Truecrypt still needs admin access to run, no?

I have been using True Crypt on my external hard drive for the last 18 months and it was the best choice ever. Setup is not complicated at all, the help file provides a walkthrough to encrypting the whole drive / part of the drive. You just have to decide on the encryption algorithm alone, just do some research on the subject, should not be a problem.

The best feature is that there is absolutely no speed decrease while using True Crypt. Absolutely recommended.

Earlier it was asserted that NTFS encryption can be decrypted on a different system if one just moves some registry keys. This might be true for XP in a standalone or workgroup configuration, but it is decidedly not true if you're in a domain.

If you attach the drive to a different domain, or if you lose the domain controller, you will NOT be able to decrypt the data. And since the idea here is to keep a backup secure, one must assume that the reason for restoring the backup might be that the domain was destroyed.

So, I second the recommendation of TrueCrypt.

whoooooops!

Whooooops is right! I've never seen this thread before; how did my reply get posted into it?

It belonged here:
http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=7091.msg51529#msg51529

Thanks!

Hi,

as some of you noticed in http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=7068, I'm currently looking for an external HD. Is there a way to password-protect the content? Like that I would need to enter a password before Windows is able to really access the drive after I reconnect it?


It doesn't have to be CIA-proof (although that's never bad ), I'm just considering putting a backup HD in the hands (or drawer) of a friend or neighbor (in case my flat burns down to the ground) and don't want him to read all of my files.

I would recommend - Rohos Mini Drive (http://www.rohos.com/free-encryption/).And I consider it worth of being called one of the best free encryption solutions. "Rohos Mini Drive creates hidden and encrypted partition on the USB flash drive memory. You work with the files on the hidden partition without opening a special program. Those who have megabytes of sensitive files on the USB drive and seriously concerned with a data security, cannot imagine their USB stick without the hidden volume that is created using this tool.
It doesn’t require Administrator Privileges to open password protected USB drive partition!
Easy to setup, easy to use. Intuitive USB flash drive Setup Wizard automatically detects your USB flash drive and setup an ecnrypted partition properties. You just need to provide a protection password. One click - and you can save your first file into protected volume. Encryption is automatic and on-the-fly." (from Rohos Mini Drive site) Rohos Mini has a few advantages over its analogues - the hidden disk's size can be easily enlarged; it has virtual keyboard, which makes it for a key logger impossible to trace your hidden partition password while using it on a guest computer. Two thumbs up! 

Just a heads up: There's a very similar post about rohos on another forum, and apparently the free version turns nagware after the trial period, from what is mentioned in this other thread.

Interesting... is it possible to automate this (with AutoHotkey or however) so that I will automatically be asked for the password directly after Windows 'sees' the connected HD? I'd also like it to always get the same drive letter, so if that could be automated too it would be great

Yes, it is, and it is almost trivial using TrueCrypt containers.  I have a semi-working prototype I use for my USB Key.  I even have another script I found somewhere else (unfortunately I don't remember where) that will post an image that tells people where to return it.  The way it works is I have a tiny section of my USB key (in your case it would be your drive) that has the autorun script that posts the message image.  Behind the image, my AHK script runs and waits for your password to be entered.  Then, once you enter the password, the command line version of TrueCrypt runs and loads your predefined "favorites" which all have the same password.  The script passes the entered password onto TrueCrypt which then loads each of the favorite partitions.  In my script below, I have two that I have the script close right after they open so I don't see a big explorer window for each of them.  Lastly, I have Portable Apps run so I can choose which program to run (though I may remove that as I find I am more often going just into my data drive for a file rather than lauching any programs).

One of these days I will need to finish my script.  If anyone wants to view it to use and/or make it better now, here it is:

InputBox , password , Enter Password , (your input will be hidden) , hide , 375 , 120
if ErrorLevel
	MsgBox , CANCEL was pressed.
else
	Run TrueCrypt.exe /a favorites /p %password% , , Hide
	Sleep , 3000
	WinClose , I:\
	WinClose , J:\
	Run I:\StartPortableApps.exe

Just change the drive letters to whatever drive(s) you want to mount from your favorites.  I will add the entire set of files in a few minutes for others to look at.  Just need to compile them in one spot again.

Okay, here it is, complete with all the scripts I use and even the Truecrypt executable needed to create and run the containers.  Oddly enough, it is so small that it is actually larger zipped, but it is more convenient to distribute as a zip, so that is how you get it

Ummm...
TrueCrypt AutoMount.zip - 1.1meg
TrueCrypt AutoMount [folder] - 2.51meg

Dongih, are you affiliated with Rohos?

Just wanted to point out that in the free version "there are encryption contingencies in 300 Mb"
which I believe translates to a 300MB limit
"Upgrade" costs 29.95$

Just to be clear

(Dont use this type of software (yet) bur Rohos certainly sounds good)

No, tomos, I'm not affiliated with Rohos! I'm in-love with Rohos

Yes, the upgrade costs $29,95 USD. But good software worth money investment

Password Protect USB is a handy program to protect content on an external drive. Install it right on the external HD, not the internal one.
Password Protect for External HD