VeraCrypt — The Complete Guide: Free Encryption for Laptops and Drives With Drawings and Client Data
VeraCrypt is an open-source encryption tool, the successor of TrueCrypt, and it has passed independent security audits. Engineers carry drawings, calculations and client data on laptops and USB drives — and losing an unencrypted drive is a data leak.
VeraCrypt
IDRIX
Encrypt disks, partitions and USB drives — protect drawings and client data if a laptop is lost.
Get it from the vendorThree ways to use it
- A vault in a file — a file that mounts as a drive letter after you type a password. The simplest way to start.
- Encrypting a USB stick or external disk — all content encrypted.
- Encrypting the system partition — the whole computer is encrypted and asks for a password at startup.
Tips
A long password (a whole sentence) matters more than special characters. Store the password in KeePassXC, and keep a rescue disk when you encrypt the system partition. An encrypted vault can be backed up as an ordinary file with FreeFileSync — the backup stays encrypted.
When you do not need it
Windows Pro has BitLocker and macOS has FileVault, and both are enough to encrypt the internal disk. VeraCrypt is better for removable drives that move between operating systems, for file vaults, and for anyone who wants an open, audited tool. To send encrypted files — 7-Zip.
KeePassXC
KeePassXC team
Local encrypted password manager — passwords for portals, software licences and equipment in one file you control.
Get it from the vendorFreeFileSync
FreeFileSync
Folder sync and backup — compares folders and copies only what changed, for backing up projects to an external drive.
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7-Zip
Igor Pavlov
File compression and extraction — ZIP, 7z, RAR and more, with strong compression and AES-256 encryption.
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Syncthing
Syncthing Foundation
Sync files directly between computers, with no cloud — identical project folders at the office, at home and on site.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
VeraCrypt is a free, audited layer of protection for anyone who carries sensitive data on a laptop or USB drive.