Topic: How i keep my private keys safe without hardware wallet (Read 1220 times)
Their are many ways how to keep your private keys safe, And their are some site that can save our important files. I do not know what it is but I saw that on when one of my friend saving all of here files. And you can write that also into a paper if you want to be safe always, or anythings that you have at your house can be useful that can put it for your private keys. Using USB its is good but need to careful cause of some virus entering in your USB so it have time erase them.
This is how i keep my private keys safe since i can't afford to buy a hardware wallet.
1. A complete new harddisk
I bought a new harddisk and install window 7 on it and copy all my private keys in there, i don't bother to leave this harddisk in the pc, after the copy is completed i remove the harddisk and keep it.
2.My Recording book
I have a long hard shelled book that i use for keeping records of all the airdrops and bounties i promoted because sometimes i used to forget easily so i write down my recovery seeds in this book as well
3. Flash Drive
I have a good 8gig flash drive as well that i use to copy software and files from one pc to another so i format this flash drive and copy my private keys and recovery seeds in it.
At first no one knew i am into crypto stuffs and secondly i don't share my room with anyone cos i am living alone, those who have people around them with face problems like friends going behind your back checking through your stuffs or even stealing your things, hardware wallet is still the best though.
I'm keeping my private key in a piece of small notebook alongside with all my password seeds and phrases of all the platforms exchange that i have interact with, No more rituals just a plain written piece of paper, with a waterproof cover its just small that even fit in my wallet. 1. A complete new harddisk
I bought a new harddisk and install window 7 on it and copy all my private keys in there, i don't bother to leave this harddisk in the pc, after the copy is completed i remove the harddisk and keep it.
2.My Recording book
I have a long hard shelled book that i use for keeping records of all the airdrops and bounties i promoted because sometimes i used to forget easily so i write down my recovery seeds in this book as well
3. Flash Drive
I have a good 8gig flash drive as well that i use to copy software and files from one pc to another so i format this flash drive and copy my private keys and recovery seeds in it.
At first no one knew i am into crypto stuffs and secondly i don't share my room with anyone cos i am living alone, those who have people around them with face problems like friends going behind your back checking through your stuffs or even stealing your things, hardware wallet is still the best though.
If you can not afford a hardware wallet then buy cheap pc and install the new window and anti-virus then store all your private keys, passwords, and other precious data there and never try to connect this pc to the internet and one more important point never permit anyone to use this private pc.
Do not connect to the internet, if you do your pc might get compromised, staying offline is safer that is why paper wallets will always be my favourite 
Although OP method of keeping private keys may look good but, those methods are odds because they aren't safe at all. How do you keep your flash drive from viruses? I would not encourage any to get into that. An old laptop or computer can be perfect in this haven the network remove from the system completely.
I also stored my private keys in a flash drive and kept it in a very secure location, several flash drives actually because something might happen to one and I would lose everything, additionally I wrote them down and stored in a safe location too, security is paramount when dealing with Cryptocurrencies and I take the security of my funds very seriously because scammers are everywhere searching for a wallet to hack and steal someone's hard earned funds.
You can also write in a piece of paper and keep in a closet or in a place that you can hide. Treat Bitcoin as your valuable stuff because this is just like money or a bar of gold. When someone will see that you have Bitcoin stored they will be tempted to steal it from you. Just take care of our private key safe that nobody knows, our responsibility to keep our valuable stuff. If that is a big amount you can make a metal vault that no one will open it and all your valuable things are in there.
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The more copies you store the key in, the more chances of getting it stolen. Keep it in one disc and replace it every 2-3 years. If you have a place to store documents physically like a bank vault, keep it there. Or if you are paranoid enough, keep then in the form of a puzzle in one vault, another piece in another vault. Like a small treasure hunt game.
Unless you are a huge-cap trader you should not have to go beyond hardware wallets. But I doubt any whales actually visits this forum anymore.
Storing private keys on your hard drive can be fraught with certain risks. Such as damage or failure of the optical drive of the disk, or some other type of damage.
In other words, you will have to have several such disks so that you have several backups at your disposal. I think you yourself understand that storing private keys in only one place is too dangerous.
In other words, you will have to have several such disks so that you have several backups at your disposal. I think you yourself understand that storing private keys in only one place is too dangerous.
I also stored my private keys in a flash drive and kept it in a very secure location, several flash drives actually because something might happen to one and I would lose everything, additionally I wrote them down and stored in a safe location too, security is paramount when dealing with Cryptocurrencies and I take the security of my funds very seriously because scammers are everywhere searching for a wallet to hack and steal someone's hard earned funds.
You can also write in a piece of paper and keep in a closet or in a place that you can hide. Treat Bitcoin as your valuable stuff because this is just like money or a bar of gold. When someone will see that you have Bitcoin stored they will be tempted to steal it from you. Just take care of our private key safe that nobody knows, our responsibility to keep our valuable stuff. If that is a big amount you can make a metal vault that no one will open it and all your valuable things are in there. 
