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# VeraCrypt

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This article or section is out of date.

Reason: inspired by TrueCrypt archives page (Discuss in Talk:VeraCrypt)

VeraCrypt is fork of TrueCrypt, a free open source on-the-fly encryption (OTFE) program. Some of its features are:

- Virtual encrypted disks within files that can be mounted as real disks.
- Encryption of an entire hard disk partition or a storage device/medium.
- All encryption algorithms use the LRW mode of operation, which is more secure than CBC mode with predictable initialization vectors for storage encryption.
- "Hidden volumes" within a normal "outer" encrypted volume. A hidden volume can not be distinguished from random data without access to a passphrase and/or keyfile.

For more details on how TrueCrypt compares to other disk encryption solution, see Data-at-rest encryption#Comparison table.

## Installation

Note For opening and accessing an existing TrueCrypt container cryptsetup is the preferred way, since it is well integrated with the rest of the system. Creating a new TrueCrypt container can be done using `truecrypt`, after which it can be opened using `cryptsetup`.

Install the veracrypt package.

This article or section needs expansion.

Reason: It is still important to enable FUSE, loop and your encryption algorithm (e.g. AES, XTS, SHA512) in custom kernels. (Discuss in Talk:VeraCrypt)

## Accessing a TrueCrypt or VeraCrypt container using cryptsetup

cryptsetup supports opening VeraCrypt and TrueCrypt containers natively, without the need of the veracrypt package. Use the following command as a guideline.

    $ cryptsetup --type tcrypt open container-to-mount container-name

If using a custom Personal Iteration Multiplier (PIM), use the `--veracrypt-query-pim` option to be promoted for the PIM.

Replace `container-to-mount` with the device file under `/dev` or the path to the file you wish to open. Upon successful opening, the plaintext device will appear as `/dev/mapper/container-name`, which you can `mount` like any normal device.

If you are using key files, supply them using the `--key-file` option, to open a hidden volume, supply the `--tcrypt-hidden` option and for a partition or whole drive that is encrypted in system mode use the `--tcrypt-system` option.

See cryptsetup(8) § TCRYPT (TRUECRYPT AND VERACRYPT COMPATIBLE) EXTENSION for more details and all supported options.

### Automounting using /etc/crypttab

Since version 206, systemd supports (auto)mounting TrueCrypt containers at boot or runtime using `/etc/crypttab`.

The following example setup will mount `/dev/sda2` in system encryption mode as soon as `/mnt/truecrypt-volume` is accessed using systemd's automounting logic. The passphrase to open the volume is given in `/etc/volume.password`. Note that the device file given in `/etc/fstab` needs to be the one from `/dev/mapper/` and not, for example, from `/dev/disk/by-uuid/` for automounting logic to kick in. Other than that you can still reliably identify the encrypted volume itself inside of `/etc/crypttab` using device file names from `/dev/disk/`.

    /etc/crypttab

    truecrypt-volume    /dev/sda2    /etc/volume.password    tcrypt-system,noauto

For a standard truecrypt volume, use tcrypt instead of tcrypt-system. And for a hidden one, use tcrypt-hidden. For a veracrypt volume, use tcrypt-veracrypt alongside tcrypt.

    /etc/fstab

    /dev/mapper/truecrypt-volume    /mnt/truecrypt-volume    auto    noauto,x-systemd.automount    0    0

Instead of auto, you can put directly your filesystem, and put usual mount options. It is useful with NTFS for mounting as a normal user.

See crypttab(5) for more details and options supported.

## Encrypting a file as a virtual volume

The following instructions will create a file that will act as a virtual filesystem, allowing you to mount it and store files within the encrypted file. This is a convenient way to store sensitive information, such as financial data or passwords, in a single file that can be accessed from Linux, Windows, or Macs.

To create a new truecrypt file interactively, type the following in a terminal:

    $ veracrypt -t -c

Follow the instructions, choosing the default values unless you know what you are doing:

    Volume type:
     1) Normal
     2) Hidden
    Select [1]: 1

    Enter file or device path for new volume: /home/user/EncryptedFile.tc

    Enter volume size (bytes - size/sizeK/sizeM/sizeG): 32M

    Encryption algorithm:
     1) AES
     2) Blowfish
     3) CAST5
     4) Serpent
     5) Triple DES
     6) Twofish
     7) AES-Twofish
     8) AES-Twofish-Serpent
     9) Serpent-AES
    10) Serpent-Twofish-AES
    11) Twofish-Serpent
    Select [1]: 1

    Hash algorithm:
     1) RIPEMD-160
     2) SHA-1
     3) Whirlpool
    Select [1]: 1

Filesystem:

    1) None
    2) FAT
    3) Linux Ext2
    4) Linux Ext3
    5) Linux Ext4

Select [2]:

    Enter password for new volume '/home/user/EncryptedFile.tc': *****************************
    Re-enter password: *****************************

    Enter keyfile path [none]:

    Please type at least 320 randomly chosen characters and then press Enter:

    Done: 32.00 MB  Speed: 10.76 MB/s  Left: 0:00:00
    Volume created.

