Ruling could force Americans to decrypt laptops

[Xithras]

63. A better idea is to use a layered encryption tool like Truecrypt.

I've never used Truecrypt for this type of encryption, but I know it supports it (others do too if you don't like TC for some reason). In essence, you create an encrypted drive with some random contents that need to be protected but aren't terribly sensitive. The program then creates a second encrypted volume within the empty space of the first encrypted volume. Because both volumes are encrypted, the second volume is undetectable. Any analysis of the drive simply shows one continuous encrypted drive.

If someone forces you to hand over a password, you simply give them the first one. That displays the less important contents on the first encrypted volume. To access the more secure items, you enter the second password.

Personally, I like TrueCrypt. I don't use the double encryption thing (I'm pretty boring and don't have anything interesting to hide), but I do use it to encrypt scans of my important documents like mortgage papers, scans of birth certs and social security numbers, life insurance policies, etc. I keep a heavily encrypted copy of these documents on the USB drive on my keychain, so I have access to them if I ever need them. They're encrypted so that I don't have to worry about losing the thing. I also have a small area on my main computer set aside for "personal" photos and videos that I don't want my kids to stumble into, and use TrueCrypt to protect it from their prying eyes

It's a great tool. Of course, there are conspiracy theories claiming that it was written by the CIA with backdoor access for law enforcement, so it's actual security is dependent on whether or not you believe the theories to be true