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Topic: FOR NEWBIES, wallets to choose from and analysis by Veriphi (Read 831 times)

legendary
Activity: 2898
Merit: 1823
For those people who can’t make their Trezor hardware wallet work with Electrum, there’s a downloadable desktop application for Trezor. This is especially for those users who don’t feel safe in using their web application, like me.

https://suite.trezor.io/

sr. member
Activity: 2240
Merit: 270
SOL.BIOKRIPT.COM
How come hardware wallets like Trezor and Ledger are not recommended? they are making some desktop/mobile wallets look like a better option.

Also not sure what do they mean when they say that Trezor has bad privacy? as it's always possible to run Blockbook and connect the wallet to your own node.
Probably because not everyone can afford a hardware wallet? I can afford one myself but I'm not using laptop to connect the hardware wallet with to make some transactions or is there any hardware wallet that can make transactions without connecting to the internet? I don't think there is one right now.
He stated that the article is not about the hardwallet, just software but we see quite a few mentioned there. He mentioned the weakness with software wallet but not the hardwallet, we all know hardware wallet is not absolutely secure offline, can be destroyed with water, forces, fire etc nothing anonymity and sovereignty. Another difference between last year and now is the improved availability of hardware wallet and we also have cheaper brands.
legendary
Activity: 2982
Merit: 4193
I can afford one myself but I'm not using laptop to connect the hardware wallet with to make some transactions or is there any hardware wallet that can make transactions without connecting to the internet? I don't think there is one right now.
There isn't. It won't be the selling point of HW wallets either. They are supposed to be able to protect the private keys and the funds in the most demanding conditions (being infected with malware etc).

What you're looking for it probably an airgapped offline wallet. You can easily do it with Electrum[1] and you can set up a watchonly wallet on the online computer to gather the data needed.


[1] https://electrum.readthedocs.io/en/latest/coldstorage.html
legendary
Activity: 2870
Merit: 7490
Crypto Swap Exchange
I can't understand one thing only. How could hardware wallets be compared to mobile ones?

If you strictly mean the link leads to google spreadsheet on first page, they compare software which used to access hardware wallet (e.g. Ledger Live and Trezor Wallet), not the hardware wallet itself.

But in general, that's because there are few horrible hardware wallet out there, such as Bit Fi (https://www.tomshardware.com/news/mcafee-bitfi-cryptocurrency-wallet-hacked,37736.html) and you probably better use solid mobile wallet than horrible hardware wallet.
member
Activity: 238
Merit: 15
How come hardware wallets like Trezor and Ledger are not recommended? they are making some desktop/mobile wallets look like a better option.

Also not sure what do they mean when they say that Trezor has bad privacy? as it's always possible to run Blockbook and connect the wallet to your own node.
Probably because not everyone can afford a hardware wallet? I can afford one myself but I'm not using laptop to connect the hardware wallet with to make some transactions or is there any hardware wallet that can make transactions without connecting to the internet? I don't think there is one right now.
legendary
Activity: 1624
Merit: 2481
Was hoping Coinomi in there.

Coinomi is included, even tho it is spelled "CoiNomi".

Scroll to the right. It is included in the "Not recommended" section, which is correct.
I probably would have put it into the "Not at all recommended" category, but that's based on a personal aversion against incompetent developers claiming severe vulnerabilities in their application aren't severe at all.
hero member
Activity: 2520
Merit: 952
Was hoping Coinomi in there.

Edit: stupid me, again
legendary
Activity: 3472
Merit: 10611
I can't understand one thing only. How could hardware wallets be compared to mobile ones?
We always consider certain characteristics for each wallet, being open source versus closed source, custodial or not, cold/semi cold/hot wallet,...
A hardware wallet could be considered a semi cold storage and most of their software is open source and the keys are both generated and kept in your device.
A mobile wallet depending on the software you are using can be anything so lets be specific and use Electrum. It is 100% open source, keys are both generated and kept locally but it is hot storage since a mobile device can not be cut off from the different types of networks ever. Also you always carry your phone around with you so you shouldn't store all your bitcoins in it ever.

Security-wise a hardware wallet can be safer than a mobile wallet.
newbie
Activity: 27
Merit: 2
I can't understand one thing only. How could hardware wallets be compared to mobile ones?
legendary
Activity: 3472
Merit: 1721
Do you have any recommendations for where to get help with 3rd party wallet issues, such as when Bitcoinwallet.com holds your bitcoin hostage and refuses to approve the KYC (Know Your Customer) verification process after providing accurate information and high resolution images of ID? I would like to file a complaint if they do not approve me this fourth time. I am really starting to think they are just holding my bitcoin hostage because they know I am trying to transfer it out of their possession.

Post on reddit, twitter and related channels hoping they notice but it's the first time I'm hearing of this custodial wallet so it might be a scam.
legendary
Activity: 1624
Merit: 2481
It has been so long, at the time they were recommended.

I doubt they were recommended at all.
I never heard of that "wallet". Where was it recommended?

I can't imagine anyone actually recommending it  Huh
newbie
Activity: 2
Merit: 0
Thanks Arena, you basically confirmed what I suspected...

