TrueCrypt is a software designed to protect your important data by encrypting it. It can also maintain an on-the-fly-encrypted volume (data storage device).

Files can be copied to and from a mounted TrueCrypt volume just like they are copied to/from any normal disk (for example, by simple drag-and-drop operations). Files are automatically being decrypted on-the-fly (in memory/RAM) while they are being read or copied from an encrypted TrueCrypt volume.

Similarly, files that are being written or copied to the TrueCrypt volume are automatically being encrypted on-the-fly (right before they are written to the disk) in RAM. Note that this does not mean that the whole file that is to be encrypted/decrypted must be stored in RAM before it can be encrypted/decrypted. There are no extra memory (RAM) requirements for TrueCrypt.

Here are some key features of "Portable TrueCrypt":

· Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.
· Encrypts an entire partition or storage device such as USB flash drive or hard drive.
· Encrypts a partition or drive where Windows is installed (pre-boot authentication).
· Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent.
Provides two levels of plausible deniability, in case an adversary forces you to reveal the password:
· 1) Hidden volume (steganography ? more information may be found here).
· 2) No TrueCrypt volume can be identified (volumes cannot be distinguished from random data).
· Encryption algorithms: AES-256, Serpent, and Twofish. Mode of operation: XTS

What's New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]

New features:
· Full support for Windows 7.
· Full support for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.
· The ability to configure selected volumes as 'system favorite volumes'. This is useful, for example, when you have volumes that need to be mounted before system and application services start and before users start logging on. It is also useful when there are network-shared folders located on a TrueCrypt volume and you need to ensure that the network shares will be restored by the system each time it is restarted. For more information, see the chapter 'Main Program Window', section 'Program Menu', subsection 'Volumes -> Save Currently Mounted Volumes as Favorite' in the documentation. (Windows)

Improvements and bug fixes:
· 'Favorite' volumes residing within partitions or dynamic volumes will no longer be affected by changes in disk device numbers, which may occur, e.g., when a drive is removed or added. (Windows)
· Many other minor improvements and bug fixes. (Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux)