VeraCrypt daughter of TrueCrypt

[Crossy]

I've been using TrueCrypt for many years even after support stopped a while ago, more for protecting banking stuff from prying eyes although I do have some, er, "gentleman's files", in there too, nothing that would raise eyebrows back home mind.

 

Anyway, whilst looking for something else I came across this fork of TrueCrypt which carries on the work of making an open-source crypto application and has some significant security enhancements. It will also mount your TrueCrypt volumes.

 

https://www.veracrypt.fr/en/Home.html

 

Worth a look if you need an easy to use security application.

 

[Fruit Trader]

If it will mount Truecrypt files then its a winner.

[Crossy]

Just now, Fruit Trader said:

If it will mount Truecrypt files then its a winner.

Yup it does, I've tried it

[BuaBS]

You just found out about Veracrypt ? 

I've been using Truecrypt (an older version, I don't trust the lastest 2 , just before they went off line) , 10 years or so. Never any problem with HDD's.

Two years ago I started to make some volumes with Veracrypt. It is supposed to be more secure , they made some improvements , better encryption and filled some minor holes in Truecrypt. Because they made the brute force attack a lot better than Truecrypt , it takes more time to open (mount) a volume . My CPU works a little harder to create a VC volume & mount it but I have an old computer .

For extra security , I make a VC in a TC volume (with different passwords, of course).

So far not a peep in "released" doc of the NSA that suggest that they broke TC or VC . Of course it's also a matter of password ...and can they get to it . No word if the recent flaws with CPU's can leak passwords.

For us as expats crossing borders , flying , encryption is vital . Even if spy agencies can open it , your data will be secure against HDD failure under waranty or computer failure (that is : the repair folks or HDD manufacturers can't read your data) , theft of the drive/computer , ....

One thing I don't know is how well SSD can work with TC or VC. Garbage collection , long periods of no activity , wear leveling, ...

I have had some problems with TC/VC on SD cards in FAT.

 

[Crossy]

3 minutes ago, BuaBS said:

You just found out about Veracrypt ?

'Fraid so, not been actively looking for a replacement for TrueCrypt, turned up in a search for something else (related).

[Somtamnication]

Been using it since 1.19. Version 1.21 is very stable.

[Crossy]

7 minutes ago, BuaBS said:

One thing I don't know is how well SSD can work with TC or VC. Garbage collection , long periods of no activity , wear leveling, ...

UPDATE March 30th 2018 : VeraCrypt 1.22 has been released. It fixes many issues and it brings some enhancements and features (e.g. Kuznyechik speedup, new cascades cipher algorithms, and TRIM support for SSD). Please check the release notes for the complete list of changes.

 

Could be the answer to your prayers.

[Crossy]

24 minutes ago, BuaBS said:

For us as expats crossing borders , flying , encryption is vital .

I've long since stopped carrying anything other than essential business data, if customs / border agencies want to go into the intricacies of railway systems then they are welcome to (I don't bother encrypting it).

 

Anything else that's needed lives on my machine at home that can be accessed via a VPN, even Indian hotel internet is fast enough.

 

[BuaBS]

10 minutes ago, Crossy said:

UPDATE March 30th 2018 : VeraCrypt 1.22 has been released. It fixes many issues and it brings some enhancements and features (e.g. Kuznyechik speedup, new cascades cipher algorithms, and TRIM support for SSD). Please check the release notes for the complete list of changes.

 

Could be the answer to your prayers.

I wasnt praying for it because I don't have an SSD , but I read about it . Still I find it more secure with an HDD.( they don't rewrite things).  Many of my ext drives back home aren't used for 2-3 years and still work . Unused SSD's for such extended periods are not to be trusted. Even with the enhancements of VC 1.22 , I would wait a while longer for SSD's but for small volumes for financial data , sure (with backup of course ! )

[BuaBS]

2 minutes ago, Crossy said:

I've long since stopped carrying anything other than essential business data, if customs / border agencies want to go into the intricacies of railway systems then they are welcome to (I don't bother encrypting it).

 

Anything else that's needed lives on my machine at home that can be accessed via a VPN, even Indian hotel internet is fast enough.

 

I have a lot of data that I want backupped back home , so I need to take it with me through airports (fortunately not the US TSA , or Australia). I don't want/trust cloud storage + you can't do that with many GB's or even TB's. I'm old fashioned : only local encrypted files and backups back home . No need for internet to get it.

[Crossy]

6 minutes ago, BuaBS said:

(fortunately not the US TSA , or Australia)

It was an examination on arrival in Oz a few years back that triggered my "don't carry anything" mode, there was nothing for them to find apart from a few movies and UK telly on my tablet (in-flight entertainment) but they didn't like even that.

 

Evidently I look suspicious, smart casual (suit in a carrier), shaved, trimmed hair, you know the typical dodgy type.

 

[BuaBS]

15 minutes ago, Crossy said:

It was an examination on arrival in Oz a few years back that triggered my "don't carry anything" mode, there was nothing for them to find apart from a few movies and UK telly on my tablet (in-flight entertainment) but they didn't like even that.

 

Evidently I look suspicious, smart casual (suit in a carrier), shaved, trimmed hair, you know the typical dodgy type.

 

No , they must know you're a ThaiVisa moderator !

[Crossy]

6 minutes ago, BuaBS said:

No , they must know you're a ThaiVisa moderator !

Far, far more likely.