how do I keep my private key safe? - page 2.

pgbit

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Quote from: Clark Anderson on February 22, 2023, 07:02:32 AM

I have wondered for long, if there is anyway to recover my private keys when they get lost or when I don't remember them. Someone advised me to use Gmail and store them as mails then I taught again, what if my Gmail gets hacked. Is this actually the best way to store them or is there any other ways I can store or Keep them safe?

Storing your private keys in an email account or any other online storage service can be risky, as these platforms may be vulnerable to hacks or security breaches. If your email account is compromised, your private keys could be accessed by an attacker, potentially leading to the loss of your funds.
A safer way to store your private keys is to use a hardware wallet or a software wallet that offers a recovery phrase
Hardware wallets, such as Trezor or Ledger, provide an added layer of security by storing your private keys offline and requiring physical confirmation to authorize transactions. Software wallets, such as Exodus or Electrum, can be more convenient to use but may not offer the same level of security as hardware wallets.

AicecreaME

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Quote from: OmegaStarScream on February 22, 2023, 07:05:41 AM

No, storing them online is definitely not recommended. Instead, you can create a paper wallet (make sure to encrypt the private key), print it, and then hide it.

I agree.

Also OP can add up riddles, unique and hard ones that only he can figure so just in case someone accidentally found his keys on wherever he stores it, they will not think it is a private key and probably will just ignore it because they think it's just some kind of worthless piece of paper. Me, personally do the same thing but I don't use riddles, I made up my own tricks so that I can always make sure that my private keys are completely safe.

Kakmakr

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I would slap that person who suggested that, because email web access is definitely not even an option to secure your Private keys.

You should get a computer and printer that will never connect to the Internet again and then print your Private keys. (several copies) ... then you have to laminate them to protect them from the elements (water & heat) and then you have to hide them in two or three separate geographical locations.

This is crucial, because we saw what happened in Turkey with the earthquake .....almost all the structures were destroyed. Roll Eyes

xSkylarx

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I remember before that it was okay to store your private key online since hacking was not that rampant, but now it is evolving. Anything where you store your private key online is not safe; it would be better to store it offline, where you can physically touch it. I've read somewhere here in the forum that he wrote it on a steel plate and stored it in a vault, and the other one is that he put it somewhere that can't be easily seen because sometimes if you put it on paper, it gets erased.

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The level of security that is necessary depends on the amount you intend to store. If it's a few hundred dollars then an encrypted software wallet should be enough. If you want to store thousands then you might want to invest in a hardware wallet or a cold storage solution.

Godday

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The private key has a function like a password that can be used to access the account that we have. The private key will translate the information intended for us and sent to the Blockchain, so that we will get access to data or crypto funds. Here are some tips from me that you can use: This time I will share tips so that the private key is safe even if it is lost. Wink

1. Save it to File.txt with a name that's easy to remember
saving the Private Key to a txt file whose file name is easy to remember is much better than putting it in an arbitrary file.

2. (Double File) That is, save the txt file earlier in the encoded rar file, then save it again in the password-coded rar file
This is so that the txt file cannot be penetrated by anyone if the file falls into the hands of someone else.

darkangel11

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There are a few options to safely store your private key or a seed phrase. Some people have mentioned hardware wallets, but these also require you to store the seed as backup.
Here's a few ideas:
Use a steel wallet. They don't cost much and are almost indestructible. You'll have to hide it well though, so it don't get stolen.
A paper wallet inside a waterproof metal container, so it doesn't get damaged easily.
Use an encrypted file, stored on a thumb drive. Pretty easy to make and to store.
A text file renamed as something else, like a .dll file. Easy to make, easy to hide on your computer.

I've used an offline hard drive to store all my backups. It contains all my pictures from the last 20 years, all my important files, wallet backups, seed phrases, all in hidden files. The drive is never online, when I forget something I turn on an offline PC that I use to access the information. If I ever need to move coins stored on that computer, I'll copy a wallet file onto a thumb drive and move it to my online electrum wallet.

