Open damaged Truecrypt file

[DrJohnSmitherson]

Hey guys! I reformatted my C drive and when I added my backed up files from my other hdd I noticed that my Truecrypt file didn't get backed up. I ran recover software and got back my Truecrypt file but it was partially over written. I tried to restore the header that was embedded in the file but that didn't help. Is there anything I can do?

[n_K]

No

[Japlabot]

Restore from one of your other backups you have been regularly taking?

[DrJohnSmitherson]

No

Ok

Restore from one of your other backups you have been regularly taking?

The backup software didn't back it up right.

[Arachno 1D]

Thats the problem with encrypted files they have no recovery system built in so may I suggest something like winrar and using the create recovery record option.It will create additional recovery volumes and you can still encrypt the files although not in the same manner.

Edit : Try the wiki options if it helps http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/Recover_a_TrueCrypt_Volume

[+BudMan MVC]

So these files are so important that you need to encrypt them, but you have no backup -- one that you actually validate every now and then for example?

To be honest encryption of files in the home more times than not is not warranted.. There is is just nothing there that really justifies it if you ask me. Now on removable media, say a laptop or thumbdrive that you might loose or get stolen since it goes out of the home. Ok your going to want your passwords to other sites, your bank and such secure. But what actual files do you have that warrant it?

In the home, who has physical access that you need to worry about encryption. What type of files are that sensitive to be honest? So your worried that someone is going to break into your home and steal your desktop/server/hdd and get these files?? Or your friends or relatives that have physical access are going to access them?? So -- what in the home is of this sensitive of nature that it needs to be encrypted?

I am curious -- what was in this truecrypt volume of yours? That now you have lost because you did not bother to back them up?

[Bambii]

Bet it was pron... ;)

[+BudMan MVC]

yeah sorry but p0rn does not require encryption to hide it from who - your mom? Your spouse? Unless these people work in the IT field, there are much simpler ways to keep them out of your stash that does not require Serpent-Twofish-AES, or for that matter even AES ;)

I am really curious here -- for anyone reading this thread. Not talking work files, not talking your thumbdrive you carry in your pocket and could drop on the train with passwords on it. What in a home setting do you feel requires encryption?

I can tell you on my network the only thing encrypted is my passwords (banks, websites, etc) These are stored in keeppass and lastpass. Now if for some reason this was lost due to corruption/fire/theft. Not a big deal, I could always change them with the bank/site, etc. But this should keep someone that got my computer from also being able to access my bank account. Even all my other passwords, like email sites, etc. That could say be used to request new password from bank.

Now I have electronic copies of my taxes and such.. Which you do understand are public type information, if someone wanted this information, they don't have to break into your home and steal your computer. BTW there is a paper copy in my file cabinet.. So encryption of the pdf does not make a lot of sense if you ask me ;)

Just having a hard time with what could be on my HOME computer that should be encrypted? I store my copy of the US nuclear launch codes in my underground safe in my bomb shelter. So yeah those are secure! ;)

[Bambii]

I guess it's just common files with some scare-mongered steps because Google and Facebook want to steal your data...

[neufuse Veteran]

I am really curious here -- for anyone reading this thread. Not talking work files, not talking your thumbdrive you carry in your pocket and could drop on the train with passwords on it. What in a home setting do you feel requires encryption?

I can tell you on my network the only thing encrypted is my passwords (banks, websites, etc) These are stored in keeppass and lastpass. Now if for some reason this was lost due to corruption/fire/theft. Not a big deal, I could always change them with the bank/site, etc. But this should keep someone that got my computer from also being able to access my bank account. Even all my other passwords, like email sites, etc. That could say be used to request new password from bank.

Now I have electronic copies of my taxes and such.. Which you do understand are public type information, if someone wanted this information, they don't have to break into your home and steal your computer. BTW there is a paper copy in my file cabinet.. So encryption of the pdf does not make a lot of sense if you ask me ;)

I have copies of all my tax returns encrypted with AES, but that's pretty much it nothing else digital is worth hiding if someone stole the system, just one of those rather safe then sorry types of things *shrugs* I don't care about how much money and stuff is on there, but if you know the income numbers, and the SSN's and all that other info then a problem could happen with identity theft... keyword there is could

[+BudMan MVC]

So your SSN number and your income info, which true could be used to steal your ident. So is this on paper in your home? What keeps the thief from just taking the paper info? Sure better safe than sorry sure, your talking a few files that would not matter if lost if you ask me. I don't happen to agree with the encryption over head of those when I have them on paper in the cabinet next to my computer.

