TrueCrypt

TrueCrypt

TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source On-The-Fly Disk Encryption Software for Windows Vista/XP, Mac OS X and Linux - http://www.truecrypt.org

Deprecated

See VeraCrypt

Linux Command Line

Install: (RPMForge)

yum install truecrypt

Create volume:

truecrypt -c  # answer several questions

Mount volume:

truecrypt [enc_file] [mount_point]

Unmount volume:

truecrypt -d [mount_point]
truecrypt -d   # unmount all

Mount with password passed in:

truecrypt CRYPTFILE CRYPTDIR -p 'PASSWORD' -k  --protect-hidden=no
echo "PASSWORD" | truecrypt CRYPTFILE CRYPTDIR -p  -k  --protect-hidden=no

Purpose

TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source Disk Encryption - Documentation - Hidden Volume:

"It may happen that you are forced by somebody to reveal the password to an encrypted volume. There are many situations where you cannot refuse to reveal the password (for example, due to extortion). Using a so-called hidden volume allows you to solve such situations without revealing the password to your volume."

"The principle is that a TrueCrypt volume is created within another TrueCrypt volume (within the free space on the volume). Even when the outer volume is mounted, it is impossible to prove whether there is a hidden volume within it or not*, because free space on any TrueCrypt volume is always filled with random data when the volume is created** and no part of the (dismounted) hidden volume can be distinguished from random data. Note that TrueCrypt does not modify the file system (information about free space, etc.) within the outer volume in any way."

TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source Disk Encryption - Documentation - Tutorial

"How to Create and Use a TrueCrypt Container

This chapter contains step-by-step instructions on how to create, mount, and use a TrueCrypt volume. We strongly recommend that you also read the other sections of this manual, as they contain important information."

Plausible Deniability

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrueCrypt

Cold Boot Attack

Research Team Finds Security Flaw in Popular Disk Encryption Technologies

• Laptops in "Sleep" or "Hibernation" Mode Most Vulnerable to Attack
• the researchers show that data is vulnerable because encryption keys and passwords stored in a computer's temporary memory -- or RAM -- do not disappear immediately after losing power.

Lest We Remember: Cold Boot Attacks on Encryption Keys

True Crypt

Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows Vista/XP, Mac OS X, and Linux

Q. What encryption software is vulnerable to these attacks?
A. We have demonstrated practical attacks against several popular disk encryption systems: BitLocker (a feature of Windows Vista), FileVault (a feature of Mac OS X), dm-crypt (a feature of Linux), and TrueCrypt (a third-party application for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X). Since these problems result from common design limitations of these systems rather than specific bugs, most similar disk encryption applications, including many running on servers, are probably also vulnerable.

Experimenting with Memory Remanence

    #!/usr/bin/env python

    # a pirate's favorite chemical element
    a = ""
    while 1: a += "ARGON" 

sudo strings /dev/mem | less

TrueCrypt Linux Help

$ truecrypt -h
Usage: truecrypt [--auto-mount <str>] [--backup-headers] [--background-task] [-C] [-c] [--create-keyfile] [--delete-token-keyfiles] [-d] [--encryption <str>] [--explore] [--filesystem <str>] [-f] [--fs-options <str>] [--hash <str>] [-h] [--import-token-keyfiles] [-k <str>] [-l] [--list-token-keyfiles] [--load-preferences] [--mount] [-m <str>] [--new-keyfiles <str>] [--new-password <str>] [--non-interactive] [-p <str>] [--protect-hidden <str>] [--protection-keyfiles <str>] [--protection-password <str>] [--random-source <str>] [--restore-headers] [--quick] [--size <str>] [--slot <str>] [--test] [-t] [--token-lib <str>] [-v] [--version] [--volume-properties] [--volume-type <str>] [Volume path] [Mount point]
  --auto-mount=<str>            Auto mount device-hosted/favorite volumes
  --backup-headers              Backup volume headers
  --background-task             Start Background Task
  -C, --change                  Change password or keyfiles
  -c, --create                  Create new volume
  --create-keyfile              Create new keyfile
  --delete-token-keyfiles       Delete security token keyfiles
  -d, --dismount                Dismount volume
  --encryption=<str>            Encryption algorithm
  --explore                     Open explorer window for mounted volume
  --filesystem=<str>            Filesystem type
  -f, --force                   Force mount/dismount/overwrite
  --fs-options=<str>            Filesystem mount options
  --hash=<str>                  Hash algorithm
  -h, --help                    Display detailed command line help
  --import-token-keyfiles       Import keyfiles to security token
  -k, --keyfiles=<str>          Keyfiles
  -l, --list                    List mounted volumes
  --list-token-keyfiles         List security token keyfiles
  --load-preferences            Load user preferences
  --mount                       Mount volume interactively
  -m, --mount-options=<str>     TrueCrypt volume mount options
  --new-keyfiles=<str>          New keyfiles
  --new-password=<str>          New password
  --non-interactive             Do not interact with user
  -p, --password=<str>          Password
  --protect-hidden=<str>        Protect hidden volume
  --protection-keyfiles=<str>   Keyfiles for protected hidden volume
  --protection-password=<str>   Password for protected hidden volume
  --random-source=<str>         Use file as source of random data
  --restore-headers             Restore volume headers
  --quick                       Enable quick format
  --size=<str>                  Size in bytes
  --slot=<str>                  Volume slot number
  --test                        Test internal algorithms
  -t, --text                    Use text user interface
  --token-lib=<str>             Security token library
  -v, --verbose                 Enable verbose output
  --version                     Display version information
  --volume-properties           Display volume properties
  --volume-type=<str>           Volume type


