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Topic: Armory - Discussion Thread - page 93. (Read 521829 times)

sr. member
Activity: 350
Merit: 251
Dolphie Selfie
November 04, 2013, 01:39:08 PM
I'm confused with all this entropy randomness stuff?  Can't I just use armory and encrypt my wallet?

Actually, you can. The discussion is about the case, where the random number of which the private key is derived at the time the wallet is created is not so random as it should be. For example, if there is no input of random external events to the linux-kernel's /dev/random, it will spit out 00000... as random number. But fortunately on a usual desktop computer, there are external random events. Every movement of mouse, every keypress on the keyboard, every ethernet-package and the current time are considered. However there are ways to improve the randomness even further. For example one could use the audiorecording of the environment. Or a video of you jumping randomly in front of the camera.

In my opinion, these advanced measures are only needed, if there is demand for a high throughput of random numbers, which is not the case for the wallet creation. But on webservers for example, where there is a lot of ssl-traffic, the pool of randomness may deplete (of course this is also exacerbated by the fact, that usually there are no mouse or keyboard events on a server).
I thought the whole purpose of /dev/random was to not output anything, ie. block, when there isn't sufficient entropy available. urandom will always output something, which is why it shouldn't be used for sensitive stuff.

Yep, I think that's correct. My explanation was a bit simplified.
legendary
Activity: 980
Merit: 1008
November 04, 2013, 01:34:33 PM
I'm confused with all this entropy randomness stuff?  Can't I just use armory and encrypt my wallet?

Actually, you can. The discussion is about the case, where the random number of which the private key is derived at the time the wallet is created is not so random as it should be. For example, if there is no input of random external events to the linux-kernel's /dev/random, it will spit out 00000... as random number. But fortunately on a usual desktop computer, there are external random events. Every movement of mouse, every keypress on the keyboard, every ethernet-package and the current time are considered. However there are ways to improve the randomness even further. For example one could use the audiorecording of the environment. Or a video of you jumping randomly in front of the camera.

In my opinion, these advanced measures are only needed, if there is demand for a high throughput of random numbers, which is not the case for the wallet creation. But on webservers for example, where there is a lot of ssl-traffic, the pool of randomness may deplete (of course this is also exacerbated by the fact, that usually there are no mouse or keyboard events on a server).
I thought the whole purpose of /dev/random was to not output anything, ie. block, when there isn't sufficient entropy available. urandom will always output something, which is why it shouldn't be used for sensitive stuff.
legendary
Activity: 1428
Merit: 1093
Core Armory Developer
November 03, 2013, 01:29:59 PM
i'm trying to load the Armory blockchain in 0.88.1 linux version but it can't locate the Bitcoin install or home directories.  i have already Shown Hidden Files in the home directory.  Bitcoin Qt was previously installed.

when i go to Change Settings to redirect for these directories while in Armory, they don't show up in the search folders.

any suggestions?

For reference, cypherdoc emailed me, and the problem turned out to be that he used the PPA method to install the "bitcoin-qt" package, but did not install the "bitcoind" package which is required if you use the default setting "Let Armory run the Bitcoin software in the background".  Apparently that worked.

Also, if you aren't following the RAM-Reduction thread, I just posted the output of Picobit's new build process.  Please try it out!

https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.3472728
Direct download of Armory.app: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1139081/ArmoryTestingReleases/Armory.app.0.89.99.9-testing.tar.gz

So far I'm hopeful that it is more robust than the one on the website.  If so, that means that version 0.90 will have:
(1) Dramatically reduced RAM and startup times
(2) Full backup center with fragmented backups and SecurePrint
(3) Full support on OSX, including 10.9/Mavericks.

I can only hope, though... please test!
legendary
Activity: 1512
Merit: 1001
Bitcoin - Resistance is futile
November 03, 2013, 10:30:05 AM
You could print out the message instead of using a usb key.  Maybe you could turn it into some kind of qr code.

+1 and remember to burn your micro and speakers :p
member
Activity: 107
Merit: 10
November 03, 2013, 02:43:48 AM
"Encryption key is generated via script-based algorithm to eliminate GPU-acceleration in brute-force passphrase guessing." - http://bitcoinarmory.com/about/features/

Is that supposed to be "scrypt"?
legendary
Activity: 1764
Merit: 1002
November 02, 2013, 10:19:05 AM
i'm trying to load the Armory blockchain in 0.88.1 linux version but it can't locate the Bitcoin install or home directories.  i have already Shown Hidden Files in the home directory.  Bitcoin Qt was previously installed.

when i go to Change Settings to redirect for these directories while in Armory, they don't show up in the search folders.

any suggestions?
legendary
Activity: 1904
Merit: 1007
November 02, 2013, 07:44:10 AM
You're welcome

Ok after 2 days of using Armory all i can say is wow. A big leap from the Bitcoin-qt client who is missing some basic stuff for me (like coin control) and with the weird function of generating a new invisible address for change after a payment (what's the logic behind this function?). I will definately send a donation to etotheipi for this awesome program. Also big THANK YOU etotheipi because life in Bitcoin world without your client sucks.
newbie
Activity: 11
Merit: 0
November 01, 2013, 06:31:08 PM
Nice interview from LetsTalkBitcoin. They spend about 30 min talking to Alan in the podcast.

http://letstalkbitcoin.com/e55-happy-birthday-bitcoin/#.UnQ6IsvnbqA
newbie
Activity: 21
Merit: 0
November 01, 2013, 08:22:34 AM
waiting to get it earlier. Smiley
hero member
Activity: 547
Merit: 500
Decor in numeris
November 01, 2013, 06:53:04 AM
My Mac version is 10.9 . Can you help me to get armory version for mac/osx10.9 ?

