TrueCrypt 5 - Now with System Encryption

sra

TrueCrypt's new version is out now

I'm sooo tempted to try out the new System Encryption feature:

TrueCrypt can on-the-fly encrypt a system partition or entire system drive, i.e. a partition or drive where Windows is installed and from which it boots (a TrueCrypt-encrypted system drive may also contain non-system partitions, which are encrypted as well).

but I think I'll wait till others have tried it out to see what they say.

What looks particularly amazing -

Note that TrueCrypt can encrypt an existing unencrypted system partition/drive in-place while the operating system is running (while the system is being encrypted, you can use your computer as usual without any restrictions). Likewise, a TrueCrypt-encrypted system partition/drive can be decrypted in-place while the operating system is running. You can interrupt the process of encryption or decryption anytime, leave the partition/drive partially unencrypted, restart or shut down the computer, and then resume the process, which will continue from the point it was stopped.

link

superscaper

Didn't have a clue a new version was even imminent. Thanks.

John_Gray

Thanks for the info! Unfortunately they don't seem to have done anything about:

TrueCrypt can run in so-called 'traveler' mode, which means that it does not have to be installed on the operating system under which it is run. However, there are two things to keep in mind:

• You need administrator privileges in order to able to run TrueCrypt in 'traveler' mode.

Is there a way round this, does anyone know?

Aiadi

TrueCrypt........... Truly legendary:j. Encrypting my whole hard drive including system partition as I am posting. I am hoping that it would make my laptop absolutely dead useless without the password.

leosayer39

Hi all,

Truecrypt...Hmmmm.....

I have been using it for a while now and am still in 'learning' mode so I havn't got a clue what this new feature will do for me.

I have encrypted my bank statements and other personal stuff and I think that I manage ok. I still have questions......? Here goes

I backup all my documents (yes I do) to an external hard drive on a relatively regular basis.
My Truecrypt folder is in 'my documents' and as such is backed up as and when I do my backups. Therefore, the truecrypt folder is encrypted on the external hard drive. My question is...

Should the hard drive fail on my main computer, and I am therefore only left with the backup on the external hard drive, do I need truecrypt installed on the pc that I would eventually copy the backup to, in order to read my encrypted files?

Not a teccie I m afraid

Cheers

Leo

sra

leosayer39 wrote: »

Hi all,

Truecrypt...Hmmmm.....

I have been using it for a while now and am still in 'learning' mode so I havn't got a clue what this new feature will do for me.

I have encrypted my bank statements and other personal stuff and I think that I manage ok. I still have questions......? Here goes

I backup all my documents (yes I do) to an external hard drive on a relatively regular basis.
My Truecrypt folder is in 'my documents' and as such is backed up as and when I do my backups. Therefore, the truecrypt folder is encrypted on the external hard drive. My question is...

Should the hard drive fail on my main computer, and I am therefore only left with the backup on the external hard drive, do I need truecrypt installed on the pc that I would eventually copy the backup to, in order to read my encrypted files?

Not a teccie I m afraid

Cheers

Leo

You do need it but it doesn't have to be installed.

If you download the version I linked to in the opening post above, when I ran the installer, there were two options:

Install
Select this option if you want to install TrueCrypt on this system.

Extract
If you select this option, all files will be extracted from this package but nothing will be installed on the system. Do not select it if you intend to encrypt the Windows system
partition. Selecting this option can be useful, for example, if you want to run TrueCrypt in so-called traveler (portable) mode. TrueCrypt does not have to be installed on the operating system under which it is run. After all files are extracted, you can directly run the extracted file 'TrueCrypt.exe' (then TrueCrypt will run in traveler mode). You can also move the extracted files to other computers.

So I'd just extract a version and keep it next to the backup.
You can run it directly from the folder you extracted to rather than having to install it first

leosayer39

Hi all,

Hi sra,

Thanks for your reply

Another question, can I install the new version of truecrypt over the existing version that I have on my computer?

Leo

superscaper

leosayer39 wrote: »

Hi all,

Hi sra,

Thanks for your reply

Another question, can I install the new version of truecrypt over the existing version that I have on my computer?

Leo

Yes, it simply overwrites the old version.

GoofyGAT

Aiadi wrote: »

TrueCrypt........... Truly legendary:j. Encrypting my whole hard drive including system partition as I am posting. I am hoping that it would make my laptop absolutely dead useless without the password.

Can you tell us how that went please? Ta, G

superscaper

GoofyGAT wrote: »

Can you tell us how that went please? Ta, G

Coward! Not willing to try it yourself?


As ever,
Superscaper the hypocrite.

GoofyGAT

superscaper wrote: »

Coward! Not willing to try it yourself?

Yep, sorry .

Before posting, I did check out Aiadi's profile to see if s/he'd logged in since - last log-in was last night, so things are looking good . On the other hand, s/he could since be using another laptop/PC :eek:. G