You can now mount the new encrypted file to a previously-created directory:

    $ veracrypt -t /home/user/EncryptedFile.tc /home/user/EncryptedFileFolder

Note Truecrypt requires root privileges and as such, running the above command as a user will attempt to use sudo for authentication. To work with files as a regular user, please see Mount volumes as a normal user.

Once mounted, you can copy or create new files within the encrypted directory as if it was any normal directory. When you are you ready to re-encrypt the contents and unmount the directory, run:

    $ veracrypt -t -d

Again, this will require administrator privileges through the use of sudo. After running it check if the files that are to be encrypted are indeed no longer in the directory. (might want to try unimportant data first) If they are still there, note that rm does not make the data unrecoverable.

For more information about truecrypt in general, run:

    $ man veracrypt

Note As of 1:7.1a-1 dont see a man or info page.

Several options can be passed at the command line, making automated access and creation a simple task. The man page is highly recommended reading.

## Encrypting a physical volume

Note If you are having problems with the graphical interface, you can run in CLI mode with the `-t` flag.

If you want to use a keyfile, create one with this command:

    veracrypt --create-keyfile /etc/disk.key

By default both passphrase and key will be needed to unlock the volume.

Create a new volume in the device `/dev/sda1`:

    # veracrypt --volume-type=normal -c /dev/sda1

Map the volume to `/dev/mapper/truecrypt1`:

    # veracrypt -N 1 /dev/sda1

If this command does not for you try this to map the volume:

    # veracrypt --filesystem=none --slot=1 /dev/sda1

Simply format the disk like you normally would choosing your favourite file system, except use the path `/dev/mapper/truecrypt1`. E.g. for ext4 use:

    # mkfs.ext4 /dev/mapper/truecrypt1

Mount the volume:

    # mount /dev/mapper/truecrypt1 /media/disk

Map and mount a volume:

    # veracrypt /dev/sda1 /media/disk

Unmount and unmap a volume:

    # veracrypt -u /dev/sda1

Note Since `veracrypt-1.26.18`, the `--use-dummy-sudo-password` argument might be required to mount and unmount a volume as a non-root user with sudo privileges. More info available at [1].

## Creating a hidden volume

First, create a normal outer volume as described in #Encrypting a physical volume.

Map the outer volume to `/dev/mapper/truecrypt1`:

    # veracrypt -N 1 /dev/sda1

Create a hidden truecrypt volume in the free space of the outer volume:

     # veracrypt --type hidden -c /dev/sda1

You need to use another passphrase and/or keyfile here than the one you used for the outer volume.

Unmap the outer truecrypt volume and map the hidden one:

    # veracrypt -d /dev/sda1
    # veracrypt -N 1 /dev/sda1

Just use the passphrase you chose for the hidden volume and TrueCrypt will automatically choose it before the outer.

Create a file system on it (if you have not already) and mount it:

    # mkfs.ext4 /dev/mapper/truecrypt1
    # mount /dev/mapper/truecrypt1 /media/disk

Map and mount the outer volume with the hidden write-protected:

    veracrypt -P /dev/sda1 /media/disk

## Mount a special filesystem

Note Current Versions of truecrypt seem to support NTFS write support by default so the `--filesystem` flag no longer seems to be necessary.

In the following example I want to mount a ntfs-volume, but TrueCrypt does not use ntfs-3g by default (so there is no write access; checked in version 6.1). The following command works for me:

    veracrypt --filesystem=ntfs-3g --mount /file/you/want/to/mount

You may also want to mount ntfs volume without execute flag on all files

    veracrypt --filesystem=ntfs-3g --fs-options=users,uid=$(id -u),gid=$(id -g),fmask=0113,dmask=0002

## Mount volumes via fstab

First of all, we need to write a script which will handle the way mounting via fstab is done. Place the following in `/usr/bin/mount.truecrypt`:

    #!/bin/sh
    DEV="$1"
    MNTPT="$2"
    OPTIONS=""
    TCOPTIONS=""

    shift 3
    IFS=','
    for arg in $*; do
        case "$arg" in
            system)                   TCOPTIONS=(${TCOPTIONS[*]} --m=system);;
            fs*)                      TCOPTIONS=(${TCOPTIONS[*]} --filesystem=${arg#*=});;
            keyfiles*)                TCOPTIONS=(${TCOPTIONS[*]} --keyfiles=${arg#*=});;
            password*)                TCOPTIONS=(${TCOPTIONS[*]} --password=${arg#*=}) && echo "password triggered" ;;
            protect-hidden*)          TCOPTIONS=(${TCOPTIONS[*]} --protect-hidden=${arg#*=});;
            *)                        OPTIONS="${OPTIONS}${arg},";;

        esac
    done

    /bin/veracrypt --text --non-interactive ${DEV} ${MNTPT} ${TCOPTIONS[*]} --fs-options="${OPTIONS%,*}"

Also do not forget to make the file executable.

