Ideal TrueCrypt installation for your USB2.0 Device.

[somoney]

Now that Mojopac once again supports running under a 100% TrueCrypt volume, it's time to backup your Mojo, reformat that PENDrive or USB HardDisk and get your data encrypted and protected!

I would like a thread dedicated for all things TrueCrypt and the most ideal methods for protecting your Mojo.

SOMONEYS SETUP
80gig NexStar3 2.5" by vantec.
PARTITION(s): 2 partitions.
(1 x 10gigabyte, and 1 x 70gigabyte)

FILESYSTEM(s): 2 filesystems.
(1 x 10gigabyte NTFS, and 70gigabyte TrueCrypt NTFS)

When I plug in my 80gig USB2 drive, TrueCrypt launches, and asks for password. When the password is entered, TrueCrypt mounts my Mojopac volume assigning it the drive letter X: . Mojopac then launches and I am 100% encrypted.

CONCERNS:
Having a 100% truecrypt partition appears to windows as an unformated disk. This is dangerous if your mojopac is left unatended and someone decides to "Utilize all this free unused space and formats your Mojo!" NOT FUN!

IDEAL Setup theory:
Im not sure how to do this yet but I would like to create a bogus looking windows environment on a 100% NTFS formated partition. In order to make it look inocent enough should I loose it; within one of the subdirectories is a single 70gig truecrypt file labled something like LordOfTheRingsBluRayimage.bin
since BlueRay images run arround 40gigs to 80gigs a hacker would know full well its my truecrypt volume but your typical thief would just think its a dvd rip.

Ive never made a single file so huge before though, nor do I know how too. Has anyone tried this yet?

[fiore]

i have not used truecrypt, but if you guys are worried about your data being used, why not buy a biometric thumbdrive

Pros: only you (or those fingers, belonging to people you want) can open it

cons: your fingers become more valuable, and perhaps a target for an axe ;)


just thought id throw it out as an option

[somoney]

Id need to look at Read/Write performance in those devices. Anyway, why buy something else when TrueCrypt is FREE!

[fiore]

true true, i just thought id put it out there, in case someone was thinking of buying a new device :P

i am not to worried about security on my mojo, so i just stick with the pw,,,,
maybey i should have a go with truecrypt

does it take long for it to unlock the data?

[mhrossowyc]

Somoney,

Can you provide a little more detail on your setup.

Do you have Mojo installed in the TrueCrypt partition?

What are you using the unsecure partition for?

I am thinking that you re-partitioned the drive into the two partitions and then using the Volume (device) option in TrueCrypt created the hidded secure partition. Then you restored your MoJo into the TrueCrypt partition.

Thanks,

Marc

[prototask]

I'm new at using truecrypt but what works for me is I create a truecrypt file volume that is 99% of the size of my 12GB microdrive and store truecrypt.exe on the other 1%. I wrote an app that runs truecrypt on the volume and then starts Mojopac. When I exit MojoPac the same app dismounts the truecrypt volume. Works great.

[jparadis]

If I remember right, it's nice to share. How about sharing the app you wrote.

[prototask]

More than happy to share. I need to make the app more generic. Don't know if I can attach a file to the forum, but if you will send me an email with the subject, "Mount MojoPac" I will email it to you.:)

[somoney]

HERE IS WHAT I DID AND IT WORKS:

1. Format your USB Device.

2. (optional) If paranoid, create a /windows /windows/inf /ProgramFiles & /DocumentsAndSettings folder.

3. (optional) If paranoid, drag some misc .exe files and small sub folders from C:\WINDOWS to your newly created sub folders.

4. Launch TrueCrypt.exe

5. Select "Tools", "Travel Disk Setup."

6. Select the drive letter of the USB Device and TrueCrypt will install itself there.

7. Select "Volume", "Create new Volume" , "Create Standard TrueCrypt Volume"

8. Select "Select File" and browse to the bogus /windows/inf folder you just made and type a file name you know that NOBODY WILL CLICK!

