Secure your USB-stick with TrueCrypt

1. Introduction

This document describes the installation and use of the TrueCrypt program on a USB stick. The TrueCrypt program offers the possibility to protect information on your USB stick, this occurs by means of encryption. Due to this, it is almost impossible for others to retrieve the information.

2. Requirements

Before we begin the installation, check that the following items are present:

- A computer with a USB port

- A computer with a Windows operating system

- A user account with 'administrator' rights

- A USB stick

3. Installation manual - USB stick protection

Follow the steps in this installation manual to install the TrueCrypt program on a USB stick. We opted to install TrueCrypt on a USB stick so that you are not dependent on a computer on which TrueCrypt must be installed in advance.

§ Download TrueCrypt, the most recent stable version (latest stable) suitable for Windows.

You can download TrueCrypt from the following location: http://www.truecrypt.org/downloads.php

§ Start the installation by opening the installation file .

§ Select the option 'I Accept and agree to be bound by the license terms' (see Figure 1).

§ Press the ‘Accept’ button (see Figure 1).

Figure 1

§ Select the option 'Extract' and press the 'Next' button (see Figure 2).

Figure 2

§ Select the option 'Open the destination location when finished' (see Figure 3).

§ Press the 'Browse' button (see Figure 3).

Figure 3

§ Select the USB stick and press the 'OK' button (see Figure 4).

Figure 4

§ Type 'truecrypt' after the station letter and press 'Extract' (see Figure 5).

§ Select “Open the destination location when finished”.

Figure 5

§ Press the ‘OK’ button (see Figure 6).

Figure 6

§ Press the 'Finish' button (see Figure 7).

Figure 7

§ A window that refers to the location given earlier is opened. (see Figure 8).

Figure 8

The installation of the TrueCrypt program is now complete.

4. Users’ manual - USB stick protection

This users’ manual explains how you can create a protected file/area on your USB stick. Thereafter, we explain how this file/area can be accessed by means of a drive letter via Windows Explorer. We then explain how the drive letter can be disconnected from the station. Lastly, we explain how the password of the protected file/area can be changed.

4.1 Creating a protected file

Executing the steps in this paragraph to create a protected area/file the size of your USB stick.

§ Start the program from the installation folder on your USB stick.

§ Press the ‘Create Volume’ button (see Figure 9).

Figure 9

§ Select the option ‘Create a file container’ (see Figure 10).

§ Press the ‘Next’ button (see Figure 10).

Figure 10

§ Select the option ‘Standard TrueCrypt volume’ (see Figure 11).

§ Press the ‘Next’ button (see Figure 11).

Figure 11

§ As the location type ‘X:\data\data.tc’ the X corresponds to the letter of your

USB stick (see Figure 12).

§ Press the ‘Next’ button (see Figure 12).

Figure 12

§ Select ‘AES-Twofish-Serpent’ as the Encryption Algorithm (see Figure 13).

§ Select ‘SHA-512’ as the Hash Algorithm (see Figure 13).

§ Press the ‘Next’ button (see Figure 13).

Figure 13

§ See how much ‘Free space’ is available, fill in the value before the decimal point as ‘Volume Size’ (see Figure 14).

§ Press the ‘Next’ button (see Figure 14).

Figure 14

§ Devise and input a password of minimally 20 characters (see Figure 15).

§ Confirm the password you have just input (see Figure 15).

§ Press the ‘Next’ button (see Figure 15).

Figure 15

§ Select ‘FAT’ as the File system and press ‘Format’ (see Figure 15).

Figure 15

The progress of the creation of the protected file is shown. This can take several minutes (see Figure 16).

Figure 16

After some time, a message appears saying that the protected volume has been successfully created.

§ Press the ‘OK’ button (see Figure 17).

Figure 127

§ Press the ‘Exit’ button (see Figure 18).

Figure 138

4.2 Linking a protected file to a drive letter.

Carry out the steps in this paragraph to link the protected area/file on your USB stick to a drive letter

§ Start the program from the installation folder, if you have not yet started it (see Figure 19).

§ Press the ‘Select file’ button (see Figure 19).

Figure 149

§ Select the protected volume ‘data.tc’ on your USB stick (see Figure 20).

§ Press the 'Open' button (see Figure 20).

Figure 20

§ Select the drive letter to which the protected volume must be linked and press

the ‘Mount’ button (see Figure 21).

P.S. later, this drive letter will also be accessible via Windows Explorer.

Figure 21

§ Enter the previously given password (chapter 3.1) and press the

‘OK’ button (see Figure 22).

Figure 22

TrueCrypt will now show that the protected file ‘data.tc’ is linked to the drive letter you gave

(see Figure 23).

Figure 23

In Windows Explorer, it can be seen that the protected file is linked to drive letter U: (see Figure 24). It is now possible to save your data securely by copying them to the drive letter you have just linked.