This tutorial will guide you through setting up TrueCrypt, an easy to use and open-source/free encryption utility that allows you to store files in a secure ‘volume’ on your hard drive.
- At the end of the TrueCrypt installation, you’ll be prompted to click OK. Go for it.
- When asked if you want to read the Beginner’s Tutorial on using TrueCrypt, click No. This tutorial will guide you through everything.
- Launch TrueCrypt from your start menu, and click the Create Volume button.
- Make sure that Create a standard TrueCrypt volume is selected, and click Next.
- Click the Select File… button.
- Give your encrypted ’storage file’ (volume) a name. Do not select an existing file, or it will be over-written. Click the Save button when you’re done.
- Back at the Volume Location screen, click Next.
- Review the info on the Encryption Options page - but leave the defaults selected unless you’re sure you want to make changes. Click Next.
- Now decide how large you want this encrypted volume to be. If you’re only going to store text files, .doc/.xls or other Office files - you may want to keep this fairly small. I made mine 50MB. Click Next when you’re ready to move on.
- Now enter a password in the spaces provided. The longer and more unique the password (ie. use special characters like @ # $ % * + etc) the better. Again, click Next.
- Now move your mouse around the Volume Format window. You’ll notice that as the cursor moves, the Random Pool changes as well. The cursor movement helps to create a unique value that TrueCrypt will use. After about 30 seconds of mouse shaking, click the Format button.
- And now your encrypted volume will be created. Depending on how large you decided to make the file and how fast your PC is, this can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes.
- When it’s done, click OK.
- Now you can Exit out of the Wizard.
- Back in the main TrueCrypt window, click the Select File… button.
- Navigate to the file you created back in step 6, select it, and click Open.
- Now pick a drive letter that you want this ‘volume’ to use. I opted for F:, the next available drive letter on my PC. Click Mount.
- Enter your password and click OK.
- Your encrypted volume will mount itself as the drive letter you selected.
- Open “My Computer” and select your newly created drive.
- Now you can copy or move files to this volume, and they’ll be encrypted on the fly.
- Back in TrueCrypt, unmount the drive by clicking the Dismount button.
- Your F: (or whatever letter you selected) drive will disappear. The files stored on that volume are now only accessible by re-mounting the volume and entering your password.
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