Topic: E-devices suitable for backup storage of seed phrases. - page 2. (Read 458 times)

I just checked the link and the page says that device has price 9067 RUB or about 97 USD.


But i wonder how many people would put random/unknown flash drive to their device these days. After all, it may contain malware or send high voltage in attempt to break your device.

I think that those devices that you shared, look suspicious, especially if I saw them in the hand of young man. And I don't understand what's wrong with having a paper wallet with you in the airport? Who is gonna check paper? And who is gonna steal it from you? Or probably bring an air-gapped smartphone with you where you store your wallet but nothing beats paper in this case for me. Also, I don't think someone wants to take keys of cold storage with them when they travel, not in a secondary backup way at least. So, I assume that when we travel, we want to have a hot wallet with us, right? Just be sure that your smartphone is clean, install Electrum in it and travel that way or as I said previously, get a paper wallet and done.

Regarding digital methods for SEED backup storage.

I use for this purpose bootable  flash drive that holds Tails with blocked communication drivers and persistent volume locked by composite password part of which is on hardware security key which holds also my pgp key.

Persistent volume holds database for KeyPassXC locked again by composite password (that includes part of HW security key)  which differs from password used to unlock   persistent volume.

In turn, KeyPassXC database holds gpg message relevant to my SEED phrase. This message  encrypted by my HW pgp key (smart card) which is protected by PIN. Only two wrong PINs are allowed. The third wrong attempt will block access to pgp key.

Such setup allows me to get my SEED virtually on any device (including hybrid laptops with e-ink display) which is clear for Tails use.

P.S. This  sophisticated technique  accompanies my primitive  one which is  based on both  paper and metal washers.

This is a reason it should not be used. But some people may prefer to passphrase their seed phrase which can give a good option for its use. As for me I can not use it. I will prefer encrypted flashdrive, memory card or disk which I have talked about before.

You are right about this. If it has no way to connect online and it is thoroughly checked and see that it can not connect online, we do not need to talk about if it is open or close source as it will stay permanently offline.

I guess not.
Your question led me to a possible vulnerability (but not certain) in this device. Is it possible to copy data (maybe not) from the calculator to a memory card? But the question of who would think of trying to copy data from a calculator remains relevant.

It seems you didn't read my first post on the topic at all. Read it again please.

A flash drive arouses the curiosity of strangers about the contents of this device, even if the data there is encrypted.

You can come up with many solutions for storing and transporting phrases on devices (and not only). Flash drives, airgapped devices, etc. are beyond the scope of the topic that interests me, but not beyond the scope of possible solutions for storing seed phrase.

The reasons that prompted me to consider exotic methods are indicated in the first post.


Electronic Diary doesn't contain encryption and theoretically, if you have physical access, you can obtain data from this device if you manage not to turn off the power to the device during disassembly (a reset will occur).

That's right, the device is not protected from shock, fire, acids, floods, hurricanes and volcanoes, as well as any other influences. This device is intended for temporary, non-primary storage.

True, this is closed source, but I wanted to ask you. Let's say there are backdoors (on a 20-year-old device), then how will the data stolen by them leave this device without a wireless connection?

Wouldn't it be easier to encrypt wallet file using a strong password and passpahre, store them separately in a USB or any device and then recover them using an airgapped PC or you can even use an encrypted passpahre and leave the 12 words as they are with a small balance like $100?
Electronic Diary does not contain encryption, does not have shock protection, and the code is closed source.

Can you use these devices for encrypting the seed phrase on the memory card?

You can do it on a device that is airgapped. But if you have online wallet which can be good for frequent transaction and just for holding small amount of bitcoin, connecting it to online laptop should not be a problem if you are protecting your laptop from malware and hackers very well.

With two or three memory card which I can put on a memory card adapter. Only one adapter. Or to get two or three small size flashdrive. Or to get two or three small size disk. Or get one of each or anyhow that I want it but in a way that I will have more than one backup. I can use any of them to encrypt the seed phrase and carry it along with me while traveling. If possible I am still traveling back, I will also leave backups at home.

3. Watch with e-book reading function again from AIRCHR (there can be any with a similar function).



Price: ~30$.

Peculiarities:
- E-Book Reading, Photo Viewer (JPEG, BMP, GIF);
- Audio / Video Format Support (MP3, WAV, AMV, AVI);
- Lithium Battery (> 20 hours);
- Memory 8Gb;
- Emergency Button;
- Privacy Screen;
- No need to install any tools.

Possible disadvantage:
- Supports USB charging and data transfer.  

4. Electronic Dictionary from Casio.



Price: ~30$.

Practically not much different from Electronic Diary.

Peculiarities:
- Handwriting Panel (enables writing and searching);
- Read-aloud Function (capable of reading text aloud);
- Battery (2 x AA alkaline batteries ~ 130 hours);
- Memory card type (microSD, microSDHC);
- Built-in memory (ROM) 50 Mb;

Possible disadvantage:
- Supports USB charging and data transfer.

Seed phrase can be placed (separately) in the text of any book, the main thing is not to forget their location (leave stamps).

Don't accidentally enable voice playback of text with seed phrases.

5. MP3 player from Sony.



Price: ~ 30$ (many may have kept this device from old times).
 
Peculiarities:
- Memory 4 Gb;
- Playable Media Format (MP3);
- Battery (can be either built-in or external AAA format).

Possible disadvantage:
- Supports data transfer or USB charging.

You may ask me how to write seed phrases on a device that is not capable of reading text files or pictures. The answer is simple. The player has a display showing track names. Seed phrases can be written into track titles.

After the discussion in this thread I started thinking about ways to solve the problem of storing and safely transporting seed phrase when traveling to other countries.

Here I want to discuss factory-made electronic devices (as the most accessible for a wide range of users and at an affordable price), which can be taken with you almost anywhere and not arouse suspicion (minimizing the attraction of attention) that seed phrase are stored in these devices. Of course, not as a main backup (for these purposes it is better to look at topic), but an additional, backup one in case you somehow lose access to your how wallet or hardware wallet (for example, resetting to factory settings).

An important criterion that I highlight is the autonomy of the device (autonomous power supply), the presence of a display, a keyboard for entering text (not in all cases), the lack of mobile communications and the Internet (for this reason I will not consider smartphones and tablets) and, if possible, minimizing the connection to PC (as a possible source of penetration of malicious programs) – lack of various information input interfaces (ports), as well as compactness (so that it is not problematic to carry with you in a backpack).

All links are provided for informational purposes only.

1. Electronic Diary from Citizen (may be the closest analogue from any other company).



Price: 10 - 20$.

Peculiarities:
- Availability of a monochrome display;
- Keyboard;
- Memory 128\256 kb;
- Battery;
- Availability of a password to access data;
- The absence of any connectors, which makes it impossible to steal information from it, other than physical theft. (I would look at those who would steal such a useless rarity these days ).

Possible disadvantage:
- If the device is de-energized (remove the battery), all data will be deleted. In principle, this can be used for emergency data deletion. The same thing will happen if the battery runs out.

2. Multifunctional calculator from Chinese noname AIRCHR.



Price: unknown.

Peculiarities:
- Availability of color display;
- Keyboard (without text);
- Memory 4 GB + memory card ;
- Battery (900mAH);
- Supports images (JPEG, BMP, GIF);
- Reading text documents;
- Supports Audio and video (MP4, AVI, AMV, WMA, WAV, MP3);
- Privacy Special Function.

Possible disadvantage:
- Supports USB charging and data transfer. Files in image or text format will have to be downloaded to the device from a PC, which may turn out to be a potential attack vector during which the seed phrase can be compromised on the PC (this is not a threat on this device).