GiftedMAN

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Good question op despite that the question have been asked several times here and I believe good answers have been given too.

Just to add to what other members have said, just as the name implies,it is your private keys meaning your privacy, you are the only one that has the permission to have access to so storing it should be in a secret and secured place that can not easily be wiped nor forgotten by you. The most appropriate way for me is writing them down in a metallic plate and keeping them safe where only you can have access to it.

Cantsay

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Quote from: Venik on February 23, 2023, 03:30:05 AM

I think two ways to keep your private key and/or seed phrase - to write it on paper and keep it somewhere safe, and to keep a screenshot somewhere deep in your PC and not upload it anywhere, that way you'll keep it in 2 places and if one will be lost you'll be able to recover it.

Saving your private key in your system makes it prone to malwares and since you'll constantly be using the system to access the internet that even makes is more unsafe, while for the paper it's actually better than the keeping but still the paper could get destroyed by fluid or perhaps you could laminate the paper to make it more water proof that way you can increase the safety of your key.

But still I'll love to go with the one I suggested early that is writing the private key on a steel plate and keeping it in a safe location a place no body will ever think of searching.

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Quote from: BenCodie on February 23, 2023, 05:52:11 PM

Quote from: romero121 on February 23, 2023, 05:47:56 PM

Quote from: BenCodie on February 23, 2023, 05:14:06 PM

You should under no circumstances store your private key inside your email or any online service. This is probably a more vulnerable approach than just using an online wallet or keeping the coins in a desktop client like electrum.

If you want to store private keys or seed phrases, write them down or print them off and store them in a safe place. Or if you prefer digital storage, encrypt a USB storage device or two with strong passwords that you will remember, store your private keys/seeds on their in encrypted text documents and keep those devices in safe places. This is probably the most ideal and practical solution.

How about the private key being backed by the Google account that use separate password to view the private key. I saw this feature avialed on trust wallet. We were asked to which the wallet private key needs to be backed, manually or to Google. In which we get access to our Google account and there we were requested to create a separate password. Does this serves to be secure.

Why store your private keys or information with a service like Google who are known to harvest data and overall betray the user as a service, when instead you can be in complete control of your keys/seeds with the peace of mind of physical control, no online exposure and encryption?

I am heavily biased against Google and big tech, though this aside I believe that storing any information with google (let alone your private keys or seeds) is unwise at the very least and unsafe otherwise, no matter how you go about it.

then that way no one will be safe as long as they still store private keys or whatever in services like google and other online storage. We don't know what they do with the data we upload, but in that way the best way is to save it offline with the device we have such as a flash drive, writing on a steel plate or another way that has full access without any third parties. But risks will also occur such as loss, damage and the like.
and what becomes dangerous is the internet, because the internet will connect all devices easily. When you store the private key on a device that is not connected to the internet at all, it's even better. no one will be able to hack the device, and the possibility of being attacked by malware also will not exist, unless you connect the device to several devices that have previously been infected with malware.

BenCodie

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Quote from: romero121 on February 23, 2023, 05:47:56 PM

Quote from: BenCodie on February 23, 2023, 05:14:06 PM

You should under no circumstances store your private key inside your email or any online service. This is probably a more vulnerable approach than just using an online wallet or keeping the coins in a desktop client like electrum.

If you want to store private keys or seed phrases, write them down or print them off and store them in a safe place. Or if you prefer digital storage, encrypt a USB storage device or two with strong passwords that you will remember, store your private keys/seeds on their in encrypted text documents and keep those devices in safe places. This is probably the most ideal and practical solution.

How about the private key being backed by the Google account that use separate password to view the private key. I saw this feature avialed on trust wallet. We were asked to which the wallet private key needs to be backed, manually or to Google. In which we get access to our Google account and there we were requested to create a separate password. Does this serves to be secure.

