TL;DR
TrueCrypt hidden volumes need special attention when backing up. Standard backups of the outer volume won’t include the hidden one. This guide explains how to safely back them up using a combination of mounting, copying, and dismounting.
Backing Up TrueCrypt Hidden Volumes
- Understand the Risk: Backing up only the outer volume leaves your hidden data vulnerable if the outer volume is compromised. You must back up both volumes separately.
- Mount the Outer Volume: Open TrueCrypt and mount your standard, outer encrypted volume as you normally would. Enter your password to access it.
- Mount the Hidden Volume: This is the crucial step. Within TrueCrypt:
- Select the outer volume from the list of mounted volumes.
- Click ‘Hidden Container’ (or similar, depending on your TrueCrypt version).
- Enter the hidden volume password when prompted. Do not confuse this with the outer volume password!
- Verify Both Volumes are Mounted: You should now see both the outer and hidden volumes listed as mounted drives in TrueCrypt, and accessible through your operating system (e.g., File Explorer on Windows, Finder on macOS).
- Copy the Contents of Each Volume Separately:
- Outer Volume: Copy all files and folders from the mounted outer volume to a safe backup location.
- Hidden Volume: Similarly, copy all files and folders from the mounted hidden volume to a different safe backup location. It’s important these are stored separately.
- Dismount Volumes in the Correct Order: This is very important to prevent data corruption.
- First, dismount the hidden volume. Right-click on it within TrueCrypt and select ‘Dismount’.
- Then, dismount the outer volume. Right-click and select ‘Dismount’.
- Verify Backup Integrity (Optional but Recommended):
- After backing up, create new empty volumes with the same sizes as your original outer and hidden volumes.
- Mount these newly created volumes.
- Copy the backed-up data back into them.
- Dismount and remount to ensure everything works correctly. This confirms your backup process is sound.
- Secure Backup Storage: Store your backups in a secure location, preferably encrypted (e.g., using VeraCrypt or another full-disk encryption solution). Consider offsite storage for disaster recovery.
Important Notes:
- Always dismount volumes properly before shutting down your computer.
- Keep your TrueCrypt passwords secure and do not store them in plain text.
- Consider using VeraCrypt instead of TrueCrypt, as it is actively maintained and addresses security vulnerabilities found in TrueCrypt. The process for backing up VeraCrypt hidden volumes is identical.