Synopsis:

truecrypt [OPTIONS] COMMAND
truecrypt [OPTIONS] VOLUME_PATH [MOUNT_DIRECTORY]


Commands:

--auto-mount=devices|favorites
 Auto mount device-hosted or favorite volumes.

--backup-headers[=VOLUME_PATH]
 Backup volume headers to a file. All required options are requested from the
 user.

-c, --create[=VOLUME_PATH]
 Create a new volume. Most options are requested from the user if not specified
 on command line. See also options --encryption, -k, --filesystem, --hash, -p,
 --random-source, --quick, --size, --volume-type. Note that passing some of the
 options may affect security of the volume (see option -p for more information).

 Inexperienced users should use the graphical user interface to create a hidden
 volume. When using the text user interface, the following procedure must be
 followed to create a hidden volume:
  1) Create an outer volume with no filesystem.
  2) Create a hidden volume within the outer volume.
  3) Mount the outer volume using hidden volume protection.
  4) Create a filesystem on the virtual device of the outer volume.
  5) Mount the new filesystem and fill it with data.
  6) Dismount the outer volume.
  If at any step the hidden volume protection is triggered, start again from 1).

--create-keyfile[=FILE_PATH]
 Create a new keyfile containing pseudo-random data.

-C, --change[=VOLUME_PATH]
 Change a password and/or keyfile(s) of a volume. Most options are requested
 from the user if not specified on command line. PKCS-5 PRF HMAC hash
 algorithm can be changed with option --hash. See also options -k,
 --new-keyfiles, --new-password, -p, --random-source, -v.

-d, --dismount[=MOUNTED_VOLUME]
 Dismount a mounted volume. If MOUNTED_VOLUME is not specified, all
 volumes are dismounted. See below for description of MOUNTED_VOLUME.

--delete-token-keyfiles
 Delete keyfiles from security tokens. See also command --list-token-keyfiles.

--import-token-keyfiles
 Import keyfiles to a security token. See also option --token-lib.

-l, --list[=MOUNTED_VOLUME]
 Display a list of mounted volumes. If MOUNTED_VOLUME is not specified, all
 volumes are listed. By default, the list contains only volume path, virtual
 device, and mount point. A more detailed list can be enabled by verbose
 output option (-v). See below for description of MOUNTED_VOLUME.

--list-token-keyfiles
 Display a list of all available security token keyfiles. See also command
 --import-token-keyfiles.

--mount[=VOLUME_PATH]
 Mount a volume. Volume path and other options are requested from the user
 if not specified on command line.

--restore-headers[=VOLUME_PATH]
 Restore volume headers from the embedded or an external backup. All required
 options are requested from the user.

--test
 Test internal algorithms used in the process of encryption and decryption.

--version
 Display program version.

--volume-properties[=MOUNTED_VOLUME]
 Display properties of a mounted volume. See below for description of
 MOUNTED_VOLUME.

MOUNTED_VOLUME:
 Specifies a mounted volume. One of the following forms can be used:
 1) Path to the encrypted TrueCrypt volume.
 2) Mount directory of the volume's filesystem (if mounted).
 3) Slot number of the mounted volume (requires --slot).


Options:

--encryption=ENCRYPTION_ALGORITHM
 Use specified encryption algorithm when creating a new volume.