Why store your private keys or information with a service like Google who are known to harvest data and overall betray the user as a service, when instead you can be in complete control of your keys/seeds with the peace of mind of physical control, no online exposure and encryption?

I am heavily biased against Google and big tech, though this aside I believe that storing any information with google (let alone your private keys or seeds) is unwise at the very least and unsafe otherwise, no matter how you go about it.

romero121

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Quote from: BenCodie on February 23, 2023, 05:14:06 PM

You should under no circumstances store your private key inside your email or any online service. This is probably a more vulnerable approach than just using an online wallet or keeping the coins in a desktop client like electrum.

If you want to store private keys or seed phrases, write them down or print them off and store them in a safe place. Or if you prefer digital storage, encrypt a USB storage device or two with strong passwords that you will remember, store your private keys/seeds on their in encrypted text documents and keep those devices in safe places. This is probably the most ideal and practical solution.

How about the private key being backed by the Google account that use separate password to view the private key. I saw this feature avialed on trust wallet. We were asked to which the wallet private key needs to be backed, manually or to Google. In which we get access to our Google account and there we were requested to create a separate password. Does this serves to be secure.

Mahanton

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Quote from: BenCodie on February 23, 2023, 05:14:06 PM

You should under no circumstances store your private key inside your email or any online service. This is probably a more vulnerable approach than just using an online wallet or keeping the coins in a desktop client like electrum.

If you want to store private keys or seed phrases, write them down or print them off and store them in a safe place. Or if you prefer digital storage, encrypt a USB storage device or two with strong passwords that you will remember, store your private keys/seeds on their in encrypted text documents and keep those devices in safe places. This is probably the most ideal and practical solution.

This is right!

You should never store up your seeds or private key on any digital manner or aspect on which it is really that prone to hacking and been seen by other people if ever there would really be having the opportunity to access.This is why it is really just that right you should really be that dead serious when it comes to storing up your seed that you are the only one who do really knows.
This is why you should avoid on storing it even on your own pc because you cant be sure about 100% safety of your funds since it could be possibly malwared and infected.
Lots of situations similar to this and its better to be prepared than on regretting for the rest of your life.

BenCodie

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You should under no circumstances store your private key inside your email or any online service. This is probably a more vulnerable approach than just using an online wallet or keeping the coins in a desktop client like electrum.

If you want to store private keys or seed phrases, write them down or print them off and store them in a safe place. Or if you prefer digital storage, encrypt a USB storage device or two with strong passwords that you will remember, store your private keys/seeds on their in encrypted text documents and keep those devices in safe places. This is probably the most ideal and practical solution.

FinallyRegistered

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Quote from: BlackHatCoiner on February 22, 2023, 09:10:48 AM

No clouds, no mails, no private keys. Just generate a seed phrase on an airgapped device. Let me quote myself:

Quote from: BlackHatCoiner on February 02, 2023, 09:47:14 AM

Steps to configure an air-gapped Bitcoin wallet only device.

Close your curtains.
Download Tails (a privacy and security focused Linux distro)
Verify the binaries <- Important step, you need to ensure the integrity of the OS. Do it on a clean environment.
Burn the OS image to a USB.
Take the device and physically remove any Wi-Fi antennas (and obviously, Ethernet cables if any).
Plug the USB to that device, and start up.

You can see that Electrum comes pre-installed. The device will not connect in any network. It's also recommended to encrypt the electrum part of the USB (as shown in the Tails start screen), in case someone gains access to the USB.

Agreed. I love using TAILS and electrum. A little complicated to set up, but extremely worth it to keep your privacy and bitcoin secure.

