Use TrueCrypt to Encrypt Sensitive Files on DropBox 04/06/11

 

Encryption of media is necessary if you are editing shows or films that have content that cannot be revealed until they are officially released.  These could be anything from storyboards to rendered approval versions.

 

Download TrueCrypt, then install and launch.  

 

Press the Create Volume button to launch the wizard that prepares the encrypted drive location.

 

 

Select Create an encrypted file container

 

 

Select  Standard TrueCrypt volume

 

 

Press the Select file button and navigate to a place to store your soon to be encrypted file container.

 

 

Type a name for your file container.  For this example, we’ll call it serial numbers.  (Note: This is not a file – it’s a file container.  Your files will go inside of it).

 

 

Select AES for your encryption type.  Select, Whirlpool for your Hash type. (Note: Here’s  a comparative look at different encryption algorithms)

 

 

Choose the size of the virtual drive.  (NOTE: You will not be able to change this later.  But there is no size limit and you can select, KB, MB or even GB).

 

 

Create a password for your volume.  (Note: Check out the hack on creating a password algorithm).

 

 

Select Mac OS Extended for file system type. (NOTE:  If the files that you will be putting in the TrueCrypt volume need to be accessed on a PC then you should select FAT).

 

 

Select I will mount this volume only on the Mac OS X

 

 

Now click FORMAT. And here’s the awesome part: Move your mouse as randomly as possible within the Volume Creation Wizard window at least for 30 seconds. The longer you move the mouse, the better.  TrueCrypt is literally stirring the pot by randomly pulling data from all parts of your computer, including the location of your mouse pointer.  It’s formatting the volume with this jumble of data, significantly increasing the cryptographic strength of the encryption keys – making it almost impossible to crack.

 

 

Now when you go back to the folder you created in DropBox called TrueCrypt test you will see the file serial numbers.

 

Now, we’re ready to open serial numbers and start using it to put files in.  Go back to the TrueCrypt interface and press Select file.

 

 

Select the file container serial numbers and then press Open.

 

 

Go back to the TrueCrypt interface and press Mount.

 

 

Enter your password.  Press OK.

 

 

The container named untitled will mount on your desktop.

 

 

 

Open it and drag in the files you want to encrypt.

 

 

Go back into TrueCrypt and press Dismount.

 

 

Now the container is gone and if you double-click on the file serial numbers it would look like this:

 

 

This file would be useless to anyone who did not have the password to decrypt it.

 

Now, to open the file container go back to the TrueCrypt interface and press Select file.

 

 

Select the file container serial numbers and then press Mount.

 

 

Enter your password.  Press OK.

 

 

untitled will mount on your desktop.  

 

Your files will be inside safe and sound.

 

 

Tips: The biggest obvious gotcha with this procedure is making sure you don’t loose your TrueCrypt password.  But as I mentioned in step 9, I cover how to create a password algorithm in my hack on how editors can use a password management system with SplashId.   Also, for editors that are working onsite make sure that you get approval from your IT and engineering departments before implementing this hack.  There is also a step-by-step video tutorial on TrueCrypt as well as online documentation.