Do not use USB sticks for long term storage! Its not safe! - page 3.

tiffyroman

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Quote from: SilverPunk on May 10, 2016, 03:05:45 AM

Thank you for this info. I usually use USB sticks for storing files , i've been doing this for about 2 years .luckily my USB is still safe and not yet been formated or loose corrupted files .

So what's safe to use?

Wow I admire you that you have continuous use of your usb for 2 years. I can't use my usb for that long because my usb is always infected when I plug it in from a friend's pc to get some files Cry

SilverPunk

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Thank you for this info. I usually use USB sticks for storing files , i've been doing this for about 2 years .luckily my USB is still safe and not yet been formated or loose corrupted files .

So what's safe to use?

Wendigo

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Paper wallet is the best cold storage for me because it's plain old paper that can easily outlast all the fancy new hardware wallets and other storage devices like memory cards and thumb drives. And as an added protection you could laminate your paper wallet and put it in a safe deposit box and that will certainly last forever. Hardware is not reliable and it can break down at unexpected times. Heck I have bought HDD's and SSD's before that had bad sectors or became unusable in a matter of days after the purchase. I suggest using at least 1 paper wallet along with your hardware devices to store your private keys on.

Jasad

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= jasad =

Quote from: Quantus on May 09, 2016, 05:27:08 AM

Just a reminder

Its not safe to use USB sticks or SSDs for long term storage they lose data over time if they are not powered!

You can't just stick your private keys on a few USB sticks or SSD and box them up for 4 - 8 years you will lose all your coins.

For long term storage have at least 3 backups paper wallets or HDDs. You can even use something like DropBox But be sure to encrypt your wallet and change the name.

You can even hide your wallet inside a image file.

do you create this thread inspired from other thread?i see poeple post on thread that he have plan to burried his USB stick contained some bitcoin,and forget it until 20 years. its really that use USB sticks or SSDs for long term storage they lose data over time if they are not powered? if that true,i think people who have plan to burried his USB stick must be read this.

Kakmakr

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Quote from: Doms on May 10, 2016, 12:40:26 AM

Didn't know until now that USB sticks could become useless altogether after years on inactivity. Is this also applicable to the sticks which are produced in the last few years? I have yet to back up my wallet in any USBs so this is a great piece of advice that I just came across with, for future reference.

Magnetism wear off after a while and the media it is stored on also deteriorate after a few years. If you plug it in and leave it for a while, the magnetism will increase and it will last longer. Just use a offline computer when you doing this, or your data stored on the device could become infected or even collected by a hacker.

In any way, this is how it was explained to me. I hope the guy was not pulling this out of his ass. ^smile^

27QVUTZj8rgZP1

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Quote from: Doms on May 10, 2016, 12:40:26 AM

Is this also applicable to the sticks which are produced in the last few years?

Yes.

Additionally, flash drives which are working fine today can become useless next time you use it. They usually do not show signs of failure.

Then, if you are counting important data in 1 device. You may face loss of data soon.

Doms

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Didn't know until now that USB sticks could become useless altogether after years on inactivity. Is this also applicable to the sticks which are produced in the last few years? I have yet to back up my wallet in any USBs so this is a great piece of advice that I just came across with, for future reference.

27QVUTZj8rgZP1

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Quote from: RhodaGila on May 10, 2016, 12:07:54 AM

I do not use cloud or online backup because I was not so doubt with them.

Why not!? What is the reason?

I wish I could backup my data online, but in my case that is only practical for small files because my upload rate is slow (100kB/s). For this reason, only critical files are uploaded online (in addition to local backups).

pooya87

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Quote from: TookDk on May 09, 2016, 01:46:04 PM

Engrave your private keys in a block of tungsten, basically indestructible.

why tungsten? there are better metals/alloys to use which are way cheaper than tungsten and also easier to acquire. you can buy stainless steel or aluminum anywhere and also cheaper. and also don't forget that engraving on steel is easier than tungsten.

worth mentioning this project here: Cryptosteel

RhodaGila

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Great info, don't make usb storadge as a master repository for your files and data. Electronic device have a time limit of age of its useful life. Always backup the data in some safe place, internal hdd, ext hdd and usb storadge, I do not use cloud or online backup because I was not so doubt with them.

Sniper44

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thanks for the heads up

jt byte

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You should tell this little antidote to this guy:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.14791412

He thinks his bitcoins will be safe for 20 years stored on usb sticks buried in his backyard.

Chris!

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I would have to agree. I wouldn't ever leave a substantial amount of Bitcoins on a USB or SSD. Eventually these will fail and you'll be left with nothing. Paper wallets are a great option. Make a few copies, laminate them, whatever it takes!

X badapple X

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Quote from: tunctioncloud on May 09, 2016, 04:02:02 PM

Best would be something written or cut in an aluminium plate or maybe block, since it isn't affected by humidity.

https://www.google.com/search?q=corroded+aluminum Sad

tunctioncloud

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Quote from: X badapple X on May 09, 2016, 03:59:40 PM

Quote from: skierchewing on May 09, 2016, 03:45:02 PM

Quote from: TookDk on May 09, 2016, 01:46:04 PM

Engrave your private keys in a block of tungsten, basically indestructible.

I don't think that it will be really needed to use something as sturdy and expensive. A common iron block will be a lot more than enough I think Wink

!

Not if you bury it under a birdbath for 20 years ...

Quote from: joe101 on May 08, 2016, 03:30:51 PM

last night i bought 5 usb sticks and 2 waterproof boxes, i put the box inside of the other box then the 5 usb sticks in the middle of the box, afterwards i went into my backyard and dug a hole underneath the bird fountain ... i plan to keep it there for 20 years.

Well, you know, if you plan to do so, I would not use USB keys too. Best would be something written or cut in an aluminium plate or maybe block, since it isn't affected by humidity.

X badapple X

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Quote from: skierchewing on May 09, 2016, 03:45:02 PM

Quote from: TookDk on May 09, 2016, 01:46:04 PM

Engrave your private keys in a block of tungsten, basically indestructible.

http://we.lovebitco.in/img/tungsten.jpg

I don't think that it will be really needed to use something as sturdy and expensive. A common iron block will be a lot more than enough I think Wink

!

Not if you bury it under a birdbath for 20 years ... much water; much bird poo ... corrosion Sad

Quote from: joe101 on May 08, 2016, 03:30:51 PM

last night i bought 5 usb sticks and 2 waterproof boxes, i put the box inside of the other box then the 5 usb sticks in the middle of the box, afterwards i went into my backyard and dug a hole underneath the bird fountain ... i plan to keep it there for 20 years.

skierchewing

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Quote from: TookDk on May 09, 2016, 01:46:04 PM

Engrave your private keys in a block of tungsten, basically indestructible.

I don't think that it will be really needed to use something as sturdy and expensive. A common iron block will be a lot more than enough I think Wink

!

fenican

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Quote from: TookDk on May 09, 2016, 01:46:04 PM

Engrave your private keys in a block of tungsten, basically indestructible.

Note if you take this route best not to post pictures of your engraved tungsten block to the internet

louisLavery

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Floppy disc or better, maybe, punched paper tape.

Hazir

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I was considering using something like online hosting for keeping my backup wallet. But then again, keeping anything in a a online cloud storage is problematic.
I've seen so many hosting companies gone bankrupt that I have very limited trust toward online services. Dropbox is not exception...

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