VeraCrypt Change

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Greetings All –

I just updated Vera Crypt to version 125.9.  For years I have been using this program to safeguard my sensitive files.  One of the things I liked about it was once the file container was created, it retained its creation date and general appearance, even if something was added to its content.  I created it so it would fit on an 8 Gb flash drive.  Looking at the file in Explorer lent the impression that it was a very old file and perhaps not worthy of snooping in to should the computer ever fall into nefarious hands.  I run a batch file script to back up all my files.  The script only adds new files or newer versions of existing files.  So for the Vera Crypt file I always had to add an additional line to the script to back it up, because the command line always saw it as unchanged–same size, same date, same everything.  This new version of Vera Crypt changes the container file properties.  It still has the same size as when I created it, but it puts a current date on it every time something is place in the container.  I like the old way better.  Has any  one else experienced this, or is there perhaps a setting in Vera Crypt that doesn’t update the date with content change.  I’m running WIN 10 Pro, 21H2, with the May updates.  Thanks.

Casey H.

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Found a setting labeled preserve timestamp.  I’m trying it.  I don’t recall if that’s a new setting or if perhaps the default has changed with this latest version.

Casey H,

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Preserving the timestamp setting seems to have done the trick.  Now I’m wondering if I have an old version of that file container, probably dated 5 years ago.  I’m also probably being paranoid.  It’s no doubt fine the way it is.  The password is pretty sound i think.  So if anyone should access my computer, I don’t think they could open the file.

Casey

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“Now I’m wondering if I have an old version of that file container, probably dated 5 years ago.”

If you want to make the container file look old again, here are some ways (on Windows):

Method 1: Temporarily change the date (and time) of your computer to the desired date (and time), temporarily set the “preserve timestamp” option, mount the file, make a small change, then dismount and unset the “preserve timestamp” option. That will change the Modified date. To also change the Access date try opening the file with Notepad. Notepad will tell you the file is too long but it seems to update the Access date. Finally change back the date of your computer.

Method 2: Use a tool to set the modified date and Access date. E.g. the touch program that can be downloaded at https://unxutils.sourceforge.net
With no options it sets to current date but with -t you can specify the date and time. E.g.
touch -t 122418452001 MySecretContainer.hc
sets Modified and Access date to December 24th 2001 and time to 18:45.

With both methods: Check by looking at the files properties.

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Casey H

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If your backup program* bases its decision whether or not to do a backup on the file’s ‘archive’ bit, usually set for ‘normal files’ if a change is made to the file, then you would probably want the VeraCrypt container file also to have its archive bit set if any file within the container is changed, and thus cause the container file to be selected for backup.

Hence I will always leave UN-set the “Settings -> Preferences -> Preserve modification timestamp of file containers” option!

* I use RoboCopy, SyncBack SE, and Macrium Reflect

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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Casey H

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I just use Robocopy to back up my files. I have two versions of the script: one for my non sensitive files, and the other for both sensitive and non sensitive.  The non sensitive script backs up only new or modified files; the sensitive line always copies the veracrypt container file, regardless of any changes.  So I only run that script if I’ve made any changes inside the container.

Casey

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That’s another way of achieving the result!

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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Thanks all for weighing in.  Most of this is just me playing around, trying to understand these things better.  If somebody broke into my house, stole my computer or one of my data drives, got suspicious of a large file with a relatively recent date, they’d still have to enter the password to open the file container.  Checking a similarly complex password in Gibson’s “Haystack,” indicates millions of centuries to crack it.  So I’m good.  Veracrypt is behaving again as it formerly did, so the file is now several months old.  I’ll just have to remember to check the settings every time a new version gets installed.  Thanks again.

Casey

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