MinoRaiola

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Quote from: coolcoinz on February 23, 2023, 03:49:25 PM

I see 2 problems with that though. Somebody has to tattoo you, so that person will know your seed. You'd have to either do it yourself, or trust someone.
The second problem is that even if it's on a covered part of your body, you'll expose it at some situations, for instance when sleeping with someone. Say it's your girlfriend and she writes it down while you're asleep and keeps it just in case you happen to break up with her, at which point she leaves with your money. Cheesy

Ok ok, then plan a crazy combination of words or different characters for the words. In another language, for example Thai, Bulgarian or Russian. Or use numbers in the alphabet for single words. But carrying your seed with you everywhere is something special and maybe not so bad. I don't have it and I don't have a tattoo. In a fireproof safe as a steelwallet is maybe better, it's not betwenn of you when you and your girlfriend sleep or not.

albon

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Quote from: coolcoinz on February 23, 2023, 03:49:25 PM

Not a bad idea if you're already planning a tattoo. You could put the seeds somewhere within the image so that only you know how it works.
I see 2 problems with that though. Somebody has to tattoo you, so that person will know your seed. You'd have to either do it yourself, or trust someone.
The second problem is that even if it's on a covered part of your body, you'll expose it at some situations, for instance when sleeping with someone. Say it's your girlfriend and she writes it down while you're asleep and keeps it just in case you happen to break up with her, at which point she leaves with your money. Cheesy

Not a bad idea, but a funny one, so how does someone inscribe their seed of 12-24 words into their body tattoo? Perhaps people from the stone age who did not recognize the invention of paper or notebooks do this Grin

I write everything down in a paper notebook and keep it in my iron safe. As for the private key, I put it on a USB flash and when I open the wallet, I put this USB on an empty computer and not my main computer. The idea of keeping the private key or the seed in a computer or phone connected to the Internet and crowded with programs and applications is a really bad idea, perhaps these devices may be infected, and the scammer can easily steal wallet information.

coolcoinz

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Quote from: MinoRaiola on February 23, 2023, 02:22:11 PM

A hardware wallet to create a seed and transfer the coins. The seed on a fireproof steelewallet in a fireproof safe and the combination by keycode in a very hidden place. That's i think a good plan. Or in a safe in a bank, but that's kind of weird when i hear: Be your own Bank. How about a tattoo? You can hide the seed in art, or tattoo not all the words and the rest keep in mind.

Not a bad idea if you're already planning a tattoo. You could put the seeds somewhere within the image so that only you know how it works.
I see 2 problems with that though. Somebody has to tattoo you, so that person will know your seed. You'd have to either do it yourself, or trust someone.
The second problem is that even if it's on a covered part of your body, you'll expose it at some situations, for instance when sleeping with someone. Say it's your girlfriend and she writes it down while you're asleep and keeps it just in case you happen to break up with her, at which point she leaves with your money. Cheesy

serjent05

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Quote from: Clark Anderson on February 22, 2023, 07:02:32 AM

I have wondered for long, if there is anyway to recover my private keys when they get lost or when I don't remember them. Someone advised me to use Gmail and store them as mails then I taught again, what if my Gmail gets hacked. Is this actually the best way to store them or is there any other ways I can store or Keep them safe?

Storing your private key online is not advisable and considered a risky method because of the possibility that your gmail might get compromised or hacked. You can refer to this article [1] to know how to keep your private key safe.

It is advised to buy hardware wallets such as ledger and alike to keep your Bitcoin and private key safe. Others advise creating a paper wallet and placing it in a place that is fire and waterproof. Some of the members here even advise engraving your private key to a metallic object since it doesn't fade like the ink of a paper wallet.

[1] https://www.investopedia.com/news/bitcoin-safe-storage-cold-wallet/#:~:text=Users%20can%20lose%20bitcoin%20and,still%20convenient%20for%20some%20users.

MinoRaiola

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A hardware wallet to create a seed and transfer the coins. The seed on a fireproof steelewallet in a fireproof safe and the combination by keycode in a very hidden place. That's i think a good plan. Or in a safe in a bank, but that's kind of weird when i hear: Be your own Bank. How about a tattoo? You can hide the seed in art, or tattoo not all the words and the rest keep in mind.

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