privacy-guides/how-to-install-and-use-veracrypt-on-tails/README.md

<!--
Title: How to install and use VeraCrypt on Tails
Description: Learn how to install and use VeraCrypt on Tails.
Author: Sun Knudsen <https://github.com/sunknudsen>
Contributors: Sun Knudsen <https://github.com/sunknudsen>
Reviewers:
Publication date: 2021-05-09T12:10:53.922Z
Listed: true
-->

# How to install and use VeraCrypt on Tails

## Requirements

- [Tails USB flash drive or SD card](../how-to-install-tails-on-usb-flash-drive-or-sd-card-on-macos)

## Setup guide

### Step 1: boot to Tails

> Heads-up: if keyboard layout of computer isn’t “English (US)”, set “Keyboard Layout”.

### Step 2: enable persistence

Click “Applications”, then “Configure persistent volume”, set passphrase, click “Create”, make sure “Personal Data” is enabled, click “Save” and finally “Restart Now”.

### Step 3: boot to Tails, unlock persistent storage and set admin password (required to mount VeraCrypt volumes)

> Heads-up: if keyboard layout of computer isn’t “English (US)”, set “Keyboard Layout”.

Click “+” under ”Additional Settings”, then “Administration Password”, set password, click “Add” and finally “Start Tails”.

### Step 4: plug network cable or connect to Wi-Fi network and wait for Tor to be ready.

Tor is ready

👍

### Step 5: download latest release of [VeraCrypt](https://veracrypt.fr/en/Home.html)

Click “Applications”, then “Tor Browser”, go to https://www.veracrypt.fr/en/Downloads.html and download latest release of “Linux Generic Installer” and associated PGP signature.

### Step 6: set VeraCrypt release semver environment variable

> Heads-up: replace `1.24-Update7` with [latest release](https://veracrypt.fr/en/Home.html) semver.

```shell
TAILS_RELEASE_SEMVER=1.24-Update7
```

### Step 7: import “VeraCrypt Team (2018 - Supersedes Key ID=0x54DDD393)” PGP public key

```console
$ torsocks curl https://www.idrix.fr/VeraCrypt/VeraCrypt_PGP_public_key.asc | gpg --import
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100  5434  100  5434    0     0   3002      0  0:00:01  0:00:01 --:--:--  3000
gpg: key 0x821ACD02680D16DE: 1 signature not checked due to a missing key
gpg: key 0x821ACD02680D16DE: public key "VeraCrypt Team (2018 - Supersedes Key ID=0x54DDD393) <veracrypt@idrix.fr>" imported
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg:               imported: 1
gpg: no ultimately trusted keys found
```

imported: 1

👍

### Step 8: verify Tails release (learn how [here](../how-to-verify-pgp-digital-signatures-using-gnupg-on-macos))

```console
$ gpg --verify ~/Tor\ Browser/veracrypt-$TAILS_RELEASE_SEMVER-setup.tar.bz2.sig
gpg: assuming signed data in '/home/amnesia/Tor Browser/veracrypt-1.24-Update7-setup.tar.bz2'
gpg: Signature made Sat 08 Aug 2020 06:22:10 PM UTC
gpg:                using RSA key 5069A233D55A0EEB174A5FC3821ACD02680D16DE
gpg: Good signature from "VeraCrypt Team (2018 - Supersedes Key ID=0x54DDD393) <veracrypt@idrix.fr>" [unknown]
gpg: WARNING: This key is not certified with a trusted signature!
gpg:          There is no indication that the signature belongs to the owner.
Primary key fingerprint: 5069 A233 D55A 0EEB 174A  5FC3 821A CD02 680D 16DE
```

Good signature

👍

### Step 9: extract Tails release

```shell
cd ~/Tor\ Browser
tar --extract --file ~/Tor\ Browser/veracrypt-$TAILS_RELEASE_SEMVER-setup.tar.bz2 veracrypt-$TAILS_RELEASE_SEMVER-setup-gui-x64
```

### Step 10: run installer, click “Extract .tar Package File”, accept license terms, click “OK” and finally “OK”.

```shell
./veracrypt-$TAILS_RELEASE_SEMVER-setup-gui-x64
```

### Step 11: extract `veracrypt` binary to ~/Persistent

```shell
cd ~/Persistent
tar --extract --file /tmp/veracrypt_${TAILS_RELEASE_SEMVER}_amd64.tar.gz --strip-components 2 usr/bin/veracrypt
```

### Step 12: create `veracrypt.AppImage`

```shell
echo -n "./veracrypt" > veracrypt.AppImage
chmod +x veracrypt.AppImage
```

👍

## Usage guide

To use VeraCrypt, double-click `veracrypt.AppImage`.

👍