In today's digital age, securing sensitive data is crucial. One proven method of protection is the use of encrypted containers, which are files that act as digital safes. This article guides you through the process of creating and managing encrypted containers on CentOS 7 using VeraCrypt, a popular choice for data encryption.

Prerequisites

• CentOS 7 installed on your system.
• Sudo privileges or access to the root account.
• Internet connection to download VeraCrypt.

VeraCrypt Installation

1. Download VeraCrypt

First, we need to download VeraCrypt. Open a terminal and use the following command to download VeraCrypt from the official website:

wget https://launchpad.net/veracrypt/trunk/1.24-update7/+download/veracrypt-1.24-Update7-CentOS-7-x86_64.rpm

2. Install VeraCrypt

After downloading the file, we can install it using the rpm tool. Run the following command:

sudo rpm -i veracrypt-1.24-Update7-CentOS-7-x86_64.rpm

Creating an Encrypted Container

1. Open VeraCrypt

After installation, open VeraCrypt through the terminal by calling veracrypt or through the user interface if you have a graphical environment installed.

2. Create a New Volume

• In the main menu of VeraCrypt, click on the Create Volume button.
• Choose Create an encrypted file container and proceed by clicking Next.
• Select Standard VeraCrypt volume.

3. Choose Container Location

• Click on the Select File button.
• Navigate to the folder where you want to save the container, enter a file name, and click Save.
• Confirm that the file does not already exist and proceed by clicking Next.

4. Encryption and Hash Algorithm Selection

• You can leave the default settings (AES and SHA-512) or choose according to your preferences.
• Click Next to continue.

5. Container Size

• Enter the size of the container according to your needs and click Next.

6. Container Password

• Enter a strong password that will be used to access the encrypted container.
• Click Next.

7. Format the Container

• Choose the filesystem you want to use inside the container.
• Move the mouse within the window to generate entropy for the encryption keys.
• Click Format.

Mounting and Using the Encrypted Container

1. Mount the Container

• In the main menu of VeraCrypt, click on Select File and choose your encrypted container.
• Select one of the drives and click Mount.
• Enter the password, and if everything is correct, the container will be mounted as a virtual disk.

2. Working with Data

• Once the container is mounted, you can use it like a regular disk, copying files to it or deleting files from it.
• After finishing with the container, don't forget to dismount it through VeraCrypt to ensure the security of your data.

 

By using VeraCrypt on CentOS 7, you can effectively protect your sensitive data with encrypted containers. It's important to remember that the security of your data also depends on a strong password and measures such as regular backups and software updates.