I also stored my private keys in a flash drive and kept it in a very secure location, several flash drives actually because something might happen to one and I would lose everything, additionally I wrote them down and stored in a safe location too, security is paramount when dealing with Cryptocurrencies and I take the security of my funds very seriously because scammers are everywhere searching for a wallet to hack and steal someone's hard earned funds.
why you can't buy a hardware wallet? its cost is about 50 dollars. the actions you did are much more complicated than just buying a wallet
You are right enough. It looks like the process is complicated.
any cold wallet will cost less than any computer.
The second Computer he means with Pentium III or IV prices will be less than a hardware wallet.If you have hardware wallet it is better to use wallet that have metamask.
He doesn't have money to buy a hardware wallet i can't afford to buy a hardware wallet.
Perhaps I will say something very strange, but for a more secure preservation of my secret keys, you can use the old and proven method using a printer and paper. Or manually rewrite the keys on paper and store them in a safe, away from fire. I believe that at home a fire is much less common than hacking and data theft by hackers.
Fire is pretty common if you check the statistics of disasters occurring in the world. Secondly it is not just fire but also water and animals which chew on paper to end up in their stomach and then in their poop. Quote
If everyone is worried about the security of their computers and their cold wallet, then it is better to follow this example, which I am talking about.
Nah, it not which is why security experts do no recommend it. But nice of you to put it in thought.The better way is to go for a hardware wallet or an airgapped linux distro which has been prepared for this purpose and never made online. Though this is not very difficult to set up, it needs expertise and knowledge on part of the owner of the wallet.
Perhaps I will say something very strange, but for a more secure preservation of my secret keys, you can use the old and proven method using a printer and paper. Or manually rewrite the keys on paper and store them in a safe, away from fire. I believe that at home a fire is much less common than hacking and data theft by hackers. If everyone is worried about the security of their computers and their cold wallet, then it is better to follow this example, which I am talking about.
The cheapest way is to keep your keys on paper. Just write them down and keep them somewhere safe. Extra funds required: $0 (Since you probably have a pen and paper lying around somewhere) Just make sure you don't keep it somewhere it could get damaged or stolen easily. For example your physical wallet would be a poor option. You can keep it in a small safe box if you want. Also consider encrypting your keys so you don't lose it all even if it gets stolen.
Personally the keys I keep on my PC have lower amounts of balance but I use cold storage for my HODLing coins. And I have several copies in case it gets damaged or lost.
Personally the keys I keep on my PC have lower amounts of balance but I use cold storage for my HODLing coins. And I have several copies in case it gets damaged or lost.
If you can not afford a hardware wallet then buy cheap pc and install the new window and anti-virus then store all your private keys, passwords, and other precious data there and never try to connect this pc to the internet and one more important point never permit anyone to use this private pc.
any cold wallet will cost less than any computer. I don’t understand people who say that they don’t have money for a cold wallet. If you do not have $ 100 for a wallet, then you do not need to worry that your funds will be lost. you don’t have so much money 
If you can not afford a hardware wallet then buy cheap pc and install the new window and anti-virus then store all your private keys, passwords, and other precious data there and never try to connect this pc to the internet and one more important point never permit anyone to use this private pc.
I am hoolding bitcoin and Eth. And i don't use that wallet for regular trade . I just printed my private key in a paper and locked in my locker. I Don’t keep my wallet in external hard disk or pendrive ( for holding long time) because if it crash i will lost my private key.now i am not afraid because there is no way to hack or crash my disk or pendrive 
Well that's great idea that you use different wallet for trade and holding. But why do you think that your disk or pendrive will not be hack or crash..? Cause it's possible that somehow your PC/Laptop attack by virus and then your pendrive..!! How can you be so sure that it won't happen to your pendrive..??
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I am not using this for my long term holding.I keep my private key in pendrive for my daily trading not for long time holding. Because sometimes need to use coin thats why I stored my private key in pendrive.But I have different wallet one for holding and one for regular use.Holding one is stored in a paper.The best way i keep my private key is writing it down somewhere on a notebook and keeping it safely in my wardrobe at home. i have also abstain from getting to search or click any form of Ads online. Though Hardware is the best method but i personally have been able to keep my private keys safe by making sure i safe them in my flashdrive and keeping it from friends.
Even if you will write your key you could forget it so use wallet that always reminds you the private key and don't share your private key with anyone it can help them to hack your account and all your coins could get lost I use to keep my private key in my phone and I don’t share about it with unknowns ever. 
My own version of keeping my private keys, simply I would create a back up of them through excel file protected with password encryption. This file should be equipped of all the details I had for crypto assets spect the private keys of my wallet, as well as the google password and emails. For now I still have no proper filing, and hopefully I can work it out as soon as possible including hard copies compilation.
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