How to Create a TrueCrypt Volume in Mac OS X

TrueCrypt volumes are containers that store your files in an encrypted format. When a TrueCrypt volume is mounted to your computer it behaves like an additional hard drive inside your computer or an attached USB drive so all programs should be able to access your encrypted files as easily as they can access your unencrypted files on your computer.

1. Start the TrueCrypt program

Start the application by clicking Go | Applications

Scroll until you find the TryeCrypt icon.

Double-click the TrueCrypt icon to start the program.


 

2. Create the TrueCrypt volume

Click the Create Volume button.


Create a file container should be selected by default. If it is not, select it. Then click the Next button to continue.



The selection Standard TrueCrypt volume should be selected by default. If it is not, select it. Then click the Next button to continue.



Click the Select File... button.



Navigate to the folder you want to save the TrueCrypt volume to. The default location is to place the volume in your "Documents" folder. Then specify a name in the Save As box. Ensure you add the ".tc" extension at the end of the file name that you specify. Then click the Save button.

  • TIP: Remember your TrueCrypt volume name and location because you will need to know this when it comes time to use it.


Press the Next button to proceed.



On the "Encryption Options" screen, accept the default of the AES encryption algorithm and RIPEMD-160 for the Hash Algorithm. Then click the Next button to continue.


Specify the size in MB (megabytes) for the the encrypted volume that you want to make. Click the Next button when done.

  • Here are the sizes in megabytes for common computer media to use as a guide in determing the size of the TrueCrypt volume that you should make. In general you need to make the size of the TrueCrypt volume the size of the data which you want to store in it plus some extra space for additional files which you may create or add. Keep in mind that the larger the volume size you specify, the longer it is going to take to copy or backup the volume. The difference can be from a few minutes to hours depending on where you are copying the TrueCrypt volume to and how you are copying it.

          o A standard floppy disk is 1.44MB in size
          o A Zip disk is 100MB in size
          o A CD-ROM disk is 650-700MB in size
          o A DVD disk is 4700MB in size.


Specify the password that you want to use to protect the encrypted volume. You will be prompted to enter this password when you want to use this TrueCrypt volume. Once you specify a password, click the "Next" button to continue.

  • Note: If the data you are storing in the TrueCrypt volume is classified as Category-1 in the University of Texas at Austin Data Classification Standard then you must choose a strong password which meets the requirements for Category-1 data.


If prompted and your chosen password meets the UT Austin requirements for the data contained in the TrueCrypt volume, click Yes to use a "short" password.


FAT should be selected by default for the "Filesystem type". If it is not, select it. Then click the Next button to continue.


Click the Format button to initialize your newly created TrueCrypt volume.


Click OK when the format operation is complete.


Click the Exit button to quit the TrueCrypt volume creation wizard.


3. Quit the TrueCrypt program

Your TrueCrypt volume is now created and you may exit the TrueCrypt program by clicking the Close button in the lower right hand corner of the TrueCrypt program.

 

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Last updated on November 23, 2010