A Mind Lost

I use computers at several locations and often require data and login details to do my work at those sites.  Whenever I can I use my EeePC for these tasks but sometimes that’s not possible so I was looking for another way to keep secure data and key applications available to me at all times.

I use TrueCrypt for all my data encryption.  It’s fast, easy to use and rock solid.  I’ve also used a USB flash drive in the past loaded with Portable Applications.  Since USB flash drives are now smaller, I got hold of a Lexar JumpDrive FireFly 8Gb which has a secure but removable cap which can be attached as a keyring to my keys.  I loaded it up with PortableApps and installed Truecrypt in traveler mode.  I now have encrypted files and useful applications all ready for use wherever I have my keys with me.

I have access to:

• Open Office
• Firefox
• Thunderbird
• Sunbird
• TrueCrypt
• GIMP
• Notepad++
• 7-Zip (Archive Tool)
• ClamWin (Antivirus)
• Eraser (Secure File Deletion)
• Filezilla (FTP Client)
• Putty (SSH Client)
• WinSCP (SCP client)
• Pidgin (IM Client)
• KeePass (Password Manager)
• InfraRecorder (CD/DVD Recording)
• Nvu+Komposer (Web Authoring)
• LightScreen (Screen Capture)
• PDFTK Builder (PDF Tool)
• Sumatra PDF (PDF Tool)
• CoolPlayer+ (Media Player)
• VLC Media Player

and I still have 6.9Gb free out of the 8Gb!

Read on for more details on how to get things running.

The procedure for this is quite simple:

• Download TrueCrypt and install it on your PC and run it
• Click Tools>>Traveler Disk Setup…
• Browse to your flash drive and follow the prompts to install Truecrypt to it.
• Download the PortableApps suite which best suits your requirements and install it to you flash drive.
• Download any additional applications you require and install them through Options>>Install A New App.
• Move the TrueCrypt installation folder inside the PortableApps folder so that it is with the other applications.
• From the PortableApps menu, click Options>>Refresh App Icons
• If you have two TrueCrypt icons, one of them is for the format utility.  If you want this removed from your menu, simply move the .exe file into a subdirectory out of the way, refresh the icons again and it will be gone.
• Now you can run TrueCrypt, create one or more encrypted volumes on the flash drive and mount them as and when required.  If you lose the flash drive, your data is safe.