ -428,7 +379,7 @@ func testAccessACT(t *testing.T, bogusEntries int) {
 		cluster.Nodes[0].URL,
 		"up",
 		"--encrypt",
-		tmp.Name())
+		dataFilename)
 	_, matches := up.ExpectRegexp(hashRegexp)
 	up.ExpectExit()
 
@@ -464,41 +415,25 @@ func testAccessACT(t *testing.T, bogusEntries int) {
 		}
 		grantees = bogusGrantees
 	}
-
-	granteesPubkeyListFile, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "grantees-pubkey-list")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	defer granteesPubkeyListFile.Close()
-	defer os.Remove(granteesPubkeyListFile.Name())
-
-	_, err = granteesPubkeyListFile.WriteString(strings.Join(grantees, "\n"))
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
+	granteesPubkeyListFile := testutil.TempFileWithContent(t, strings.Join(grantees, "\n"))
+	defer os.RemoveAll(granteesPubkeyListFile)
 
 	publisherDir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "swarm-account-dir-temp")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(publisherDir)
 
-	passFile, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "swarm-test")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	defer passFile.Close()
-	defer os.Remove(passFile.Name())
-	_, err = io.WriteString(passFile, testPassphrase)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
+	passwordFilename := testutil.TempFileWithContent(t, testPassphrase)
+	defer os.RemoveAll(passwordFilename)
+	actPasswordFilename := testutil.TempFileWithContent(t, "smth")
+	defer os.RemoveAll(actPasswordFilename)
 	_, publisherAccount := getTestAccount(t, publisherDir)
 	up = runSwarm(t,
 		"--bzzaccount",
 		publisherAccount.Address.String(),
 		"--password",
-		passFile.Name(),
+		passwordFilename,
 		"--datadir",
 		publisherDir,
 		"--bzzapi",
@@ -507,7 +442,9 @@ func testAccessACT(t *testing.T, bogusEntries int) {
 		"new",
 		"act",
 		"--grant-keys",
-		granteesPubkeyListFile.Name(),
+		granteesPubkeyListFile,
+		"--password",
+		actPasswordFilename,
 		ref,
 	)
 
@@ -523,7 +460,7 @@ func testAccessACT(t *testing.T, bogusEntries int) {
 		"--bzzaccount",
 		publisherAccount.Address.String(),
 		"--password",
-		passFile.Name(),
+		passwordFilename,
 		"--datadir",
 		publisherDir,
 		"print-keys",
@@ -562,9 +499,7 @@ func testAccessACT(t *testing.T, bogusEntries int) {
 	if len(a.Salt) < 32 {
 		t.Fatalf(`got salt with length %v, expected not less the 32 bytes`, len(a.Salt))
 	}
-	if a.KdfParams != nil {
-		t.Fatal("manifest access kdf params should be nil")
-	}
+
 	if a.Publisher != pkComp {
 		t.Fatal("publisher key did not match")
 	}
@@ -588,6 +523,25 @@ func testAccessACT(t *testing.T, bogusEntries int) {
 				t.Fatalf("should be a 401")
 			}
 
+			// try downloading using a password instead, using the unauthorized node
+			passwordUrl := strings.Replace(url, "http://", "http://:smth@", -1)
+			response, err = httpClient.Get(passwordUrl)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if response.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+				t.Fatal("should be a 200")
+			}
+
+			// now try with the wrong password, expect 401
+			passwordUrl = strings.Replace(url, "http://", "http://:smthWrong@", -1)
+			response, err = httpClient.Get(passwordUrl)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if response.StatusCode != http.StatusUnauthorized {
+				t.Fatal("should be a 401")
+			}
 			continue
 		}
 
diff --git a/cmd/swarm/main.go b/cmd/swarm/main.go
index e65440937..c93344c42 100644
--- a/cmd/swarm/main.go
+++ b/cmd/swarm/main.go
@@ -319,6 +319,7 @@ func init() {
 							Flags: []cli.Flag{
 								SwarmAccessGrantKeysFlag,
 								SwarmDryRunFlag,
+								utils.PasswordFileFlag,
 							},
 							Name:        "act",
 							Usage:       "encrypts a reference with the node's private key and a given grantee's public key and embeds it into a root manifest",
diff --git a/swarm/api/act.go b/swarm/api/act.go
index b1a594783..52d909827 100644
--- a/swarm/api/act.go
+++ b/swarm/api/act.go
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ const AccessTypePass = AccessType("pass")
 const AccessTypePK = AccessType("pk")
 const AccessTypeACT = AccessType("act")
 