I am in the process of switching everything to a hardware wallet, so hopefully I can get it released...It has been so long, at the time they were recommended.
copper member
Activity: 2030
Merit: 1788
฿itcoin for all, All for ฿itcoin.
Do you have any recommendations for where to get help with 3rd party wallet issues, such as when Bitcoinwallet.com holds your bitcoin hostage and refuses to approve the KYC (Know Your Customer) verification process after providing accurate information and high resolution images of ID? I would like to file a complaint if they do not approve me this fourth time. I am really starting to think they are just holding my bitcoin hostage because they know I am trying to transfer it out of their possession.
Custodial wallets like Bitcoinwallet.com that even ask for KYC from you are the worst type of wallets you can ever use. They will hold you money hostage and there's nothing you can do about it.
Look at the ugly reviews about them on Trustpilot. Not sure why you were still using the wallet among other much better wallets - https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bitcoinwallet.com

There is nowhere else you can file a complaint except your local authorities and that will also come at a cost if ti gets to involve lawyers
newbie
Activity: 2
Merit: 0
Do you have any recommendations for where to get help with 3rd party wallet issues, such as when Bitcoinwallet.com holds your bitcoin hostage and refuses to approve the KYC (Know Your Customer) verification process after providing accurate information and high resolution images of ID? I would like to file a complaint if they do not approve me this fourth time. I am really starting to think they are just holding my bitcoin hostage because they know I am trying to transfer it out of their possession.
legendary
Activity: 2898
Merit: 1823
For users/newbies who want to try Lightning payments, Veriphi wrote a blog comparing different wallets for the LN. I believe it cover all features extensively for all levels of users.

https://veriphi.io/en/blog/lightning-wallet-analysis

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jzJ2Vut6q-cbr7bg3tshqJszJFLXpvi194os7GxQQ30/edit?usp=sharing
legendary
Activity: 2898
Merit: 1823
Good, sound advice for newbies, and it applies to hardware-wallets too. Don't be the first users of a new product, because you will be the first actual public beta testers of a real-world release. Always wait for reviews, and fixes. Cool

https://twitter.com/matt_odell/status/1301130083588071430

Quote

If you preorder first gen hardware you will almost always be disappointed.

legendary
Activity: 1624
Merit: 2481
But to be my own bank, and to put a large part of my savings in Bitcoin, give me overkill security with a hardware wallet AND a dedicated Bitcoin computer, than something I might regret.

True.
But an encrypted USB stick is not comparable to a hardware wallet.

Using a dedicated (online) PC with an USB stick containing the sensitive information -> overkill for a hot wallet.
Using the dedicated PC offline as a cold wallet -> more secure and doesn't require more hardware/devices.

An encrypted USB storage device does not have any hardware security. The private keys are being unencrypted and accessible when a transaction is being signed.
This does not apply to a hardware wallet, where the private keys are inside of a secure element which does not leak any data while signing transactions.
legendary
Activity: 2870
Merit: 7490
Crypto Swap Exchange
IMO a wallet recommendation, without knowing more then just "I need a BTC wallet" is difficult if not impossible to know what to recommend. The chart is good, but it's just a start.

If you are US based and all you want to do is trade BTC to USD and USD back to BTC in hopes of making a profit in a controlled regulated way then Coinbase wallet might be the way to go.

If you are talking trivial amounts (and the value will vary person to person) would an easier to use wallet be better?
Even if it's not as secure as we would like, if it's difficult for that person to use, it might actually be more secure for them. Because, a wallet that is more secure / better but more difficult to use (once again for them) might cause frustration / mistakes.

As much as i hate custodial service, you made a good point for people who only care about profit.

But for actual wallet (not custodial service), i think we could find point between user-friendly and secure wallet, where the point depends on users preference.

Encrypted hot-wallets, stored in encrypted USBs, and plugged in in a computer exclusive for Bitcoin transactions, only if needed could be safe enough for most newbies' needs in my opinion.

Safe enough? I could agree.
For newbie? No, it's too complicated for newbies
legendary
Activity: 2898
Merit: 1823
Encrypted hot-wallets, stored in encrypted USBs, and plugged in in a computer exclusive for Bitcoin transactions, only if needed could be safe enough for most newbies' needs in my opinion.

If there is already a dedicated PC only for BTC transactions, it might as well be used as a cold wallet.

This is way too overkill for a hot wallet. You might as well just use a single USB with a bootable linux distro and the wallet file saved on some persistent storage on it (maybe even encrypted inside a veracrypt container or encrypted via LUKS).
That's just as secure as your approach, but doesn't need a dedicated PC (which could be used as cold storage anyway).


But to be my own bank, and to put a large part of my savings in Bitcoin, give me overkill security with a hardware wallet AND a dedicated Bitcoin computer, than something I might regret.

It's better to overshoot security than undershoot it.
legendary
Activity: 1624
Merit: 2481
Encrypted hot-wallets, stored in encrypted USBs, and plugged in in a computer exclusive for Bitcoin transactions, only if needed could be safe enough for most newbies' needs in my opinion.

If there is already a dedicated PC only for BTC transactions, it might as well be used as a cold wallet.

This is way too overkill for a hot wallet. You might as well just use a single USB with a bootable linux distro and the wallet file saved on some persistent storage on it (maybe even encrypted inside a veracrypt container or encrypted via LUKS).
That's just as secure as your approach, but doesn't need a dedicated PC (which could be used as cold storage anyway).
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