TrueCrypt 5 - Now with System Encryption

nickmack

buglawton wrote: »

A knowledgeable thief who realizes that Truecrypt was in use might then have a go at using some tools to crack the PW in case it was a weak one.

It doesn't really matter if the hacker knows TrueCrypt is used. The encyption is only as strong as the weakest element, such as a weak password.

The strength of using the "Encrypt whole HD" that Truecrypt now offers looks to be the right sort of thing for MOD/NHS/IR if they'd only use it.

Some commercial products already offer this and it's unlikely for the reason Superscaper mentioned above.

superscaper

nickmack wrote: »

Some commercial products already offer this and it's unlikely for the reason Superscaper mentioned above.

Yep my dad's laptop is completely encrypted with BeCrypt (his company has to meet security requirements of MOD) from boot up. I.e. entire hard disk encryption which I was quite impressed with at the time because Truecrypt didn't have that feature.

Bob63

TrueCrypt 5.1 has just been released. Quite a few improvements and bug fixes. Release notes here.

wolfman

For anyone wanting to install it via command line in Ubuntu, paste the following in:

wget http://www.truecrypt.org/downloads/truecrypt-5.1-ubuntu-x86.tar.gz &&
tar xfz truecrypt-5.1-ubuntu-x86.tar.gz &&
sudo dpkg -i truecrypt-5.1/truecrypt_5.1-0_i386.deb &&
rm truecrypt-5.1-ubuntu-x86.tar.gz &&
rm -R truecrypt-5.1 &&
sudo groupadd truecrypt &&
sudo usermod -a -G truecrypt $USER

Just copy and paste the above, it'll download it, install it and set up the group (so that it doesn't ask for permissions).

If you're wondering why, I do so as I create an install script for my pc. That way if I need to re-install I just run the script and it's all done rather than having to manually download and install all the bits and pieces.

John_Gray

This is where those people with Windows say, "Thank heaven for Bill Gates"!

Download, then a couple of clicks to install!

wolfman

You can install it by downloading and a couple of clicks with Ubuntu too.

If you're re-installing, you may have to do that for a dozen (maybe more) applications. As opposed to executing a single script that'll do it for you. I compile all my apps into one script.

The script is just an alternate method and a easy way to guide someone to install it.

1. Copy the script
2. Paste in into a command prompt
3. Press enter

Trying keeping it that simple when doing steps to download and install something. Or downloading and installing multiple apps in Windows.

Bob63

John_Gray wrote: »

This is where those people with Windows say, "Thank heaven for Bill Gates"!

Download, then a couple of clicks to install!

Yes but....

How many security patches, malware/adaware/virus tools do you need to make Windoze usable and safe?

Installation of software on a Mac is much easier than Windoze and MacOS is infinitely more secure. It already has TrueCrypt-like functionality built in as standard with encrypted disk images.

Mike

superscaper

cheesy.mike wrote: »

Yes but....

How many security patches, malware/adaware/virus tools do you need to make Windoze usable and safe?

Installation of software on a Mac is much easier than Windoze and MacOS is infinitely more secure. It already has TrueCrypt-like functionality built in as standard with encrypted disk images.

Mike

Oh god, not another "macs are more secure" argument. The only thing that's guaranteed about that statement is that it takes the thread off topic and into a flame war.

It's not really relevant to the "I want disk encryption for my computer, great Truecrypt the free program now does it...... or I can spend hundreds of pounds on replacing my computer altogether with a mac". Not exactly moneysaving or in keeping with the point of this thread.

Even on a mac you are much better off using Truecrypt than Filevault as it's far more secure. And saying it has something like Truecrypt already built in is a bit meaningless considering Vista has Bitlocker which is at least equal in effectiveness to Filevault.

wolfman

Lol, where did Mac's come from? We were talking about installation methods in Linux and Windows.

superscaper

wolfman wrote: »

Lol, where did Mac's come from? We were talking about installation methods in Linux and Windows.

Even John Gray's comments on the ease of Windows was a comparison to Linux not Macs. To an extent I agree, when it goes well Ubuntu installs easily but sometimes it can require tweaking which is less user friendly than Windows (I think it's still spelled that way, not with a "ze" :rolleyes: ).