You clearly understand the basics, but I'll mention a few additional things that people often overlook which are important for such a set up.
- The airgapped computer must be clean and free from malware. The best way to achieve this is to format it and then install a fresh copy of an open source Linux distro.
- The airgapped computer must be permanently airgapped. Remove all connectivity hardware if you can. Install your Linux distro from a USB drive, and then install your bitcoin wallet from a USB drive as well. Do not connect to the internet with your airgapped computer to download your wallet software.
- Verify both your OS and wallet prior to installing them.
- Ideally, use full disk encryption to protect your airgapped computer from physical access. LUKS is good for Linux. VeraCrypt is also good.
- If you can use webcams to transfer transactions back and forth via QR codes, then this removes the possibility of accidentally and unknowingly transferring malware via a USB drive. The webcams should be unplugged when not being actively used for your own privacy.
Let me make sure I interpreting this correctly.
So, if I went to best buy I bought 2 HP laptops with Windows 10, I should be concerned that there may be malware in them even if they don't go online--perhaps by some of the pre-installed software?
Also, what do you suggest to be a lightweight option. I travel a lot and if I took this route I'd like to not have to carry around 2 laptops with me all the time. This weight issue might be the only reason I stick with Trezor.
I was hoping I can just use 2 phones (remove wifi card and antenna of the offline one)?