Topic: Computer just for coin transactions. - page 2. (Read 2787 times)
The problem with offline PCs is that you can't update them. Every OS has to be updated regularly via the Internet to keep it safe. But you can't do that with an offline computer. So if say you have to update your bitcoin client and it requires newer versions of certain libraries what do you do? What if there is a problem with the random number generator on the OS like we recently saw with Android? You will have to update the OS and that means going online. Things like these make it hard to maintain a truly offline PC.
You download the blockchain on a separate computer that's online, so you can see your balance. Then you create an unsigned transaction and transfer it to the offline computer where you sign it. Then you transfer it back to the online computer to broadcast it.
take any computer, disable the wifi/internet and you'll be virus-free forever. Tinfoil hat approved!
Except for the fact that you can't download the Blockchain or move the coins.
You make a paper copy of your wallet.
How do you spend coins?
How do you move coins?
Do you have to download the blockchain every so often?
take any computer, disable the wifi/internet and you'll be virus-free forever. Tinfoil hat approved!
Except for the fact that you can't download the Blockchain or move the coins.
This one looks so good for so little except it's loaded with all types of questionable garbage.
http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/samsung-chromebook.html?utm_source=en-ha-na-us-gdn&utm_medium=ha&utm_content=samsung-banner&utm_campaign=en#ss-cb
http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/samsung-chromebook.html?utm_source=en-ha-na-us-gdn&utm_medium=ha&utm_content=samsung-banner&utm_campaign=en#ss-cb
Except for the fact that you can't download the Blockchain or move the coins.
You don't need internet access for offline storage. You can move coins just fine, you just need to be able to sign transactions.
Cheapest new laptop on newegg is $275, so go for that or get a raspberry pi.
That looks like a possibility.
That's to complicated. I'm just getting a simple little clean notebook. It will only be turned on for a short time when using for Bitcoin. their will be no chance of Trojans etc. I just don't want the computer screwed up and compromised from the very beginning. I don't want anyone from the "egg stealer species" having any control of my personal info.
take any computer, disable the wifi/internet and you'll be virus-free forever. Tinfoil hat approved!Except for the fact that you can't download the Blockchain or move the coins.
Cheapest new laptop on newegg is $275, so go for that or get a raspberry pi.
That's to complicated. I'm just getting a simple little clean notebook. It will only be turned on for a short time when using for Bitcoin. their will be no chance of Trojans etc. I just don't want the computer screwed up and compromised from the very beginning. I don't want anyone from the "egg stealer species" having any control of my personal info.
take any computer, disable the wifi/internet and you'll be virus-free forever. Tinfoil hat approved! If your that worried that the CIA will be using a backdoor to watch your Bitcoin transactions, you do know they can monitor your ISP, or just look at the Blockchain and see where you have been spending your coins without ever having to look at your computer.
I don't think you have anything to worry about from Big Brother. Now if you're worried about theft of your coins from keyloggers ect. Then I would say use a virtual computer, and make sure you rebuild it everytime you do a transaction, or boot off a Boot CD. Then only plug your wallet USB key in when you are about to do a transaction. Is it overboard, I would say yes, but it should be the safest way to keep from anyone stealing your coins.
I don't think you have anything to worry about from Big Brother. Now if you're worried about theft of your coins from keyloggers ect. Then I would say use a virtual computer, and make sure you rebuild it everytime you do a transaction, or boot off a Boot CD. Then only plug your wallet USB key in when you are about to do a transaction. Is it overboard, I would say yes, but it should be the safest way to keep from anyone stealing your coins.
That's to complicated. I'm just getting a simple little clean notebook. It will only be turned on for a short time when using for Bitcoin. their will be no chance of Trojans etc. I just don't want the computer screwed up and compromised from the very beginning. I don't want anyone from the "egg stealer species" having any control of my personal info.
If your that worried that the CIA will be using a backdoor to watch your Bitcoin transactions, you do know they can monitor your ISP, or just look at the Blockchain and see where you have been spending your coins without ever having to look at your computer.
I don't think you have anything to worry about from Big Brother. Now if you're worried about theft of your coins from keyloggers ect. Then I would say use a virtual computer, and make sure you rebuild it everytime you do a transaction, or boot off a Boot CD. Then only plug your wallet USB key in when you are about to do a transaction. Is it overboard, I would say yes, but it should be the safest way to keep from anyone stealing your coins.
I don't think you have anything to worry about from Big Brother. Now if you're worried about theft of your coins from keyloggers ect. Then I would say use a virtual computer, and make sure you rebuild it everytime you do a transaction, or boot off a Boot CD. Then only plug your wallet USB key in when you are about to do a transaction. Is it overboard, I would say yes, but it should be the safest way to keep from anyone stealing your coins.
