Want a hidden, encrypted folder on your USB flash drive for your sensitive data? We look at creating a folder hidden inside a hidden container using TrueCrypt and then test how it works in Windows.
The purpose of this article is to demonstrate, step-by-step, how to set up a hidden, encrypted folder on a USB flash memory card. For this, we’ll first use an open-source application called TrueCrypt. Although the TrueCrypt website has an excellent tutorial section, we’ll limit ourselves to just the specified deed, somewhat simplifying the process and, hopefully, making it more transparent and understandable to those who are new to the subject.
Installing TrueCrypt
1. First, download the application and run the installer. You’ll immediately be faced with a choice: install it to the computer, or merely extract the files. Since we assume that you are doing this with the PC which you will primarily use the card, select “Install” for the normal mode and “Next” to continue.
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2. Then there are more choices. Do you want to install for all users on the PC? (Probably not if associates or other family members use the PC. Probably so if you are the sole operator of the PC.) Do you want to add TrueCrypt to the Start menu and put an icon on the desktop? (Maybe or maybe not, depending on your needs. The basic unit of security is trust, and I trust that I can control access to my computer. I also have enough desktop icons.) Disabling the Windows paging files (virtual memory on the hard drive) is for those paranoid enough to fear the black helicopters. Unless you are really, really worried about some of the content of memory ending up being written to the hard drive, which would take forensics to decipher, I suggest avoiding this setting. On the other hand, associating the .tc file extension with TrueCrypt may be something to not do. This from the theory that the PC doesn’t need to tell everybody and sundry who may be watching that any file in any open folder is a TrueCrypt file. (And that’s how paranoid I am.)
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3. Click “Install” and it will start creating a system restore point.
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4. Soon after the restore point is created, installation will be complete. Click “OK” and click “Finish”
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Creating TrueCrypt Containers on the Flash Drive
The next step is to insert the USB Flash drive that you wish to create the encrypted container on. If Autoplay is active in Windows, the pop-up dialog will tell you which drive letter is linked to the Flash drive. In our case, it’s Drive J:
1. Start TrueCrypt from the Start Menu. Don’t worry about your Flash Drive letter not being listed in the application window. Click “Create Volume” to run the Volume Creation wizard.
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2. Select “Create a file container” and click “Next.”
3. In the “Volume Type” dialog, select “Hidden TrueCrypt volume” and click “Next.”
4. In the “Volume Creation Mode” dialog, select “Normal mode” and click “Next.”
5. In the “Volume Location” dialog, click “Select File.” Then navigate to your Flash Drive and enter a filename for the container. It can be any filename you desire and have any extension, but do not select an existing file. Click “Open” to close the dialog.
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6. Back in the Creation Wizard, click “Next.” This will open the “Outer Volume” dialog, which is just information. Read it and click “Next.”
7. This opens the “Outer Volume Encryption Options” dialog. It’s fine to accept the defaults and click “Next.”
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8. In the “Outer Volume Size” dialog, enter your desired Outer Volume Size. Here we’ve specified 2048 MB. After entering the size, click “Next.”
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Next: Continuing creating the TrueCrypt folders and Trying it Out.
