Topic: My hardware wallet was seized by US customs. (Read 1192 times)
So sorry for the loss but then I believe they won't be able to crack through the code. So what's the point collecting from you.
I have been active in this forum for almost 8 years and this is the first time I am hearing that the authorities have confiscated a cryptocurrency hardware wallet. Tens of millions of individuals use cryptocurrencies, and a lot many of them use hardware wallets as well. Many of them keep these wallets in their backpacks, when they do international travel. Never heard that anyone had issues with the wallet at the airport.
In my experience, customs pick their targets based on the size of the package and the randomness. The number of packages circulating internationally is an ever growing figure, to open and physically inspect every package is impossible. I don't think that there is much difference between hardware wallet and some electronic gadget under X-ray scanner.
Actually you was unlucky to be captured. It is unacceptable one to be a crypto worker.We are getting some crypto by the bounty hunting,which is full of our work.So it make us feel for a while.I hope you get more and more crypto by your next work in the bounty hunting.And split up your earning to make a short loss.
In my experience, customs pick their targets based on the size of the package and the randomness. The number of packages circulating internationally is an ever growing figure, to open and physically inspect every package is impossible. I don't think that there is much difference between hardware wallet and some electronic gadget under X-ray scanner.
You have faced a very uncommon cases. May be the customs thought it was suspicious things inside the box and when they found the ledger or any other wallet they became more curious whether it hold any Bitcoin or not so they seized your wallet.
Few years ago I was going abroad and I have my Hardware wallet with me. Even when I was passing the security check in Heathrow I had it with me and they asked me to keep it in the basket. I did not see any of them to show interest in it. My best guess is that they thought it's just a USB stick or dongle. But I think the time is changing.
The best shot in my opinion will be not to have any coins in your Hardware wallet if you are in situations like me. Empty it. You know the pass phrase and pin. So do something to move the passphrase, may be write the words randomly only will know the order, or write the phase but do not write it full. Be creative when you are handling crypto and moving from one country to another.
The best shot in my opinion will be not to have any coins in your Hardware wallet if you are in situations like me. Empty it. You know the pass phrase and pin. So do something to move the passphrase, may be write the words randomly only will know the order, or write the phase but do not write it full. Be creative when you are handling crypto and moving from one country to another.
As some of you know, I won a hardware wallet in a recent competition here in Bitcoin Talk. That was 4 months ago. The wallet was dispatched promptly following the announcement of the results, but I have only just received it. The wallet was contained in a (probably) sealed box supplied by the manufacturer, and double bagged for dispatch. I received the package in a Royal Mail bag which declared that the packaging had been damaged before entering the UK.Both of the bags had been ripped open and not resealed, and the security tab on the box was missing.
My suspicion is that the package was picked up in a scan, and sent for analysis to check for possible money laundering. Sending a loaded wallet is obviously a way to transfer funds with them being recorded on the blockchain. I haven't used any hardware wallets, so I'm wondering how easy it is for government agencies to check for stored Bitcoin in the wallet.
My suspicion is that the package was picked up in a scan, and sent for analysis to check for possible money laundering. Sending a loaded wallet is obviously a way to transfer funds with them being recorded on the blockchain. I haven't used any hardware wallets, so I'm wondering how easy it is for government agencies to check for stored Bitcoin in the wallet.
Honestly i wouldn't suggest you use it. Obviously awful and unacceptable but unfortunately this seems to be happening a lot especially whenever Bitcoin or crypto is in the news. I guess its largely based on luck based on who is at the customs checkpoint at the time. But yea its not worth the risk of putting your money into it in case someone has tapered with it or such and such. If you do however decide to use it ensure that at the very least you reboot it and create an new seed word, dont use any seed word or keys that some may have pre-installed.
Money laundering by hardware wallets just not stands.
First there are electronic ways of sending a wallet, so why bother with international mailing procedures?
Secondly, with wallet transfers, the original owner still has control over the key. Receiver still has to make a transaction to make sure he is the only one in control.
First there are electronic ways of sending a wallet, so why bother with international mailing procedures?
Secondly, with wallet transfers, the original owner still has control over the key. Receiver still has to make a transaction to make sure he is the only one in control.
Regarding your second point, merely being able to make a transaction would not ensure the receiver that he has exclusive control over the wallet, so the best practice would be to create a new wallet (that has new keys, of course) and to transfer the value from the compromised wallet to the new wallet. Of course, you would not have to create a new wallet if you already have another wallet that you know that you are the exclusive owner of the private keys, but you still need to remove all value from that potentially compromised wallet because the sender may well still have an ability to access the private keys, too (best to assume so).
Sorry for a late response, but here goes.
I ordered a Trezor One in 2016 and had it shipped internationally from Czech Republic to Sweden. When it reached the Swedish border, the package was seized and controlled. The custom opened my package and examined it. Later it was re-sealed with Swedish Custom tape, along with a letter saying this package has been examined by the Swedish Custom.