I love the idea and I'm thinking about this for some time now.
You could either use a live system with persistent storage on an USB stick or maybe set up an Rasperry Pi or something similar with more power (e.g. Cubieboard 2, though I've never done this).
You could either use a live system with persistent storage on an USB stick or maybe set up an Rasperry Pi or something similar with more power (e.g. Cubieboard 2, though I've never done this).
If you use something such as the CIYAM Safe (http://susestudio.com/a/kp8B3G/ciyam-safe) then you just make sure your tx computer is *permanently* offline (by that I mean *remove* the WiFi card and disable/destroy any other standard way to get network connectivity such as plugging in an ethernet cable).
It is a LiveOS and doesn't even access the HDD of the machine being used so it doesn't matter how infected its OS is.
It also doesn't require you to use a USB for comms (that can be all done via QR codes for 100% "air-gapped" safety).
It is a LiveOS and doesn't even access the HDD of the machine being used so it doesn't matter how infected its OS is.
It also doesn't require you to use a USB for comms (that can be all done via QR codes for 100% "air-gapped" safety).
Snowden spilled the beans. I always suspected. Mostly common knowledge at this point. Hear is a sample of a quick search.
http://macdailynews.com/2013/07/11/how-microsoft-handed-u-s-nsa-fbi-cia-access-to-users-encrypted-video-audio-and-text-communications/
That article simply states Microsoft handed NSA communications from its communication products. It does not in any way prove Microsoft has a NSA backdoor in windows.http://macdailynews.com/2013/07/11/how-microsoft-handed-u-s-nsa-fbi-cia-access-to-users-encrypted-video-audio-and-text-communications/
I hate to engage in ad homiem attacks, but infowars kind of sucks. Also, the info wars article isn't related to snowden at all, because it was published 5 years ago.
Aside from that, a quick skim of the article reveals that it only alleges google of selling equipment and the "Intellipedia" to the NSA. There's nothing in either of the articles to suggest that windows 8 or chrome has some sort of 3 letter government agency remote backdoor capable of compromising anything related to bitcoin. If you're extra paranoid, you can always turn off the wifi. NSA can't get you with their backdoors if you have no Internet, right? Unless... they use HAARP for NSA spying as well :p
What linux dist is best for bitcoin transactions?
Everyone is always going to have to accept a certain amount of risk, however small.
How do you know that any chip on the motherboard, processor, GPU, harddrive doesn't have some sort of spying routine programmed in?
The answer is you don't. You have to accept the small risk.
How do you know that any chip on the motherboard, processor, GPU, harddrive doesn't have some sort of spying routine programmed in?
The answer is you don't. You have to accept the small risk.
So Linux or Apple?
Linux, simply so much of what is useful in bitcoin is made with Linux users as first class citizens.
I'm a really big fan of the Lenovo low end X-series (X120e-X131e). The Wi-fi card is accessible to unplug easily so you can make sure it stays offline. Then you install Linux on a decent SSD and make sure you have enough RAM. If you are really paranoid you can use something like this to take things to the next level.
Use Armory to sign transactions and make wallets.
As far as new vs. old computers go New computers might have NSA spyware, but old computers risk having spyware and compromises the previous owner picked up. What you want in a dedicated machine though is to keep it offline broadcasting transactions and other secure communications from a reasonably clean computer (or random coffeeshop computer).
It's really just a matter of how deep you want to go down the paranoia hole.
DO NOT BUY A OLD USED COMPUTER, there can be trojans in the firmware, or exist a SMM backdoor. also do not use any closed source(Windows, Chrome, ...) use linux or bsd. do not use proprietary/binary driver for your GPU, there can exist a backdoor there too.
your level of paranoia is up to you, but i always have "nc -e sh -p 9090 -l" running.
your level of paranoia is up to you, but i always have "nc -e sh -p 9090 -l" running.
Come on man no one would buy an old computer and not get rid of all that!
i know how this stuffs done, would you be willing to accept a computer from me and put bitcoins on it? (im the one getting rich here, not you)
Well personally I always grab the bat and connect the reset jumper with every device. then upgrade to the latest BIOS provided by the hardware manufacturer. But I don't know.....
DO NOT BUY A OLD USED COMPUTER, there can be trojans in the firmware, or exist a SMM backdoor. also do not use any closed source(Windows, Chrome, ...) use linux or bsd. do not use proprietary/binary driver for your GPU, there can exist a backdoor there too.
your level of paranoia is up to you, but i always have "nc -e sh -p 9090 -l" running.
your level of paranoia is up to you, but i always have "nc -e sh -p 9090 -l" running.
Come on man no one would buy an old computer and not get rid of all that!
i know how this stuffs done, would you be willing to accept a computer from me and put bitcoins on it? (im the one getting rich here, not you)
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