Warning about portable versions | Bitcointalksearch.org

HCP

legendary

Activity: 2086

Merit: 4361

Quote from: Imranbutt44 on September 04, 2021, 12:17:06 AM

Quote from: ThomasV on March 18, 2013, 04:43:45 AM

It is not safe to use a portable version of Electrum on an insecure computer!

As i understand this statement, its safe to use Portable Electrum on personal computer.
Am i right ?

The portable version is no more "insecure" than the normal windows installer or standalone version.

So, assuming you have taken the proper precautions... ie. confirmed digital signature of Electrum portable download and have taken steps to ensure your "personal" computer is malware and virus free... then it should be perfectly fine.

The dangers associated with the portable version are that it can lead to "dangerous" or "risky" behaviour... ie. putting it all on a USB stick and then using that USB stick on computers that you have no control over. For instance, public computers, internet cafes, other people's machines etc. where you have no idea what is/isn't installed or running on them.

Imranbutt44

member

Activity: 106

Merit: 28

Quote from: ThomasV on March 18, 2013, 04:43:45 AM

It is not safe to use a portable version of Electrum on an insecure computer!

As i understand this statement, its safe to use Portable Electrum on personal computer.
Am i right ?

NeuroticFish

legendary

Activity: 3668

Merit: 6382

Looking for campaign manager? Contact icopress!

Quote from: NotATether on June 04, 2021, 01:08:05 AM

Alternatively, a cheaper old-school solution is to use Electrum on an old computer that has a CD drive, as cold storage for signing transactions, but instead of putting the portable electrum on the disk or USB, you burn it on a CD-R disc and finalize it. That way it becomes impossible to write malware to it since the disc is write-protected.

Or, if that's not available, use a live Linux OS on the USB as cold storage.
Although it's less convenient, since you may need multiple reboots to switch between the main OS and the USB, it does the job gracefully.
Just that a second USB (for transfers) is cheaper than a second computer Wink

NotATether

legendary

Activity: 1568

Merit: 6660

bitcoincleanup.com / bitmixlist.org

Quote from: ?? on ??

Regarding the security of a portable version on a device like a USB flash drive... the main issue I see is the USB getting infected with a virus. However, I have found a solution we use for work which does not allow the USB to be writable (thus a virus cannot jump onto the drive) unless a bit of code is entered. This puts the control into the user's hands to determine if the environment is safe before letting the USB stick be read/write. This is also way easier than trying to write an Operating System to the USB stick... which some say makes the USB more secure (debatable). Got the Lock License drive from Nexcopy. https://www.nexcopy.com/usb-secure-flash-drives/lock-license/ You can't forget to make the USB read-only because that is the default state of the drive. Yank it out of the port and the stick is read-only, no matter what. Cutting power puts it as read-only or write protected Cool

Alternatively, a cheaper old-school solution is to use Electrum on an old computer that has a CD drive, as cold storage for signing transactions, but instead of putting the portable electrum on the disk or USB, you burn it on a CD-R disc and finalize it. That way it becomes impossible to write malware to it since the disc is write-protected.

bob123

legendary

Activity: 1624

Merit: 2481

Quote from: DrakonX on November 11, 2018, 03:39:03 PM

Quote from: ThomasV on March 18, 2013, 04:43:45 AM

It is not safe to use a portable version of Electrum on an insecure computer!

What does it mean "insecure"? In which manner?

I didn't read the whole thread. If I should do this, please let me know.

It is 'insecure' in terms of that it encourages bad habits (using as portable wallet on multiple computers).
The security itself (if used on a secure computer) is the same as with any other wallet (either installed electrum or other wallets).

The security completely depends on the computer it is running on.

I have also replied in your thread regarding armory/electrum.

DrakonX

jr. member

Activity: 99

Merit: 4

Quote from: ThomasV on March 18, 2013, 04:43:45 AM

It is not safe to use a portable version of Electrum on an insecure computer!

What does it mean "insecure"? In which manner?

I didn't read the whole thread. If I should do this, please let me know.

HCP

legendary

Activity: 2086

Merit: 4361

Quote from: rikhartzan on February 26, 2018, 10:54:02 AM

what can i do??

Pretty much nothing.

If the BTC has been moved, then there is no way to get them back unless the person who controls the address they were sent to sends them back.. which, obviously, is not likely to happen Undecided

Did you check the digital signature of the file you downloaded? Do you still have the file you downloaded? If so, we can help you check to see if it is legit..