I think we will have to wait for the next release before we see an installer for Mavericks.

Alan is working on it.
full member
Activity: 224
Merit: 100
November 01, 2013, 06:36:05 AM
My Mac version is 10.9 . Can you help me to get armory version for mac/osx10.9 ?

I think we will have to wait for the next release before we see an installer for Mavericks.
newbie
Activity: 21
Merit: 0
November 01, 2013, 05:50:32 AM
My Mac version is 10.9 . Can you help me to get armory version for mac/osx10.9 ?
legendary
Activity: 1904
Merit: 1007
November 01, 2013, 05:26:51 AM

Is there a way to rescan the whole blockchain from Armory in order to update balances?

Now i see both transactions with a new blockchain downloaded.
cp1
hero member
Activity: 616
Merit: 500
Stop using branwallets
October 31, 2013, 05:11:24 PM
You could print out the message instead of using a usb key.  Maybe you could turn it into some kind of qr code.
legendary
Activity: 1904
Merit: 1007
October 31, 2013, 05:04:13 PM

I made 2 transactions to a newly created Armory wallet, but i only see one. Why? Was the first one sent without any fees or why i can't see it? Address is 1ARkEy4NMhEzvrSQCWCKnqBgBkN6fg2xb3

I see two? https://blockchain.info/address/1ARkEy4NMhEzvrSQCWCKnqBgBkN6fg2xb3 are you certain Bitcoin-QT is synced with the Bitcoin network?



Right now i have some issues with the bitcoin-qt client (https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/bitcoin-qt-error-321117) and i have bitcoin installed in 3 different locations, but with the same wallet. The first transaction was made from location A+no armory running, then i switched to location B and ran armory and no transaction. After that i made the second transaction from location B and i had instant balance in armory from that transaction but still not the first one. Right now i am reindexing block on disk from location C to see what happens.

Is there a way to rescan the whole blockchain from Armory in order to update balances?
legendary
Activity: 1260
Merit: 1031
Rational Exuberance
October 31, 2013, 04:56:45 PM
Hey Alan,

I just read about the "badbios" virus which can supposedly infect offline computers using USB sticks: http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/10/meet-badbios-the-mysterious-mac-and-pc-malware-that-jumps-airgaps/

Would you mind commenting about whether armory-offline users should be concerned about this virus, or ones like it, and whether we should find a different transport method for offline transaction signing? There has been some concern about this on reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1pmb82/malware_that_infects_at_the_hardware_level_can/

I sent you an email about this too. Thanks!

edit: On second thought, this question deserves it's own thread, so I made one: https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/is-armory-vulnerable-to-usb-stick-viruses-like-badbios-322491
member
Activity: 63
Merit: 10
October 31, 2013, 12:32:18 PM
Ok, I tried it. I can make paper backup and unlock wallet without problems. Little odd is, that when I remove encryption, I cannot send bitcoin without entering password...but when I set new one, the problem is still the same (crash after password confirmation). I will send you the log, hope you help me. Thanks Smiley
legendary
Activity: 1428
Merit: 1093
Core Armory Developer
October 31, 2013, 11:46:36 AM

Unfortunately, that sounds like a corrupt wallet.  It fails when trying to unlock.  Do you have a backup? 

We're actually working on a tool that helps recover from corruption, but until then we kind of have to do it manually... unless you have a paper backup.  If you do, make a digital backup of the old wallet first, "Delete/Remove Wallet", and then from the main window, "Import Wallet" and "Restore from Paper Backup."   It will have to rescan, but then you'll have your coins back.


I tried my first digital backup, which is 3 months old and it should by ok, but still the same problem. I can try to restore it with paper backup tomorrow, but have you any more idea, what could cause this problem? Maybe it is not the unlocking problem, but something with sending? Or generate Armory log or something? Thanks for help Smiley

When it crashes on unlocking, it's definitely a wallet corruption issue.  Technically, it's possible for us to do a raw binary-extract-and-recover operation in the code, but it isn't ready yet.  We'll get it eventually.  

For now, the best thing you can do is make another backup (for catastrophic recovery), then go into wallet properties and "Delete/Remove Wallet."  Then restore from whatever backup you have.   That should resolve the issue.

There is a known problem using older versions of Armory to sign transactions, causing errors when attempting to broadcast.  We have a fix for that which will be integrated into the next testing release.  But that doesn't sound like your problem.  You can verify it's wallet corruption by attempting to make a paper backup, which will also require typing your password.  If it crashes there, then it's corruption.  If you actually get to the print-backup screen, then it's a different issue.

If you do see the paper backup screen (and thus not wallet corruption), then please go to "File"->Export Log File and send us the output.  [email protected].  Thanks for your patience!

legendary
Activity: 3766
Merit: 1364
Armory Developer
October 31, 2013, 11:43:51 AM
I've had this problem before. Try to first change your coin password, then send.
member
Activity: 63
Merit: 10
October 31, 2013, 11:39:23 AM

Unfortunately, that sounds like a corrupt wallet.  It fails when trying to unlock.  Do you have a backup? 

We're actually working on a tool that helps recover from corruption, but until then we kind of have to do it manually... unless you have a paper backup.  If you do, make a digital backup of the old wallet first, "Delete/Remove Wallet", and then from the main window, "Import Wallet" and "Restore from Paper Backup."   It will have to rescan, but then you'll have your coins back.


I tried my first digital backup, which is 3 months old and it should by ok, but still the same problem. I can try to restore it with paper backup tomorrow, but have you any more idea, what could cause this problem? Maybe it is not the unlocking problem, but something with sending? Or generate Armory log or something? Thanks for help Smiley
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