--filesystem=TYPE
 Filesystem type to mount. The TYPE argument is passed to mount(8) command
 with option -t. Default type is 'auto'. When creating a new volume, this
 option specifies the filesystem to be created on the new volume.
 Filesystem type 'none' disables mounting or creating a filesystem.

--force
 Force mounting of a volume in use, dismounting of a volume in use, or
 overwriting a file. Note that this option has no effect on some platforms.

--fs-options=OPTIONS
 Filesystem mount options. The OPTIONS argument is passed to mount(8)
 command with option -o when a filesystem on a TrueCrypt volume is mounted.
 This option is not available on some platforms.

--hash=HASH
 Use specified hash algorithm when creating a new volume or changing password
 and/or keyfiles. This option also specifies the mixing PRF of the random
 number generator.

-k, --keyfiles=KEYFILE1,KEYFILE2,KEYFILE3,..
 Use specified keyfiles when mounting a volume or when changing password
 and/or keyfiles. When a directory is specified, all files inside it will be
 used (non-recursively). Multiple keyfiles must be separated by comma.
 Use double comma (,,) to specify a comma contained in keyfile's name.
 Keyfile stored on a security token must be specified as
 token://slot/SLOT_NUMBER/file/FILENAME. An empty keyfile (-k "") disables
 interactive requests for keyfiles. See also options --import-token-keyfiles,
 --list-token-keyfiles, --new-keyfiles, --protection-keyfiles.

-m, --mount-options=headerbak|nokernelcrypto|readonly|ro|system|timestamp|ts
 Specify comma-separated mount options for a TrueCrypt volume:
  headerbak: Use backup headers when mounting a volume.
  nokernelcrypto: Do not use kernel cryptographic services.
  readonly|ro: Mount volume as read-only.
  system: Mount partition using system encryption.
  timestamp|ts: Do not preserve host-file timestamps (note that the operating
   system under certain circumstances does not alter host-file timestamps, which
   may be mistakenly interpreted to mean that this option does not work).
 See also option --fs-options.

-p, --password=PASSWORD
 Use specified password to mount/open a volume. An empty password can also be
 specified (-p ""). Note that passing a password on the command line is
 potentially insecure as the password may be visible in the process list
 (see ps(1)) and/or stored in a command history file or system logs.

--protect-hidden=yes|no
 Write-protect a hidden volume when mounting an outer volume. Before mounting
 the outer volume, the user will be prompted for a password to open the hidden
 volume. The size and position of the hidden volume is then determined and the
 outer volume is mounted with all sectors belonging to the hidden volume
 protected against write operations. When a write to the protected area is
 prevented, the whole volume is switched to read-only mode. Verbose list
 (-v -l) can be used to query the state of the hidden volume protection.
 Warning message is displayed when a volume switched to read-only is being
 dismounted.

--protection-keyfiles=KEYFILE1,KEYFILE2,KEYFILE3,..
 Use specified keyfiles to open a hidden volume to be protected. This option
 may be used only when mounting an outer volume with hidden volume protected.
 See also options -k and --protect-hidden.

--protection-password=PASSWORD
 Use specified password to open a hidden volume to be protected. This option
 may be used only when mounting an outer volume with hidden volume protected.
 See also options -p and --protect-hidden.

--quick
 Use quick format when creating a new volume. This option can be used only
 when creating a device-hosted volume and must not be used when creating an
 outer volume.

--random-source=FILE
 Use FILE as a source of random data (e.g., when creating a volume) instead
 of requiring the user to type random characters.

--slot=SLOT
 Use specified slot number when mounting, dismounting, or listing a volume.

--size=SIZE
 Use specified size in bytes when creating a new volume.

-t, --text
 Use text user interface. Graphical user interface is used by default if
 available.

--token-lib=LIB_PATH
 Use specified PKCS #11 security token library.

--volume-type=TYPE
 Use specified volume type when creating a new volume. TYPE can be 'normal'
 or 'hidden'. See option -c for more information on creating hidden volumes.

-v, --verbose
 Enable verbose output.


Examples:

Create a new volume:
truecrypt -t -c

Mount a volume:
truecrypt volume.tc /media/truecrypt1

Mount a volume as read-only, using keyfiles:
truecrypt -m ro -k keyfile1,keyfile2 volume.tc

Mount a volume without mounting its filesystem:
truecrypt --filesystem=none volume.tc

Mount a volume prompting only for its password:
truecrypt -t -k "" --protect-hidden=no volume.tc /media/truecrypt1

Dismount a volume:
truecrypt -d volume.tc

Dismount all mounted volumes:
truecrypt -d