Have you checked your browser download history and confirmed that you did indeed download from electrum.org and not one of the scam sites?

rikhartzan

newbie

Activity: 4

Merit: 0

I've been robbed !!!!,
i was install the latest version 3.0.6 of electrum wallet after downloading the portable version from its official website because windows detect a trojan, 2 days later my funds have disappeared !!!

what can i do??

JMELATI

newbie

Activity: 6

Merit: 0

Yes, I did it.
All works fine. Thanks!

HCP

legendary

Activity: 2086

Merit: 4361

Did you check the digital signature of the file you downloaded using GPG? That is the only guaranteed way to ensure that you have an original install file and not a fake or infected file.

JMELATI

newbie

Activity: 6

Merit: 0

Ok. Thanks.
Windows Defender (WIN10).

HCP

legendary

Activity: 2086

Merit: 4361

No, it's most likely a false positive... as long as you use the official site (www.electrum.org) to download an you haven't downloaded from any of the fake sites.

Which antivirus are you using?

JMELATI

newbie

Activity: 6

Merit: 0

Portable Version for Windows has a virus?
Win32/Spursint detected on Win10.

altcocollector

member

Activity: 154

Merit: 10

Quote from: ?? on ??

Hi,i'm Milo

If i protecting my pc either laptop with security code or short a thing.
Wil my electrum data safe ?

Thanks anyway.

I am not sure if anyone understood your question. Could you be a little more clearer. Are you saying that if you protect your PC with an Antivirus, you will be safe? Yes, till the time your computer is safe, you are safe. But the problem with Antiviruses are that they are not so good with keyloggers and malware. So use at your own risk. Thanks!

Casperko

newbie

Activity: 6

Merit: 0

Yes, 10x, all right, wallet is work now

HCP

legendary

Activity: 2086

Merit: 4361

Quote from: Casperko on December 15, 2017, 12:59:33 PM

I understand, I'll try and accomplish my goal!) Thanks for the advice

And the question is, how can I find and download the version 2,9,3 portable on the Electrum website? Thanks for the link ... but it's hard to trust these links in our time

The link I gave (https://download.electrum.org/2.9.3/) IS the electrum website... notice the "electrum.org" Roll Eyes

Anyway... goto the download page: https://electrum.org/#download and click the "previous releases" link... it'll take you to https://download.electrum.org/ then you just want to look for 2.9.3 folder (https://download.electrum.org/2.9.3/)... and in that will be all the install files for the various OSes... just get the portable.exe (and the portable.exe.asc if you want to check digital signature)

Casperko

newbie

Activity: 6

Merit: 0

I understand, I'll try and accomplish my goal!) Thanks for the advice

And the question is, how can I find and download the version 2,9,3 portable on the Electrum website? Thanks for the link ... but it's hard to trust these links in our time

HCP

legendary

Activity: 2086

Merit: 4361

Most likely, the old version is likely to be your issue. There have been multiple instances recently of people running older versions having troubles syncing.

You don't have to remove 2.5.2... you can just get the 2.9.3 portable and put it in the same location and then run it.

Casperko

newbie

Activity: 6

Merit: 0

Quote from: HCP on December 13, 2017, 05:47:01 PM

Quote from: Casperko on December 13, 2017, 04:28:37 PM

I will repeat the request in this thread:
The problem with Electrum, version 2.5.2 portable.

2.5.2??!?

That version is far too old... you need to use something like 2.9.3 portable which you can get here: https://download.electrum.org/2.9.3/

Don't try and use v3.x... it doesn't play nicely with Windows 7/8... Undecided

That is, do you think the problem is this? I should remove the entire electrum 2,5,2 and then just put a new one? And yet, 2,9,3 to put with 2fa or without, will not there be a conflict with the previous version? I have never updated myself and are not sure about the actions.

HCP

legendary

Activity: 2086

Merit: 4361

Quote from: Casperko on December 13, 2017, 04:28:37 PM

I will repeat the request in this thread:
The problem with Electrum, version 2.5.2 portable.

2.5.2??!?

That version is far too old... you need to use something like 2.9.3 portable which you can get here: https://download.electrum.org/2.9.3/

Don't try and use v3.x... it doesn't play nicely with Windows 7/8... Undecided

Topic: Warning about portable versions (Read 126560 times)