I know SatoshiLabs tells you to make sure no-one has tampered with your wallet, and don't use it if it has. But I felt quite confident after installed a new bios along with generating a new wallet.
I've been using this wallet ever since, with only me in control.
I ordered a Trezor One in 2016 and had it shipped internationally from Czech Republic to Sweden. When it reached the Swedish border, the package was seized and controlled. The custom opened my package and examined it. Later it was re-sealed with Swedish Custom tape, along with a letter saying this package has been examined by the Swedish Custom.
I know SatoshiLabs tells you to make sure no-one has tampered with your wallet, and don't use it if it has. But I felt quite confident after installed a new bios along with generating a new wallet.
I've been using this wallet ever since, with only me in control.
We can not do anything if our hardware wallet is taken by US customs, they do have strict rules and have authority for that.
Although this is not fair to you as a hardware wallet owner, you must accept the risk. Actually not all hardware wallet is
taken by US customs, the possibility of your hardware wallet is suspected for some reason.
Although this is not fair to you as a hardware wallet owner, you must accept the risk. Actually not all hardware wallet is
taken by US customs, the possibility of your hardware wallet is suspected for some reason.
Well there are protocols that the personnel had to obey. Since the hardware wallet may be seem suspicious to them the try to unpack the package. This is one of my specualtion after it has been seen in the scanner. The problem is that they were not able to inform the owner after it has been seized. The government should be transparent in case like this. There is nothing to hide their doings.
another case would be that crew were bable yo learn totolearn bitcoin and are sile
nt
another case would be that crew were bable yo learn totolearn bitcoin and are sile
nt
That was such an unfair decision by the US customs. As the US customs, they should probably know most of the the stuffs that is possible to be shipped and be on transactions.
We never know that some of the people might be knowledgeable about the these kind of wallets and took it into custody knowing that they would have some profit from it.
We never know that some of the people might be knowledgeable about the these kind of wallets and took it into custody knowing that they would have some profit from it.
Sorry I haven't progressed this project. I've had a few good things happen ( minor, but useful ), and I had to reduce my computer activity. I've had a few computer crashes that caused me some problems. No mine, but sites that I needed to use. The DVLA foe example when I paid for the road tax on my van, and a pet food emporium that double charged me when their till crashed. I get the feeling that programmers are no longer testing their work these days, and just hope for the best, and fix any errors that appear.
I'll probably test the hydrated Lenovo on main electricity this week, and replace the OS, which is probably Windows 10. I'll still thinking of using Ka;i with the wallet. Mainly to allow me to use the computer for pen testing. if it is successful, then I'll look at installing a Raspberry Pi in the van to replace it. That should be easier on the power requirements. The Lenovo has an SSD in it, but it isn't large enough to run a node.
I'll probably test the hydrated Lenovo on main electricity this week, and replace the OS, which is probably Windows 10. I'll still thinking of using Ka;i with the wallet. Mainly to allow me to use the computer for pen testing. if it is successful, then I'll look at installing a Raspberry Pi in the van to replace it. That should be easier on the power requirements. The Lenovo has an SSD in it, but it isn't large enough to run a node.
They have been made to believe that anything that has to do with Bitcoin is a scam, so when they see hardware or anyone talking about cryptocurrency, what they hear is scam 
. I am not surprised that they are going to try to break in your hardware wallet to see what’s inside of it. I just hope they didn’t end up ruining some very important things on it.
I can remember a guy that was stopped and his phone was checked, and when they saw a cryptocurrency mobile wallet app on it, they arrested him and took him to the station to question him on why he’s making use of a cryptocurrency wallet. Ridiculous.
. I am not surprised that they are going to try to break in your hardware wallet to see what’s inside of it. I just hope they didn’t end up ruining some very important things on it.I can remember a guy that was stopped and his phone was checked, and when they saw a cryptocurrency mobile wallet app on it, they arrested him and took him to the station to question him on why he’s making use of a cryptocurrency wallet. Ridiculous.
The wallet is a keep key... I'll start a review thread, and tell people what I think about the concept, and its ease of use for digital nomads.At the moment I've got mildly positive opinions, and I hope that will be justified.
I don't want to ruin your fun with a new device, but KeepKey it is not something that has made many people happy. I've never used it personally, so I can't speak from personal experience, but from everything I've read so far I haven't found too many satisfied users. Maybe your personal experience will be different because you haven't used any other hardware wallet so far so you can't make a comparison.
Yes, the Keepkey is a worthless black bricklet
But If I knew keepkey was literally a piece of shite, I wouldnt even want it from all the hassle with it passing thru so many hands before it reached to your own.
What do you think of the air gapped wallets?
