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TrueCrypt the Windows Privacy Improvement Utility
Microsoft Windows comes under a lot of fire for its various security holes which can compromise your data and privacy. Add to that the numerous truck-sized wholes that are constantly found in Internet Explorer and you’ve got reason to be concerned about who has access to your data and how.
Ready for a top-notch Windows privacy utility yet?
When it comes to laptops (which are easily stolen), home computers, and office computers (with private information that can be accessed by multiple people), your privacy is at even greater risk. As a last scare pause, what would happen if someone broke into your house to steal your TV and decided to take your computer too because it might be worth something?
How about now?
Lock Down Your Data
Now that you’re maybe a little bit freaked out, don’t worry. There is a great easy to use utility that can solve all of your problems.
TrueCrypt is an free open-source encryption utility. Unlike many other utilities, you don’t have to encrypt and set a password on every file you use. In fact, TrueCrypt can encrypt entire hard disks or partitions. If you don’t want to go that far, TrueCrypt will create a file based encryption system.
Of course, the problem with most encryption systems is that they are a pain in the neck to use, but not TrueCrypt.
Upon installing TrueCrypt, you create an encrypted container of whatever size you want.
Once created, everything in that container will be encrypted and completely useless to any virus, thief, or nosy co-worker. Of course, it will be inaccessible to you too until you enter a password, but don’t worry, it is really simple.
To access a TrueCrypt container, you “mount” it. Mounting the volume is just like mapping a network drive. If you can use the “J Drive” at work, or a CD-ROM drive at home, you can use TrueCrypt. Just pick the file or volume that you created and click Mount. Enter the password and TrueCrypt installs the system as whatever drive you selected.
Now, just use your files and programs like you normally do. You won’t even notice that anything is encrypted.
Because the encrypted volume looks just like a regular hard drive to any programs you have on your computer, it is compatible with everything as long as you always mount your secret volume to the same drive letter.
Want to protect every single email you download? Just create an encryption container, mount it to a letter (let’s say K:), and then set your download directory to k:\mail\downloads. Now, you ex-roommate can’t read those steamy emails even if she does still have a key.
Put your browser cache, temp files, and downloads on the encrypted drive and forget about using privacy mode, incognito mode, or InPrivate mode.
When you are finished, just un-mount the drive and everything goes back to being encrypted.
Go into Settings –> Options to setup TrueCrypt to automatically un-mount encrypted drives when you log off or shut down your computer and your data will stay secure without you having to remember to do anything.
There are plenty of options and even more secure methods to use TrueCrypt if you choose, but the defaults work well enough for the majority of users.
Either way, create yourself an encrypted data drive and rest assured your files aren’t going anywhere without you.
Related Posts:
- 8 Must Have Windows Utilities
- Protect Your Files in Windows 7 Using BitLocker – Part 1
- Protect Your Files in Windows 7 Using BitLocker To Go – Part 2
- How to Backup Vista with the New Backup Utility
- Most Important Windows Utilities: Backup Software
- Microsoft, Tech Firms Seek Privacy Law
- How to Use CCleaner to Improve Windows Performance
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