9. (optional) if paranoid, Type "DirectorsCut_BrokBackMountain.avi" , SELECT "OPEN"

10. SELECT "NEXT", "NEXT"

11. SELECT file size of volume you want to create, "NEXT"

12. SELECT Password, NEXT, FORMAT, OK, NEXT

13. YOUR DONE! Cancel.


Now when you insert your USB2.0 drive it will launch TrueCrypt and prompt for password, mounting your new file system.

Copy your mojopack directories there or reinstall.

[nikky]

Thank you somoney on the udpate.

We will be adding a FAQ on this later today.

Nikky

[mhrossowyc]

I setup my device with as truecrypt volume and created an hidden file volume to install MojoPac.

MojoPac takes an extremely long time to startup, approximately 5minutes. Once it does finally startup, applications have the same issue.

Any suggestions?

Configuration:
60gb Simpletech device
Formated with TrueCrypt as NTFS
40gb File Volume with 35gb hidden File volume. Attached are the volume properties.

[jrovner]

If I follow Somoney's directions, Mojopac will be running inside a TrueCrypt volume. When I want to remove my device, do I exit Mojopac and then dismount and exit TrueCrypt, or do I exit TrueCrypt while Mojopac's running? Thanks very much.

[somoney]

I setup my device with as truecrypt volume and created an hidden file volume to install MojoPac.

MojoPac takes an extremely long time to startup, approximately 5minutes. Once it does finally startup, applications have the same issue.

Any suggestions?



Hmmm Block Size?
When I formated my truecrypt volume NTFS I also selected the largest block size available but I suspect your USB2.0 device is running in USB1.1 mode or its read/write performance is very slow. After selecting your TrueCrypt filename, click next, and then select "BENCHMARK", use 10mb buffer size, and click benchmark again to begin. Ideal performance should be between 40-45MB/s.

If your seeing 20MB/s or bellow, it's time to upgrade to a 2.5" 7200RPM drive and it will fly!


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/JoeVolcano/screenshots/TruecryptBench.jpg

[somoney]

If I follow Somoney's directions, Mojopac will be running inside a TrueCrypt volume. When I want to remove my device, do I exit Mojopac and then dismount and exit TrueCrypt, or do I exit TrueCrypt while Mojopac's running? Thanks very much.

No, always exit mojopac first! If you try and unmount the TrueCrypt volume its a guaranteed road to a CheckDisk on the next mojpac reload.

Getting TrueCrypt to let go of mojopac after your done doesn't always work though.

I select "Exit & Eject" Mojopac.
The Eject portion of the procedure WILL FAIL, however its your best bet that any write caching the PC might be doing completes.

Then unmount all true crypt volumes by right clicking your drive and selecting "TrueCrypt Dismount All" "A FEW TIMES" until it does it.

If your going through the trouble of encrypting data, you might as well not leave anything in resident PC memory for other talented hackers to find.

[briancube]

I created a FAQ for TrueCrypt here: http://www.mojopac.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2405

[jrovner]

Hi, all. I followed the FAQ and other advice here, but I can't get my external hard drive to eject.

Here's my setup: I plug in my USB 2.0 hard drive, launch True Crypt, and decrypt the file on the drive that is my hidden volume. Inside that volume, I have mojopac installed. I launch mojopac. Inside the mojopac session, I have another file containing a Truecrypt hidden volume, which I use during my mojopac session. When I'm finished, I (a) dismount that Truecrypt volume, (b) exit and eject Mojopac (the eject fails), (c) dismount the outer Truecrypt volume, and then (d) attempt to eject the hard drive. Step (d) always fails, saying there's activity going on with the drive that prevents me from ejecting it. No matter how long I wait, I get that message.

Any suggestions? If I shut down my whole system, is it safe to unplug the drive when the PC is off?

Thanks again.

[briancube]

I would assume shutting down your computer would go through the necessary steps for a safe removal.

In terms of not being able to safely remove your device normally, this application has helped me in the past:

http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

[joerawr]

Hi, all. I followed the FAQ and other advice here, but I can't get my external hard drive to eject.