There are a few:
https://www.ellipal.com/blogs/news/what-is-air-gapped-security
https://7labs.io/tips-tricks/coldcard-btc-hardware-wallet.html
Discussion about them on an old reddit post from two years ago(there's got to be a more recent reddit about them):
https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/7cd32v/100_secure_airgapped_coldwallet
Medium's say on the subject:
https://medium.com/airgap-it/what-is-airgap-74456b4844fb
Some state they still aren't as safe as one might think
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324744819_BeatCoin_Leaking_Private_Keys_from_Air-Gapped_Cryptocurrency_Wallets
As some of you know, I won a hardware wallet in a recent competition here in Bitcoin Talk. That was 4 months ago. The wallet was dispatched promptly following the announcement of the results, but I have only just received it. The wallet was contained in a (probably) sealed box supplied by the manufacturer, and double bagged for dispatch. I received the package in a Royal Mail bag which declared that the packaging had been damaged before entering the UK.Both of the bags had been ripped open and not resealed, and the security tab on the box was missing.
My suspicion is that the package was picked up in a scan, and sent for analysis to check for possible money laundering. Sending a loaded wallet is obviously a way to transfer funds with them being recorded on the blockchain. I haven't used any hardware wallets, so I'm wondering how easy it is for government agencies to check for stored Bitcoin in the wallet.
My suspicion is that the package was picked up in a scan, and sent for analysis to check for possible money laundering. Sending a loaded wallet is obviously a way to transfer funds with them being recorded on the blockchain. I haven't used any hardware wallets, so I'm wondering how easy it is for government agencies to check for stored Bitcoin in the wallet.
I wonder why such interceptions would be done without appriopriate approval. If you had millions of dollars in it, it would be said that it is money laundering which can be done in a more smarter way. i do no think this is ideal. there is no sense of privacy anymore in advanced societies because of the damages caused by a few in the society. it ain't right.
rainwater shoudnt have hurt it at all and after a month of drying i would just fire it up and see. again, just may need a new cr2032 cmos battery (likely dead now) and it might come up to the bios screen on boot complaining and such or not recognize the drive to boot due to bios setting going wonky. reset to default and away you go. fans now are largely sealed bearings so probably unaffected.
ive resurrected computers and other electronics that were completely submerged for days.
edit: get a wired keyboard for testing if possible. i ran into a system that the bios didnt recognize a wireless keyboard that used usb receiver dongle (microsoft keyboard no less).
ive resurrected computers and other electronics that were completely submerged for days.
edit: get a wired keyboard for testing if possible. i ran into a system that the bios didnt recognize a wireless keyboard that used usb receiver dongle (microsoft keyboard no less).
It is a small desktop computer with an SSD, and it hasn't been powered up since it was left out in the rain. I think the guy was going to dump it anyway, as he has bought a new machine. I haven't found a USB keyboard so far, and I'm not sure if it has bluetooth. I've got a bluetooth keyboard to use with my mobile.
I guess the answer is to power it up, and see if I can do some basic exploring with just a mouse.
I guess the answer is to power it up, and see if I can do some basic exploring with just a mouse.
I have a Lenovo M58 computer that was left out in the rain, and I will experiment with reviving this, and if possible I will install Kali and the shape shift software. The computer has been drying out over the last month, and if I can find a USB keyboard, I'll experiment with it during the next few days.
as long as it was powered off at the timeit will likely be OK. just let it dry for an extended amount ot time as you have done. mechanical drives and battery would not be trustable but other that that should be fine. i regularly wash cases, motherboards and keyboards by hand or in dishwashers when i refurbish junker PCs for donations or just to keep as backup machines.
toss a cheapie SDD in, maybe oil the fans if you can get to them. waterlogged optical drives are hit and miss but they are dirt chap anyway.
but again i dont like trusting (laptop) battery packs that have gone through stuff like that. damn thing can burn underwater ffs
EDIT: this is a desktop? then replace the mechanical drive, check or toss new fans in, replace the cr232 battery. good to go.
unless that liquid was corrosive or something. but flood damage (fresh or grey water) is usually OKish. however some floodwater carries some really nasty pathogens (sewage! eeew) and chemicals, bleh
of course salt water is death to electronics usually.
I'd like to reemphasise that this is a brand new item that had not been initialised, and therefor had no coins or seeds associated with it.
I have a Lenovo M58 computer that was left out in the rain, and I will experiment with reviving this, and if possible I will install Kali and the shape shift software. The computer has been drying out over the last month, and if I can find a USB keyboard, I'll experiment with it during the next few days.
I hope that my experience will not discourage members to continue to run contests, and to allow the international awarding of prizes. At the end of the day, I've got a great product to test, and the inconveniences have been fairly minor.
I have a Lenovo M58 computer that was left out in the rain, and I will experiment with reviving this, and if possible I will install Kali and the shape shift software. The computer has been drying out over the last month, and if I can find a USB keyboard, I'll experiment with it during the next few days.
I hope that my experience will not discourage members to continue to run contests, and to allow the international awarding of prizes. At the end of the day, I've got a great product to test, and the inconveniences have been fairly minor.
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