But sure - like you said better safe than sorry. Would you spend time trying to recover this encrypted file if corrupted? Do you have these files backed up, print out in your safe deposit box? Do you really care if you even have those files, other than audit reasons? Not even sure why I keep electronic copy of them to be honest ;) Government clearly has a copy! And could always have bank re-issue information.

Do you store those in a truecrypt volume? How big? Do you just zip them or pgp/gnupg them? If I did have a file or 2 I thought needed to be encrypted - I would just gnupg them. Or do you use whole disk encryption because you have files with your SSN and income information in them on the drive?

[DrJohnSmitherson]

I wish I could save it :/

[+Xinok Subscriber²]

When mounting the volume, click "Mounting Options" and check "Use backup header embedded in volume if available". There are two headers in a Truecrypt volume, one at the beginning, and one at the end of the file.

[DrJohnSmitherson]

Thats the problem with encrypted files they have no recovery system built in so may I suggest something like winrar and using the create recovery record option.It will create additional recovery volumes and you can still encrypt the files although not in the same manner.

Edit : Try the wiki options if it helps http://www.cgsecurit...rueCrypt_Volume

Thanks! I'll look into winrar. I tried to fix the truecrypt file with that wiki but it didn't work. Thanks though!

[DrJohnSmitherson]

When mounting the volume, click "Mounting Options" and check "Use backup header embedded in volume if available". There are two headers in a Truecrypt volume, one at the beginning, and one at the end of the file.

Thanks for the help, but it didn't work :(

[The Dark Knight]

I am really curious here -- for anyone reading this thread. What in a home setting do you feel requires encryption?

HOME made p0rn!! :D

But yeah, on a more serious note, I really don't see what needs encryption other than passwords on a home computer that is not going anywhere!

[neufuse Veteran]

So your SSN number and your income info, which true could be used to steal your ident. So is this on paper in your home? What keeps the thief from just taking the paper info? Sure better safe than sorry sure, your talking a few files that would not matter if lost if you ask me. I don't happen to agree with the encryption over head of those when I have them on paper in the cabinet next to my computer.

But sure - like you said better safe than sorry. Would you spend time trying to recover this encrypted file if corrupted? Do you have these files backed up, print out in your safe deposit box? Do you really care if you even have those files, other than audit reasons? Not even sure why I keep electronic copy of them to be honest ;) Government clearly has a copy! And could always have bank re-issue information.

Do you store those in a truecrypt volume? How big? Do you just zip them or pgp/gnupg them? If I did have a file or 2 I thought needed to be encrypted - I would just gnupg them. Or do you use whole disk encryption because you have files with your SSN and income information in them on the drive?

what we always say at work, doing is more then doing nothing... taking reasonable measures to protect your identity and private information always looks better if you need to go to court, or an insurance carrier to recoup losses due to it being stolen... (note I work for an insurance carrier, we consider encrypting anything digital and locking paperwork in cabinets "reasonable measures" if we were ever audited by the gov)

from a work point of view, since we work with SSN's all the time, we require the entire hard drive to be encrypted, since it could technically be paged out, or temp file worked on or who knows what else... from a home user point of view, just pgp'ing the file should be good enough most theifs don't take time to do a forensic search of your HDD's... and with SSD's now even less reason since they clear the blocks out and do background garbage collection

[+BudMan MVC]

Good point on the pgp encryption! You are correct, that if the file was stored on the drive in unencrypted state - it could be possible to recover this!

So unless your doing a secure wipe of the space on your drive, moving a file from your in the clear disk to a truecrypt volume does not actually remove the clear copy of the file.. Until such point that the space is actually overwritten or wipe done on the freespace.

And I would agree with you 100% if you are working with other users info!!! Then every precaution to safeguard their information should be taken.

So yeah if your home computer is used to store other users privacy concern info, SSN, etc.. Yup encryption would be warranted for sure!