+// NewAccessEntryPassword creates a manifest AccessEntry in order to create an ACT protected by a password
 func NewAccessEntryPassword(salt []byte, kdfParams *KdfParams) (*AccessEntry, error) {
 	if len(salt) != 32 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("salt should be 32 bytes long")
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ func NewAccessEntryPassword(salt []byte, kdfParams *KdfParams) (*AccessEntry, er
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// NewAccessEntryPK creates a manifest AccessEntry in order to create an ACT protected by a pair of Elliptic Curve keys
 func NewAccessEntryPK(publisher string, salt []byte) (*AccessEntry, error) {
 	if len(publisher) != 66 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("publisher should be 66 characters long, got %d", len(publisher))
@@ -127,6 +129,7 @@ func NewAccessEntryPK(publisher string, salt []byte) (*AccessEntry, error) {
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// NewAccessEntryACT creates a manifest AccessEntry in order to create an ACT protected by a combination of EC keys and passwords
 func NewAccessEntryACT(publisher string, salt []byte, act string) (*AccessEntry, error) {
 	if len(salt) != 32 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("salt should be 32 bytes long")
@@ -140,15 +143,19 @@ func NewAccessEntryACT(publisher string, salt []byte, act string) (*AccessEntry,
 		Publisher: publisher,
 		Salt:      salt,
 		Act:       act,
+		KdfParams: DefaultKdfParams,
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// NOOPDecrypt is a generic decrypt function that is passed into the API in places where real ACT decryption capabilities are
+// either unwanted, or alternatively, cannot be implemented in the immediate scope
 func NOOPDecrypt(*ManifestEntry) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
 var DefaultKdfParams = NewKdfParams(262144, 1, 8)
 
+// NewKdfParams returns a KdfParams struct with the given scrypt params
 func NewKdfParams(n, p, r int) *KdfParams {
 
 	return &KdfParams{
@@ -161,15 +168,20 @@ func NewKdfParams(n, p, r int) *KdfParams {
 // NewSessionKeyPassword creates a session key based on a shared secret (password) and the given salt
 // and kdf parameters in the access entry
 func NewSessionKeyPassword(password string, accessEntry *AccessEntry) ([]byte, error) {
-	if accessEntry.Type != AccessTypePass {
+	if accessEntry.Type != AccessTypePass && accessEntry.Type != AccessTypeACT {
 		return nil, errors.New("incorrect access entry type")
+
 	}
+	return sessionKeyPassword(password, accessEntry.Salt, accessEntry.KdfParams)
+}
+
+func sessionKeyPassword(password string, salt []byte, kdfParams *KdfParams) ([]byte, error) {
 	return scrypt.Key(
 		[]byte(password),
-		accessEntry.Salt,
-		accessEntry.KdfParams.N,
-		accessEntry.KdfParams.R,
-		accessEntry.KdfParams.P,
+		salt,
+		kdfParams.N,
+		kdfParams.R,
+		kdfParams.P,
 		32,
 	)
 }
@@ -188,9 +200,6 @@ func NewSessionKeyPK(private *ecdsa.PrivateKey, public *ecdsa.PublicKey, salt []
 	return sessionKey, nil
 }
 
-func (a *API) NodeSessionKey(privateKey *ecdsa.PrivateKey, publicKey *ecdsa.PublicKey, salt []byte) ([]byte, error) {
-	return NewSessionKeyPK(privateKey, publicKey, salt)
-}
 func (a *API) doDecrypt(ctx context.Context, credentials string, pk *ecdsa.PrivateKey) DecryptFunc {
 	return func(m *ManifestEntry) error {
 		if m.Access == nil {
@@ -242,7 +251,7 @@ func (a *API) doDecrypt(ctx context.Context, credentials string, pk *ecdsa.Priva
 			if err != nil {
 				return ErrDecrypt
 			}
-			key, err := a.NodeSessionKey(pk, publisher, m.Access.Salt)
+			key, err := NewSessionKeyPK(pk, publisher, m.Access.Salt)
 			if err != nil {
 				return ErrDecrypt
 			}
@@ -261,6 +270,11 @@ func (a *API) doDecrypt(ctx context.Context, credentials string, pk *ecdsa.Priva
 			m.Access = nil
 			return nil
 		case "act":
+			var (
+				sessionKey []byte
+				err        error
+			)
+
 			publisherBytes, err := hex.DecodeString(m.Access.Publisher)
 			if err != nil {
 				return ErrDecrypt
@@ -270,40 +284,35 @@ func (a *API) doDecrypt(ctx context.Context, credentials string, pk *ecdsa.Priva
 				return ErrDecrypt
 			}
 
