More Exciting Features From TrueCrypt 6.1

TrueCrypt is a useful encryption application with strong security features which can be used to create a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mount it as a real disk. It can encrypt an entire partition or storage device such as USB flash drive or hard drive. Other than that, TrueCrypt can also encrypt the Windows boot partition or the complete boot drive, and run a hidden encrypted operating system.

This free real time encryption application tool has recently released its latest update TrueCrypt 6.1. This latest update has some exciting new features under its belt. Significant changes and improvements have been added to the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 operating systems. This new release is now able to encrypt a non-system partition without losing existing data on the partition in both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. This new feature did not exist in other previous operating systems inclusive of Windows XP. A summary of the changes in this new release is given below:

• Ability to encrypt a non-system partition without losing existing data on the partition. (Windows Vista/2008)
Note: To encrypt a non-system partition in place, click ‘Create Volume’ > ‘Encrypt a non-system partition’ > ‘Standard volume’ > ‘Select Device’ > ‘Encrypt partition in place’ and then follow the instructions in the wizard. Please note that this is not supported on Windows XP/2000/2003 as these versions of Windows do not natively support shrinking of a filesystem (the filesystem needs to be shrunk to make space for the volume header and backup header).

• Support for security tokens and smart cards (for more information, see section Security Tokens and Smart Cards in chapter Keyfiles).

• The TrueCrypt boot loader can be prevented from displaying any texts (by selecting Settings > System Encryption and enabling the option ‘Do not show any texts in the pre-boot authentication screen’).

• The TrueCrypt boot loader can now display a custom message (select Settings > System Encryption and enter the message in the corresponding field) either without any other texts or along with the standard TrueCrypt boot loader texts.

• Pre-boot authentication passwords can now be cached in the driver memory, which allows them to be used for mounting of non-system TrueCrypt volumes (select Settings > System Encryption and enable the option ‘Cache pre-boot authentication password’).

• Linux and Mac OS X versions: The ability to mount a Windows system partition encrypted by TrueCrypt and to mount a partition located on a Windows system drive that is fully encrypted by a Windows version of TrueCrypt.

Download TrueCrypt for Windows OS.