How to use hidden volumes when someone forces you to reveal your password.

What is it?

You have two passwords:

Password A: Shows boring files
Password B: Shows real files

When forced to give up your password, give them A. They can't prove B exists.

Why you might need this

Border crossings
Court orders
Laptop theft
Any situation where "I forgot my password" won't work

How it works

Both volumes live in the same file:

Standard volume: The main part
Hidden volume: Lives in the "free space"
Free space is filled with random data
Hidden volume looks exactly like random data

Technically: Good encryption is indistinguishable from randomness. The hidden volume can't be detected because it looks like the random padding that's there anyway.

Setting it up

Check "Enable Hidden Volume" when creating storage
Set two completely different passwords
Put decoy files in standard volume
Put real files in hidden volume

Password tips:

Standard: Something believable ("FamilyPhotos2024")
Hidden: Something unrelated and stronger
Never use similar passwords
Write them down somewhere safe

Space: Hidden volume gets about 10-20% of total space. Kurpod manages this automatically.

Using it properly

What to put where

Standard volume: Boring but real stuff

Actual family photos
Work documents
Tax returns
Anything you'd legitimately encrypt

Hidden volume: The real stuff

Whatever you're actually hiding

Don't blow your cover

Actually use the standard volume regularly
Don't access hidden volume often
Use incognito mode for hidden access
Have a story ready ("I encrypt because of identity theft")
Make the standard volume believable

What it protects against

Works for:

Border guards asking for passwords
Court orders to decrypt
Laptop thieves
Basic scrutiny

Doesn't work for:

Keyloggers (captures both passwords)
Someone watching you long-term
Advanced forensics on a running system
Determined adversaries with resources

Important warnings

Never tell anyone about the hidden volume
Actually use the standard volume
Be consistent in your behavior
Have a story ready
This isn't magic - it's just math that creates doubt

Example scenarios

Crossing a border:

Standard: Travel photos, work docs
Hidden: Whatever you don't want found
Story: "I encrypt for identity theft protection"

Company laptop:

Standard: Normal work files
Hidden: Job search, personal stuff
Story: "IT policy requires encryption"

Technical details (if you care)

Both passwords use the same salt but generate different keys
Hidden volume has no headers or signatures
Encrypted data has the same randomness as padding
File timestamps only update for standard volume
No way to determine how much space is actually used

FAQ

Can I add hidden volume later? No. Must be done at creation.

What if I forget the hidden password? It's gone forever. No recovery.

Can it be detected? Not with current tech if used properly.

Is this legal? Depends on your country. Some places have laws requiring you to give up encryption keys. Know your local laws.

What if they demand both passwords? I really need to think about this. Please email me if you have any ideas.

Summary

Hidden volumes let you have two sets of files with different passwords. Give up one password under pressure, keep the other secret. It works because of math, not magic.

Remember:

This is beta software
Perfect security doesn't exist
Your behavior matters as much as the tech
Don't use this for illegal stuff