-			sessionKey, err := a.NodeSessionKey(pk, publisher, m.Access.Salt)
+			sessionKey, err = NewSessionKeyPK(pk, publisher, m.Access.Salt)
 			if err != nil {
 				return ErrDecrypt
 			}
 
-			hasher := sha3.NewKeccak256()
-			hasher.Write(append(sessionKey, 0))
-			lookupKey := hasher.Sum(nil)
-
-			hasher.Reset()
-
-			hasher.Write(append(sessionKey, 1))
-			accessKeyDecryptionKey := hasher.Sum(nil)
-
-			lk := hex.EncodeToString(lookupKey)
-			list, err := a.GetManifestList(ctx, NOOPDecrypt, storage.Address(common.Hex2Bytes(m.Access.Act)), lk)
-
-			found := ""
-			for _, v := range list.Entries {
-				if v.Path == lk {
-					found = v.Hash
-				}
-			}
-
-			if found == "" {
-				return ErrDecrypt
-			}
-
-			v, err := hex.DecodeString(found)
+			found, ciphertext, decryptionKey, err := a.getACTDecryptionKey(ctx, storage.Address(common.Hex2Bytes(m.Access.Act)), sessionKey)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			enc := NewRefEncryption(len(v) - 8)
-			decodedRef, err := enc.Decrypt(v, accessKeyDecryptionKey)
+			if !found {
+				// try to fall back to password
+				if credentials != "" {
+					sessionKey, err = NewSessionKeyPassword(credentials, m.Access)
+					if err != nil {
+						return err
+					}
+					found, ciphertext, decryptionKey, err = a.getACTDecryptionKey(ctx, storage.Address(common.Hex2Bytes(m.Access.Act)), sessionKey)
+					if err != nil {
+						return err
+					}
+					if !found {
+						return ErrDecrypt
+					}
+				} else {
+					return ErrDecrypt
+				}
+			}
+			enc := NewRefEncryption(len(ciphertext) - 8)
+			decodedRef, err := enc.Decrypt(ciphertext, decryptionKey)
 			if err != nil {
 				return ErrDecrypt
 			}
@@ -326,6 +335,33 @@ func (a *API) doDecrypt(ctx context.Context, credentials string, pk *ecdsa.Priva
 	}
 }
 
+func (a *API) getACTDecryptionKey(ctx context.Context, actManifestAddress storage.Address, sessionKey []byte) (found bool, ciphertext, decryptionKey []byte, err error) {
+	hasher := sha3.NewKeccak256()
+	hasher.Write(append(sessionKey, 0))
+	lookupKey := hasher.Sum(nil)
+	hasher.Reset()
+
+	hasher.Write(append(sessionKey, 1))
+	accessKeyDecryptionKey := hasher.Sum(nil)
+	hasher.Reset()
+
+	lk := hex.EncodeToString(lookupKey)
+	list, err := a.GetManifestList(ctx, NOOPDecrypt, actManifestAddress, lk)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, nil, nil, err
+	}
+	for _, v := range list.Entries {
+		if v.Path == lk {
+			cipherTextBytes, err := hex.DecodeString(v.Hash)
+			if err != nil {
+				return false, nil, nil, err
+			}
+			return true, cipherTextBytes, accessKeyDecryptionKey, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return false, nil, nil, nil
+}
+
 func GenerateAccessControlManifest(ctx *cli.Context, ref string, accessKey []byte, ae *AccessEntry) (*Manifest, error) {
 	refBytes, err := hex.DecodeString(ref)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -352,7 +388,9 @@ func GenerateAccessControlManifest(ctx *cli.Context, ref string, accessKey []byt
 	return m, nil
 }
 