Finally, add the device to fstab somewhat like this:

    /dev/sdb3 /mnt truecrypt fs=vfat,defaults 0 0

## Mount volumes as a normal user

TrueCrypt needs root privileges to work: this procedure will allow normal users to use it, also giving writing permissions to mounted volumes.

Both methods below require Sudo. Make sure it is configured before proceeding.

### Method 1: add a veracrypt group

Create a new group called veracrypt and give it the necessary permissions. Any users that belongs to that group, will be able to use TrueCrypt.

    # groupadd veracrypt

Edit the sudo configuration:

    # visudo

Append the following lines at the bottom of the sudo configuration file:

    # Users in the veracrypt group are allowed to run VeraCrypt as root.
    %veracrypt ALL=(root) NOPASSWD:/usr/bin/veracrypt

You can now add your users to the veracrypt group:

    # gpasswd -M first_user,second_user,etc veracrypt

Note In order to make these changes active, any user that has been added to the veracrypt group have to logout.

After that, you can mount your device by

    # veracrypt --mount /path/to/device /path/to/mountpoint

Default mountpoint is `/media/veracrypt1`. Normally, it is not necessary to explicitly specify the filesystem of your device using the `--filesystem` flag.

It is definitely reasonable to give veracrypt some permission masks. Otherwise, every file on your mounted device will be executable. So instead of the above, you can use

    # veracrypt --fs-options=users,uid=$(id -u),gid=$(id -g),fmask=0113,dmask=0002 --mount /PATH/TO/DEVICE /PATH/TO/MOUNTPOINT

and add this line to your bash configuration file, `~/.bashrc` as an alias:

    alias tc1='veracrypt --fs-options=users,uid=$(id -u),gid=$(id -g),fmask=0113,dmask=0002 --mount /path/to/device"" /path/to/mountpoint'

To mount this specific device, use

    # tc1

as a normal user.

### Method 2: sudo simplified

Simply enable desired user to run truecrypt without a password:

    # visudo

Append the following:

    USERNAME ALL = (root) NOPASSWD:/usr/bin/veracrypt

alternatively, if you make use of the wheel group:

    %wheel ALL = (root) NOPASSWD:/usr/bin/veracrypt

If you have any difficulties with permissions as a normal user, just add the `-u` flag to the truecrypt mount command, for example:

    $ veracrypt -u /home/user/EncryptedFile.tc /home/user/EncryptedFileFolder

Note From `veracrypt-1.26.20`, the `NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/veracrypt` piece must be replaced with `NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/veracrypt, /usr/bin/true` as reported on issue #1498 upstream. However, previously from `veracrypt-1.2.4-hotfix1` to `veracrypt-1.26.18` `NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/veracrypt, /usr/bin/uptime` was used instead. More info available at FS#64431 and [2].

### Automatic mount on login

Simply add:

    $ veracrypt /home/user/Encrypted File.tc /home/user/Encrypted File Folder <<EOF
    password
    EOF

to your startup procedure. Do not use the `-p` switch, this method is more secure. Otherwise everyone can just look up the password via ps and similar tools, as it is in the process name! source

The most recent truecrypt has a couple of followup questions. If you have expect installed, this will work (assuming no keyfile and no desire to protect hidden volume), saved to a file with root-only perms called from /etc/rc.local:

    #! /bin/bash
    expect << EOF
    spawn /usr/bin/truecrypt ''/path/to/EncryptedFile'' ''/mount/point''
    expect "Enter password"
    send "volume password\n"
    expect "Enter keyfile"
    send "\n"
    expect "Protect hidden volume"
    send "\n"
    expect eof;
    EOF

Of course, this is not as secure as entering your password manually. But for some use cases, such as when your TrueCrypt filesystem is in a file on shared storage, it is better than being unencrypted.

## Safely unmount and unmap volumes (on shutdown)

You can unmount a specific device by

    # veracrypt -d /path/to/mountpoint

or leave away the path to unmount all truecrypt volumes.

If you want your truecrypt device to be unmounted automatically at shutdown, add the following to the file `/etc/rc.local.shutdown`:

    if (/usr/bin/veracrypt --text --list)
    then {
    /usr/bin/veracrypt -d
    sleep 3
    }
    fi

You can also leave away the sleep command, it is just to give the unmounting some time to complete before the actual shutdown.

