Virtual Encryption Drives | The Coffeehouse

Manip

I was looking for some software that would allow me to mount a virtual drive (that was REALLY a file) off of a USB key that I could access via my laptop and or PC.

I looked at PGP Desktop, which sucks and costs like £75... And I looked at a few other expensive solutions that didn't really work too well...

Then I ran across a free, open source solution for Windows and Linux that does exactly what I want and has the security (cryptographic) that I need.

http://www.truecrypt.org

I think it is really cool. And works really well. If you too are after a virtual encrypted volume separate from your primary file system I suggest you give it a shot. Smiley

Note: I am not affiliated / involved / work for anything to do with this free product and am recommending rather than advertising (as it is free anyway).

Edit: I don't recommend storing the key file on the encrypted volume and then unmounting it. Tongue Out

TimP

I've been using TrueCrypt for a while (nothing serious, just messing around with it) and it's very cool, especially hiding volumes in volumes. The 4.0 release includes a Linux version, too.

Manip

Oh sorry forgot to say... It also has auto un-mount of the volume after a set period of time, which I think is wonderful. I was searching for that in PGP just assuming it would exist but was disappointed to find that it didn't. I love this application! Big Smile

Tom Servo
W-hat?

I'm pretty sure PGP8 had auto-unmount. No idea about version 9, I'm not paying money for that memory hog.

Manip

I've set it up like this:

- Key File on both the PC and Laptop (and any other machine that gets to use the USB-Key).
- Secure Data on a USB-Key
- Password in my brain

Which creates a nice little triangle for anyone who wants to read the data... First they need a copy of the key-file, or a PC it is stored on... Next they need the secure data or the USB-Key and lastly they need to crack the password or beat it out of me. Cool

Tom Servo
W-hat?

I've finally installed it here, though I've known about it for some longer. Made myself an encrypted container for all my documents, handily sized 4.3gig to back it up to DVD.