Topic: Is A Second-Hand Hardware Wallet Safe? - page 2. (Read 360 times)
Hardware wallet usually have factory reset or wipe feature. But in terms of safety, you never can be sure about that. Aside from verifying it's hardware, who knows if it's installed with malicious firmware. Most importunately, there's no good reason to buy used hardware wallet unless you're performing some kind of research or analysis.
Is it possible? Yes. Is it recommended to do so? Probably not, not if you're buying it anyway but I guess if you're getting it from someone close whom you fully trust, then I don't really see anything wrong with that.
I also agree that I would make an exception in the case of used HW only if it was a device that was owned by someone I absolutely trust, and that would be someone from my closest family. All other devices that come outside of that circle are not necessarily bad, but they are potentially risky because we don't know who had them in their hands except the owner.
In the end, it all boils down to what we will do with such a device - use it for a few hundred $ worth of alts, or store tens of thousands of $ worth of coins on it.
Is it possible to format and safely use a second-hand hardware wallet just like a flash drive wallet?
Depends on both the wallet and your skills to recognize counterfeits (if any).
However, commonly, to be on safe side it is always better to acquire wallet from the maker ( or, at least, from official dealer) than from the second-hands.
Is it possible to format and safely use a second-hand hardware wallet just like a flash drive wallet?
Short version: No
Longer version: Hell No
Beyond anything else you have no idea if you are getting a real wallet or a counterfeit one. You should only by wallets from their approved sources, otherwise you have no idea what you are getting.
It's not like you are taking $1000s of dollars or even multiple hundreds. Most are well below the $200 price point, not worth risking your funds to save a little.
-Dave
What is the name of the hardware wallet? Some hardware wallet are old in a way that they are not worth buying.
It will be advisable to order your own hardware wallet from the company that is manufacturing it or from an official reseller if available in your country.
If it is a common hardware wallet, maybe you can see some YouTube reviews to know the fake from the original but you will have to open the hardware wallet to see some components that are inside.
It will be advisable to order your own hardware wallet from the company that is manufacturing it or from an official reseller if available in your country.
If it is a common hardware wallet, maybe you can see some YouTube reviews to know the fake from the original but you will have to open the hardware wallet to see some components that are inside.
Is it possible to format and safely use a second-hand hardware wallet just like a flash drive wallet?
Is it possible? Yes. Is it recommended to do so? Probably not, not if you're buying it anyway but I guess if you're getting it from someone close whom you fully trust, then I don't really see anything wrong with that.
Is it possible to format and safely use a second-hand hardware wallet just like a flash drive wallet?
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