Step by step cold storage that complete noobs can do

Meuh6879

legendary

Activity: 1512

Merit: 1012

Quote from: Vitamin on February 27, 2014, 07:04:01 PM

Can't you just keep your wallet in an encrypted container and then disconnect your laptop from WiFi after storing a back up wallet on a flash drive ?

n00bie wins.

if you have more than 2BTC ... you can use a laptop ONLY for bitcoin-QT (without anything like flash, java or other non-installed tool).

mjc

hero member

Activity: 588

Merit: 500

Available on Kindle

I like the Piper: http://piperwallet.com

If you never connect it to a network, then all the paper wallets you print have to be safe. It prints on thermal paper so I just use a my multi purpose printer/scanner to make a copy.

If you only want to secure a few hundred dollars of BTC this may be too much, but if you are going to secure more then its worth every penny.

steeev

full member

Activity: 128

Merit: 103

maybe use various ways of keeping coins - eggs and baskets...

like use a tapewriter to print an Electrum seed on a plastic strip, and drop it into a clear block of resin to make it a paperweight type thing...

you could also upload the seed to the cloud...

keep it in different forms

serje

legendary

Activity: 1232

Merit: 1002

Quote from: RawDog on March 01, 2014, 11:04:36 AM

Quote from: CanIHazCoins on March 01, 2014, 10:28:42 AM

Why do I need a brand new USB drive that has been never used before!?

This is only necessary for the crazy wicked extremely paranoid. You'll probably do fine by just reformatting an old one 17 times before using it.

The OP doesn't consider the fact that the new USB may have been prepared with a bitcoin stealing virus by the guy who sold it at Radio Shack. New USBs are also not safe. The only true way to be safe is to go to the beach and get some sand and make a USB drive and use that one. Be sure not to let anyone near the sand before you form it into a USB drive.

Now I have a good reason to go to the beach!

steeev

full member

Activity: 128

Merit: 103

rawdog - is that you from youtube Huh

RawDog

legendary

Activity: 1596

Merit: 1026

Quote from: CanIHazCoins on March 01, 2014, 10:28:42 AM

Why do I need a brand new USB drive that has been never used before!?

This is only necessary for the crazy wicked extremely paranoid. You'll probably do fine by just reformatting an old one 17 times before using it.

The OP doesn't consider the fact that the new USB may have been prepared with a bitcoin stealing virus by the guy who sold it at Radio Shack. New USBs are also not safe. The only true way to be safe is to go to the beach and get some sand and make a USB drive and use that one. Be sure not to let anyone near the sand before you form it into a USB drive.

proudhon

legendary

Activity: 2198

Merit: 1311

I think offline Armory on a live Ubuntu USB is the easiest, most secure, and most convenient solution right now.

CanIHazCoins

newbie

Activity: 6

Merit: 0

Why do I need a brand new USB drive that has been never used before!?

dreamspark

hero member

Activity: 798

Merit: 1000

Best method is to use an offline computer and bitaddress.org then use a punch and a piece of metal to stamp the generated private and public keys onto the metal. Make two copies, one in a bank safe or similar and one in your own safe. Keys can be encrypted for added security but dont forget the password.

corebob

full member

Activity: 238

Merit: 100

There is a similar approach described here

http://falkvinge.net/2014/02/10/placing-your-crypto-wealth-in-cold-storage-installing-armory-on-ubuntu/

johnyj

legendary

Activity: 1988

Merit: 1012

Beyond Imagination

Not easy at all, in fact there are still no way to secure the coin for noobs. All these require certain kind of IT competence and from time to time they still lose their coin/password

jimhsu

sr. member

Activity: 364

Merit: 264

Quote from: yashin on February 27, 2014, 07:23:56 PM

"How to import(bring back into an online wallet) offline bitcoin for use in commerce:
IMPORTANT: WHEN IMPORTING FROM A PAPER OFFLINE WALLET, YOU MUST IMPORT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE OFFLINE WALLET. IMPORTING A FRACTION OF IT WILL CAUSE THE REMAINING BALANCE TO BE LOST FOREVER."

cant stress this enough.

Into bitcoin-qt.

Fortunately other clients (including blockchain.info) have a more sensible implementation. But to stress - read and understand how your client works.

In any case, you should import the full amount because it's not paper anymore once the private key hits an online system.

dharmapuriharithaa

member

Activity: 70

Merit: 10

That link is very helpful for newbie like me.

yashin

newbie

Activity: 35

Merit: 0

"How to import(bring back into an online wallet) offline bitcoin for use in commerce:
IMPORTANT: WHEN IMPORTING FROM A PAPER OFFLINE WALLET, YOU MUST IMPORT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE OFFLINE WALLET. IMPORTING A FRACTION OF IT WILL CAUSE THE REMAINING BALANCE TO BE LOST FOREVER."

cant stress this enough.

keithers

legendary

Activity: 1456

Merit: 1001

This is the land of wolves now & you're not a wolf

Good post...I think this can be helpful for a lot of people...

Vitamin

newbie

Activity: 42

Merit: 0

Can't you just keep your wallet in an encrypted container and then disconnect your laptop from WiFi after storing a back up wallet on a flash drive ?

n00bie wins.

FreedomFeens

member

Activity: 71

Merit: 10

Its a bit long winded but thats because i approached it from the perspective of someone who knows nothing about bitcoin. If you do not already have your coins in cold storage, please do so. Only leave in online wallets what you need to transact for the day with. It looks complicated, but after you do it once, you can do it no problem. Print off lots of paper wallets at a time so you don't have to do it again for a long time. Be safe out there!

http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1u5yn6/easy_to_use_guide_how_to_get_bitcoin_safely_store/

Topic: Step by step cold storage that complete noobs can do (Read 2982 times)