Here's my setup: I plug in my USB 2.0 hard drive, launch True Crypt, and decrypt the file on the drive that is my hidden volume. Inside that volume, I have mojopac installed. I launch mojopac. Inside the mojopac session, I have another file containing a Truecrypt hidden volume, which I use during my mojopac session. When I'm finished, I (a) dismount that Truecrypt volume, (b) exit and eject Mojopac (the eject fails), (c) dismount the outer Truecrypt volume, and then (d) attempt to eject the hard drive. Step (d) always fails, saying there's activity going on with the drive that prevents me from ejecting it. No matter how long I wait, I get that message.

Any suggestions? If I shut down my whole system, is it safe to unplug the drive when the PC is off?

Thanks again.

I had this behavior. Check to see if Truecrypt is running in task manager. Kill it, and you can do a safe removal.

[joerawr]

HERE IS WHAT I DID AND IT WORKS:

12. SELECT Password, NEXT, FORMAT, OK, NEXT

13. YOUR DONE! Cancel.


I have an addition here:

13. Again, Select "Tools", "Travel Disk Setup."

14. Select the drive letter of the USB Device. Under Autorun configuration select "Start TrueCrypt", and select the encrypted file you created. Leave "Open Explorer window for mounted volume" checked and click "Create". Cancel to close the window.

15. Close out all the TrueCrypt windows, and safely eject the USB drive.

16. Reconnect, and now when u right click on the USB drive letter, You will see the choice "TrueCrypt Mount".

17. YOUR DONE! You did it! Breath a sigh of relief while looking forward to a future of worryless nights sleeping.

This is definetly the most convient way to access your TrueCrypt'd MojoPac.

[McStarfighter]

I've tried to install MojoPac (1.0.5.0) on my TrueCrypt encrypted partition (not a container) but I still get the message of an non USB media. It is mounted as Harddisk2/Partition4, 2 GB and NTFS with compression. Can anybody tell me what to do? I've read the FAQ but it tells only about the container method, not the partition method.

Thx a lot for help.

Atm it is a trial version and I want to buy it but only, if it will run in my TrueCrypt partition.

Regards from Germany :D

[nikky]

McStarfighter ,

Could you please confirm that you created a volume and not a partition as specified in step 6 at
http://www.mojopac.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2405 ?

Thanks,
Nikky

[McStarfighter]

I've created a TrueCrypt DEVICE, not a container file. I don't like container files...

[nikky]

Are you mounting the drive as a removable drive or as a hard drive?

Nikky

[McStarfighter]

I've tried both. And @ both the same error message.

[JohnRylander]

Is the unencrypted data then available to the host as well, I presume? or just to Mojopac?

If the former, I wonder if one can run TrueCrypt within Mojopac to have a container or device available only to Mojopac, either in addition to or instead of encrypting the entire Mojopac-containing partition?

[McStarfighter]

TrueCrypt can't encrypt a volume without killing the existing files. That is the problem...

[McStarfighter]

No help frome the support about my problem? So I can't buy Mojopac. Ceedo run, but not you... :(

[nikky]

Can you please tell us what is the device you are using? Also is it USB 2.0 compliant?

Thanks,
Nikky

[McStarfighter]

Ok, all the same again ... :mad:

I've an USB-HD, certified for USB 2.0 Hi-Speed. This HD contains a partition (4 GB) which is a TrueCrypt partition. It is not a container, it is a TC encrypted partition. And I tried to install MojoPac on this partition, but the installer "cries": ... not an USB 2.0 compliant...." and aborts.
The TrueCrypt partition is not the only partition on the USB-HD. Before I started the installer, the TC partition was mount correctly.
Your FAQ only speaks about a CONTAINER, but not about a PARTITION (made via the "Create Device" button in TrueCrypt).
And now: What to do?

[nikky]

Sorry! I wasn't clearer in my previous post. I was actually looking for the brand name and version of the USB device.

Could you please try out (or let us know the behaviour if you have done that already) a couple of things? It might not be a solution but it will help us narrow down on what could be the issue.

1) Are you able to use MojoPac on the USB device that you mentioned (without TrueCrypt?)? I am trying to figure out if the problem is with the device or the way Truecrypt is being installed.

2) Now remove MojoPac installation and try out creating a TC Volumne and try installing MojoPac within that.

Please let us know how it goes.

