Data Leaks

When a TrueCrypt volume is mounted, the operating system and third-party applications may write to unencrypted volumes (typically, to the unencrypted system volume) unencrypted information about the data stored in the TrueCrypt volume (e.g. filenames and locations of recently accessed files, databases created by file indexing tools, etc.), or the data itself in an unencrypted form (temporary files, etc.), or unencrypted information about the filesystem residing in the TrueCrypt volume. Note that Windows automatically records large amounts of potentially sensitive data, such as the names and locations of files you open, applications you run, etc.

In order to prevent data leaks, you must follow these steps (alternative steps may exist):

• If you do not need plausible deniability:
  
  
  • Encrypt the system partition/drive (for information on how to do so, see the chapter System Encryption) and ensure that only encrypted or read-only filesystems are mounted during each session in which you work with sensitive data.
    
    or,
    
    
  • If you cannot do the above, download or create a "live CD" version of your operating system (i.e. a "live" system entirely stored on and booted from a CD/DVD) that ensures that any data written to the system volume is written to a RAM disk. When you need to work with sensitive data, boot such a live CD/DVD and ensure that only encrypted and/or read-only filesystems are mounted during the session.
    
    
    
• If you need plausible deniability:
  
  
  • Create a hidden operating system. TrueCrypt will provide automatic data leak protection. For more information, see the section Hidden Operating System.
    
    or,
    
    
  • If you cannot do the above, download or create a "live CD" version of your operating system (i.e. a "live" system entirely stored on and booted from a CD/DVD) that ensures that any data written to the system volume is written to a RAM disk. When you need to work with sensitive data, boot such a live CD/DVD. If you use hidden volumes, follow the security requirements and precautions listed in the subsection Security Requirements and Precautions Pertaining to Hidden Volumes. If you do not use hidden volumes, ensure that only non-system partition-hosted TrueCrypt volumes and/or read-only filesystems are mounted during the session.