## Troubleshooting

### TrueCrypt is already running

If a messagebox TrueCrypt is already running appears when starting TrueCrypt, check for a hidden file in the home directory of the concerned user called .TrueCrypt-lock-username. Substitute username with the individual username. Delete the file and start TrueCrypt again.

### Deleted stale lockfile

If you always get a message "Delete stale lockfile [....]" after starting Truecrypt, the Truecrypt process with the lowest ID has to be killed during Gnome log out. Edit `/etc/gdm/PostSession/Default` and add the following line before exit 0:

    kill $(ps -ef | grep veracrypt | tr -s ' ' | cut -d ' ' -f 2)

### Issues with Unicode file/folder names

#### NTFS

Should files resp. folders containing Unicode characters in their names be incorrectly or not at all displayed on TrueCrypt NTFS volumes (while e. g. being correctly handled on non-encrypted NTFS partitions), first verify that you have the NTFS-3G driver installed and then create the following symlink as root:

    ln -s /sbin/mount.ntfs-3g /sbin/mount.ntfs

That will cause TrueCrypt to automatically use this driver for NTFS volumes, having the same effect as the explicit use of

    truecrypt --filesystem=ntfs-3g /path/to/volume

via the console.

One may also consider setting e.g.:

    rw,noatime

amongst other options in the TrueCrypt GUI (Settings > Preferences > Mount Options).

#### FAT

Similarly, FAT32 volumes created using Windows may use Unicode rather than ISO 8859-1. In order to use UTF-8 globally, set the mount option:

    iocharset=utf8

Alternatively, when mounting volumes locally use:

    --fs-options=iocharset=utf8

Since linux-4.14.4, UTF8 charset is enabled by default. So in order to mount volumes using ISO 8859-1 encoding, you need to use `--fs-options=utf8=no`, see FS#56781.

### Unmount error (device mapper)

If you always get a message "device-mapper: remove ioctl failed: Device or resource busy" when attempting to dismount your truecrypt volume, the solution is to goto: Setting > Preferences > System Integration > Kernel Service and check the box

    Do not use kernel cryptographic services

### Mount error (device mapper, truecrypt partition)

When attempting to mount your truecrypt volume, a message like this one may appear:

    Error: device-mapper: create ioctl failed: Device or resource busy
    Command failed

If so, run:

    # cryptsetup remove /dev/mapper/truecrypt1

### Failed to set up a loop device

If you get a message "Failed to set up a loop device" when trying to create/mount a TrueCrypt volume, it may be because you updated your kernel recently without rebooting. Rebooting should fix this error.

Otherwise, check if loop has been loaded as kernel module:

    $ lsmod | grep loop

If not listed, retry the TrueCrypt command after `modprobe loop`. Should it work, consider to add loop to the modules in `/etc/modules-load.d`:

    # tee /etc/modules-load.d/truecrypt.conf <<< "loop"

Note As of udev 181-5, the loop device module is no longer auto-loaded, and the procedure described here is necessary.

With newer kernel versions there are no loop devices created at startup. If there are no loop devices the first time mounting a container file, TrueCrypt fails ("Failed to set up a loop device") but also creates the maximum number of loop devices (usually 256), mounting should now work.

To avoid this you can create a loop device before mounting a file:

    # mknod -m 0660 /dev/loop8 b 7 8

This creates `/dev/loop8`. Or create some loop devices at startup:

    # echo "options loop max_loop=8" > /etc/modprobe.d/eightloop.conf

Change `max_loop=8` to the number of devices you need.

### System partition passwords need en_US keymap

If you are using Xorg (which you most likely are, should you not know what that is), use the following command to use US keymap until restart:

    # setxkbmap us

### Permission denied on NTFS volume

If you cannot modify the filesystem, although permissions seem to be correct, this can be a result of not having NTFS-3G installed, see NTFS.

### Corrupted standard volume file system

In case you cannot access your VeraCrypt volume or container anymore, install testdisk. See more information on CGSecurity page.

    $ ./truecrypt -t --filesystem=none /data/data_for_testdisk/truecrypt.dd
    Enter password for /data/data_for_testdisk/truecrypt.dd:
    Enter keyfile [none]:
    Protect hidden volume? (y=Yes/n=No) [No]:
    Enter system administrator password:
    $ mount
    ...
    truecrypt on /tmp/.truecrypt_aux_mnt1 type fuse.truecrypt (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other)
    # testdisk /tmp/.truecrypt_aux_mnt1/volume

## See also

- VeraCrypt homepage
- Truecrypt tutorial on HowToForge
- There is a good chance the CIA has a backdoor? (via Wikipedia)

Category:

- Data-at-rest encryption

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