Ultimate TrueCrypt Guide : Create And Mount Virtual Encrpyted Partitions


Ever felt the need to keep your secret stuff or some confidential data away from prying eyes.
Well here is a excellent solution to hide your confidential files in a virtual encrypted partition.

Software Requirement

True Crypt
TrueCrypt is an open-source encryption software that enables you to create a
virtual encrypted disk within a file and mount it as a virtual disk, that can be
accessed via a drive letter. Any file that is stored on this virtual drive is
automatically encrypted on-the-fly, and can only be accessed while the drive
is mounted with the correct password or key.

TrueCrypt supports a variety of encryption algorithms including

1. AES-256
2. Blowfish (448-bit key)
3. CAST5
4. Serpent
5. Triple DES
6. Twofish

Other features include support for FAT32 or NTFS formatting, hidden volumes,
hotkeys for mounting/dismounting and more.

Download: http://www.truecrypt.org/downloads.php

True Crypt is available for Linux and Windows both and is a FREEWARE.

Lets Begin....

Note: TC = Turbo Crypt
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Guide
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Step 1 : Creating the TC Image File which will be mounted as encrypted partition.

Starting True Crypt will present you with this interface.


Click on "Create Volume" to create the image file and select "Standard True Crypt Volume".
Click Next.


Click on select file and select a folder on your hard drive where you would like to save your
TC image file , give approrpiate name [here "Test"] dont touch other buttons.
Click Next.


Select Encryption Algo and Hash Algorithm


You can benchmark and select your Encyption Algo , select the one with fastest speed
Here you can see that on my PC "Twofish" was the fastest.


Size of the TC Image file which you will mount , here the size can be the max free
space on your partition.

I have selected 50 MB.


Enter your password which will be used to encrypt your image file with the
selected algorithm.


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OPTIONAL part
Key file is not compulsary its for extra protection.

You can also have a Key file along with the password for double encryption.
NOTE: if you loose this key file then all the data in the image will be locked forever
Check the KeyFile box close to password to add key file.
You can also generate a random keyfile using the hash algo



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If the password length is below 20 chars it will give you a warning but you
can continue with the password size below than 20 chars.


Formstting the image file , i choose NTFS over Fat and click on Format.



Now the image file is created and now to access this partition all you need is to mount it.


Step 2 :

Click select file and browse the above created TC Image file which can be mounted.


Enter password and Key File if you have one.


Mounted , now open My Computer and add files to your encrypted partition.



Step 4 : Dismounting

Right click on TC Tray icon and dismount.



Hope this guide helps you keep your private data safe.

Enjoy

Thank you so much for this guide, I've been looking for a solution like this for a while (as opposed to physically keeping my data safe)!

I've used truecrypt for years, best program out there. I keep a hidden volume stored on my hard drive with a shortcut on my desktop that asks for a password and then up pops a newly created, temporary, X drive, complete with a lock icon i love this program, 5*s

can u elaborate more on how u created the shortcut.

I mean what are the parameters for truecrypt in the shortcut.

"C:\Program Files\TrueCrypt\TrueCrypt.exe" /q /auto /letter "Drive letter to mount to" /v "Encrypted file location"
Is a good shortcut to use

Thanks for the guide.

If anyone of you just want to encrypt individual text files, I'd suggest to use Streganos Locknote, as it's simpler to use

Best data encryption software by far, TC has been an invaluable resource for me the past few years.

what do the switches do?

Can you explain what a keyfile is again?

Great guide!

Awesome guide ! TrueCrypt is probably one of the most useful Open Source apps out there.

Thank you, been looking for something like this for a long time, great guide!

Thanks, but how do you mount the volume in Linux?

From v5 of TrueCrypt there is a similar GUI. If you want to mount a volume from the command line it's:

truecrypt tcFilename

Other useful commands:

Create a volume
truecrypt -c tcFilename

Mount a volume with no filesystem for formatting
truecrypt --filesystem=none tcFilename

Dismount volume:
truecrypt -d tcFilename