Thanks,
Nikky

[beastfire]

This is the same problem as i have (see recent post)

[McStarfighter]

On a normal partition on my USB-HD it is possible to install MojoPac. Starting the installer inside the TrueCrypt partition has the same error like installing from outside the partition. My USB-HD is a SAMSUNG MP0804H in a Raidsonic Icy Box IB-250U. This is a IDE HD with 120 GB.

[McStarfighter]

And again, no support from the mojopac guys... very very sad.

[atag3]

This is on our list of things to do.

[caz2k]

Here's something to consider. I have my Mojo installed within a 100GB TrueCrypt volume on a 160GB SimpleTech 2.5" External. A software install failed and I had to force quit the app and restart. Upon reboot, I received an error message stating that I need to run CheckDisk (press okay to continue). So I click okay, but the CheckDisk fails because it can't run on TC volume mounted on an external HD.

For three days I tried to start Mojo with no success, and I finally submitted to the popup window asking me to send a report to tech support.

In the mean time, I've been trying to copy 60GB of the entire Mojo volume which eventually errors out. Backing up my Mojo has proven to be a nightmare because there are apparently protected system files in the Documents & Settings & Windows directory that I can't copy.

So today, a week after submitting my report to Mojo, I try to launch and Voila! It works. Not sure what happened or how it was magically fixed, but and explanation would be helpful.

I would recommend other use an external device with built-in encryption just for this reason because the downtime killed me.

In my case, I have already purchased the external drive and I need to use encryption since I travel outside the country often. Besides, the last thing I want is US Customs to seize my HD for "inspection" at the border upon returning and rifling through all my personal data. If you haven't heard about it, you better do your homework. This law applies to all storage devices including iPods, Media Players, and computers. What are they looking for? Well, anything illegal or copywrited. Make sure you have your software licenses handy if your want to gear back.

[FishStyx]

You guys that really need data encryption should stop fooling around with software based solutions that either don't work or require admin rights to work properly.

Go buy a USB device with hardware based encryption and make your life easier. It will cost a little more, but I'm sure it would be worth it especially if it is work related.

Regards,

[shutrbug]

I created a FAQ for TrueCrypt here: http://www.mojopac.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2405
I can't view this FAQ. I get an error message that I don't have sufficient permissions. Any idea what's going on?

BTW, I tried Mojopac when it first came out and decided that the $50 was too much to pay when VPNs didn't work. I'm back to try Freedom now that it's free.

[mojotech]

The announcements and FAQ are moved to new MojoPac Support site from Forum. Go to Support site and you will find the announcements on the left side of the screen. Click on any of the announcements to view the details. FAQ is moved to new MojoPac Customer Center and you can click on “MojoPac Knowledge Base” link.

[alexandra]

I'm running Mojopac under a TrueCrypt file and usually without problem. Today I updated from TrueCrypt 4.3 to 5.1 and Mojopac would no longer run.

Gives a message of devise is USB 2.0 incompatible. Went back to 4.3 and everything is as normal.

Had the same problem on another drive, where I started out with the latest TrueCrypt version and couldn't get Mojopac to install afterward. Didn't make the connection right away.
Greetings, AlexSJ

[Benoone]

I updated from TrueCrypt 4.3 to 5.1 and Mojopac would no longer run.

This is a known problem and is discussed in other MoJo threads.

So far there is no known fix or reason.

If you need TC v4.3a see bogburn48's site at:

http://76.104.94.84/Mojo/

Hope this helps

Take care

Benoone

[Softey]

i have not used truecrypt, but if you guys are worried about your data being used, why not buy a biometric thumbdrive

Pros: only you (or those fingers, belonging to people you want) can open it

cons: your fingers become more valuable, and perhaps a target for an axe ;)


just thought id throw it out as an option

I haven't used truecrypt either bcz the first free encryption software I "bumped into" was Rohos mini. And haven't had any problems

[MIGHTYMAN]

You guys that really need data encryption should stop fooling around with software based solutions that either don't work or require admin rights to work properly.

Go buy a USB device with hardware based encryption and make your life easier. It will cost a little more, but I'm sure it would be worth it especially if it is work related.

Regards,

Something like the Ironkey

https://www.ironkey.com/