Backing up USB Flash Drive
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Please, I have a 1TB USB drive, a portion of which is encrypted with VeraCrypt, that is, there is a VeraCrypt container on the flash drive. I need to password-protect the flash drive and I am wondering if I can do that without backing it up in order to erase it. And, if I back it up, what will happen to the VeraCrypt container that is on the flash drive as exec? Can I remove that exec file and restore it after I finish password-protecting the drive? If I just back up the flash drive, will the VeraCrypt exec file or container be okay? Or do I need to remove that VeraCrypt exec file and store it like say, on another flash drive or micro SD card?
What I want to know is, if I back up the flash drive with the VeraCrypt exec file or container on it, will I have to create another container or will the container be safe and okay when I return the contents of the flash drive?
Thanks for your help!
Firstly, it is always a prudent practice to keep a second copy of your container (or any other file that may matter to you) as a fallback. No grounds for second thoughts there even if there is an exception to every rule.
You say your USB drive needs erasing to enable password protection. If that's the case why would you be in any doubt whatsoever of the need for a backup of the container? And, yes you will still have access to your backed up container once you move it back to your USB drive after you're done with the password protection, assuming the backup (copy) process itself went to plan.
Secondly, it is generally ill advised to give your Veracrypt containers commonly used extensions (exe, docx, xlsx etc). You are asking for uninvited trouble (another person here lost access to their container because it was saved with .docx extension) in due course -- not a given but there are circumstances where it can happen.
On a lighter note, if someone confronts you over your container you may as well proudly declare its presence. Don't be disheartened by those (the covert nosy ones) who peddle monumental drivel like: You have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide in their typical Hollywood panache. It's invariably they who have lots to hide, the law enforcement especially. We're talking all kinds of skeletons.