Encrypt Folders on Thumbdrive

[Gamingphreek]

I have a USB Thumbdrive that I will use to sink between my HTPC, my Tablet PC, and my Main PC.

There is some data on there (Resident information (I'm an RA), and my password list) that I don't want people to be able to access just by plugging it in.

Is there anyway I can encrypt the folders on an individual basis? (I don't need my homework encrypted)

Thanks
-Kevin

 

[Zugzwang152]

If you just need casual protection from a passerby, have you considered password-protected zip files?

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well I have considered that, but I don't want to have to unzip the files or be dependent on a Compressed Archive every time I want to view the files.

-Kevin

 

[Zugzwang152]

My advice for simplicity would be to just Truecrypt the whole drive.

 

[Gamingphreek]

That is quite advanced but will work I am sure. Is there by chance a way to just password protect the folder-- or is that the same as encrypt?

-Kevin

 

[cobold23]

Hi Gamingphreek,
I wish to tell you about another reliable and very simple to install and use encryption software (i`m using it ) DriveCrypt; it has a function called Traveler mode which allows you to encrypt your thumb drive and to use it on another computer where the main program is not installed. You just need 2Mb free for installing the program on the thumb drive and the rest of the space you can use it to create a container. The encryption/decryption is on fly so if you mount the container you can use the files right away.
The software is very good (my opinion).
Cheers!

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Well I have considered that, but I don't want to have to unzip the files or be dependent on a Compressed Archive every time I want to view the files.

-Kevin

What OS's are on your three PCs? If they're all Windows XP or higher, zip files are supported natively, so you'd have no problem.

If you're running a combination of platforms, I still recommend Truecrypt, as it supports Windows, Linux, and Mac.

 

[leeland]

Thanks for the topic OP I was looking for something like this

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

What if you're moving around between computers that don't have TrueCrypt installed is there any way you can have TrueCrypt able to decrypt the folder on Macs and PCs?

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
What if you're moving around between computers that don't have TrueCrypt installed is there any way you can have TrueCrypt able to decrypt the folder on Macs and PCs?

You need Truecrypt installed on the computer you need to mount from, though it does support Mac and PC.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
What if you're moving around between computers that don't have TrueCrypt installed is there any way you can have TrueCrypt able to decrypt the folder on Macs and PCs?

You need Truecrypt installed on the computer you need to mount from, though it does support Mac and PC.

And if it isn't?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
What if you're moving around between computers that don't have TrueCrypt installed is there any way you can have TrueCrypt able to decrypt the folder on Macs and PCs?

You need Truecrypt installed on the computer you need to mount from, though it does support Mac and PC.

There is another type of install you can do (extraction instead of install) that you can save the files to the thumb drive. Doing it this way allows you to run the program without having it installed on the host machine, but you still need administrative rights to start the program (as I found out when I got to work and couldn't start the program).

 

[BeauJangles]

So I'm trying to figure out the best way to protect a lot of sensitive data that I have. I'd like to encrypt my USB key, but that seems foolish because then I need to download and install truecrypt to get access to the data.

I guess the best way around this is to use the portable install of truecrypt and stick it on the drive then encrypt the rest of the drive? The problem with that is it basically reveals that the drive is encrypted and what program was used to do it..

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
So I'm trying to figure out the best way to protect a lot of sensitive data that I have. I'd like to encrypt my USB key, but that seems foolish because then I need to download and install truecrypt to get access to the data.

I guess the best way around this is to use the portable install of truecrypt and stick it on the drive then encrypt the rest of the drive? The problem with that is it basically reveals that the drive is encrypted and what program was used to do it..

Actually, it just reveals you're using TrueCrypt for SOMETHING. If you create an encrypted container file on the rest of the thumb drive for storing your data, it is completely indistinguishable from a completely random file unless you have the passphrase used to encrypt it. There is NOTHING in TrueCrypt files to reveal they are TrueCrypt files unless you know the key. Someone could certainly guess that a large random file is an encrypted TrueCrypt container if you had TrueCrypt installed, but guessing is all they could do. And if you are really concerned, read up on TrueCrypt's "hidden volume" feature...it allows you to have a hidden TrueCrypt volume inside another TrueCrypt volume.

But don't get too caught up on this issue either. Protecting sensitive files with encryption is certainly reasonable under many circumstances, but most people don't really need deniable encryption. I'd think hard about whether this is a real problem before you try to solve it.

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
So I'm trying to figure out the best way to protect a lot of sensitive data that I have. I'd like to encrypt my USB key, but that seems foolish because then I need to download and install truecrypt to get access to the data.

I guess the best way around this is to use the portable install of truecrypt and stick it on the drive then encrypt the rest of the drive? The problem with that is it basically reveals that the drive is encrypted and what program was used to do it..

Actually, it just reveals you're using TrueCrypt for SOMETHING. If you create an encrypted container file on the rest of the thumb drive for storing your data, it is completely indistinguishable from a completely random file unless you have the passphrase used to encrypt it. There is NOTHING in TrueCrypt files to reveal they are TrueCrypt files unless you know the key. Someone could certainly guess that a large random file is an encrypted TrueCrypt container if you had TrueCrypt installed, but guessing is all they could do. And if you are really concerned, read up on TrueCrypt's "hidden volume" feature...it allows you to have a hidden TrueCrypt volume inside another TrueCrypt volume.

But don't get too caught up on this issue either. Protecting sensitive files with encryption is certainly reasonable under many circumstances, but most people don't really need deniable encryption. I'd think hard about whether this is a real problem before you try to solve it.

+1 :thumbsup: 100%