-func DoPKNew(ctx *cli.Context, privateKey *ecdsa.PrivateKey, granteePublicKey string, salt []byte) (sessionKey []byte, ae *AccessEntry, err error) {
+// DoPK is a helper function to the CLI API that handles the entire business logic for
+// creating a session key and access entry given the cli context, ec keys and salt
+func DoPK(ctx *cli.Context, privateKey *ecdsa.PrivateKey, granteePublicKey string, salt []byte) (sessionKey []byte, ae *AccessEntry, err error) {
 	if granteePublicKey == "" {
 		return nil, nil, errors.New("need a grantee Public Key")
 	}
@@ -383,9 +421,11 @@ func DoPKNew(ctx *cli.Context, privateKey *ecdsa.PrivateKey, granteePublicKey st
 	return sessionKey, ae, nil
 }
 
-func DoACTNew(ctx *cli.Context, privateKey *ecdsa.PrivateKey, salt []byte, grantees []string) (accessKey []byte, ae *AccessEntry, actManifest *Manifest, err error) {
-	if len(grantees) == 0 {
-		return nil, nil, nil, errors.New("did not get any grantee public keys")
+// DoACT is a helper function to the CLI API that handles the entire business logic for
+// creating a access key, access entry and ACT manifest (including uploading it) given the cli context, ec keys, password grantees and salt
+func DoACT(ctx *cli.Context, privateKey *ecdsa.PrivateKey, salt []byte, grantees []string, encryptPasswords []string) (accessKey []byte, ae *AccessEntry, actManifest *Manifest, err error) {
+	if len(grantees) == 0 && len(encryptPasswords) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil, nil, errors.New("did not get any grantee public keys or any encryption passwords")
 	}
 
 	publisherPub := hex.EncodeToString(crypto.CompressPubkey(&privateKey.PublicKey))
@@ -430,7 +470,31 @@ func DoACTNew(ctx *cli.Context, privateKey *ecdsa.PrivateKey, salt []byte, grant
 
 		enc := NewRefEncryption(len(accessKey))
 		encryptedAccessKey, err := enc.Encrypt(accessKey, accessKeyEncryptionKey)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, nil, err
+		}
+		lookupPathEncryptedAccessKeyMap[hex.EncodeToString(lookupKey)] = hex.EncodeToString(encryptedAccessKey)
+	}
 
+	for _, pass := range encryptPasswords {
+		sessionKey, err := sessionKeyPassword(pass, salt, DefaultKdfParams)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, nil, err
+		}
+		hasher := sha3.NewKeccak256()
+		hasher.Write(append(sessionKey, 0))
+		lookupKey := hasher.Sum(nil)
+
+		hasher.Reset()
+		hasher.Write(append(sessionKey, 1))
+
+		accessKeyEncryptionKey := hasher.Sum(nil)
+
+		enc := NewRefEncryption(len(accessKey))
+		encryptedAccessKey, err := enc.Encrypt(accessKey, accessKeyEncryptionKey)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, nil, err
+		}
 		lookupPathEncryptedAccessKeyMap[hex.EncodeToString(lookupKey)] = hex.EncodeToString(encryptedAccessKey)
 	}
 
@@ -454,7 +518,10 @@ func DoACTNew(ctx *cli.Context, privateKey *ecdsa.PrivateKey, salt []byte, grant
 	return accessKey, ae, m, nil
 }
 
-func DoPasswordNew(ctx *cli.Context, password string, salt []byte) (sessionKey []byte, ae *AccessEntry, err error) {
+// DoPassword is a helper function to the CLI API that handles the entire business logic for
+// creating a session key and an access entry given the cli context, password and salt.
+// By default - DefaultKdfParams are used as the scrypt params
+func DoPassword(ctx *cli.Context, password string, salt []byte) (sessionKey []byte, ae *AccessEntry, err error) {
 	ae, err = NewAccessEntryPassword(salt, DefaultKdfParams)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
diff --git a/swarm/testutil/file.go b/swarm/testutil/file.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ecb0d971e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/swarm/testutil/file.go
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+// Copyright 2017 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package testutil
+
+import (
+	"io"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// TempFileWithContent is a helper function that creates a temp file that contains the following string content then closes the file handle
+// it returns the complete file path
+func TempFileWithContent(t *testing.T, content string) string {
+	tempFile, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "swarm-temp-file")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = io.Copy(tempFile, strings.NewReader(content))
+	if err != nil {
+		os.RemoveAll(tempFile.Name())
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err = tempFile.Close(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return tempFile.Name()
+}