Topic: What kind of cold storage do you use? - page 3. (Read 2962 times)
Paper wallets. The private keys are encrypted with a simple passphrase too
My current solution is electrum offline wallet installed on an Aegis secure key (Ubuntu as OS), so it is both physically and password protected and can do offline transactions when using the usb key to boot any computer with the network unplugged
And I'm researching the most fundamentally secure way: Generate a private key using dice. This can ensure the security for most critical step - key generation. If you generate a key using a program, it is very difficult to examine the process to make sure it is back-door free (For example that program only generate 1 million different addresses, or generate same address due to a weakness in some of the library it calls.)
The problem with a dice-generated hex private key is that you need to convert it to WIF format to be imported into wallet, and that involves some kind of calculation which is not straightforward and can not be done by a simple bash script without calling other external functions like SHA256 hashing
http://www.swansontec.com/bitcoin-dice.html
And I'm researching the most fundamentally secure way: Generate a private key using dice. This can ensure the security for most critical step - key generation. If you generate a key using a program, it is very difficult to examine the process to make sure it is back-door free (For example that program only generate 1 million different addresses, or generate same address due to a weakness in some of the library it calls.)
The problem with a dice-generated hex private key is that you need to convert it to WIF format to be imported into wallet, and that involves some kind of calculation which is not straightforward and can not be done by a simple bash script without calling other external functions like SHA256 hashing
http://www.swansontec.com/bitcoin-dice.html
Right now I am using USB offline storage. I am seriously considering shifting to paper wallet. But the problem is that I don't have a printer. So I will have to depend upon third party, which increases the risk. 
I would advise against that unless those paper wallets are BIP38 encrypted that you do not give them to someone else to print out. Unless it's your family/most trusted friend that your willing to trust your money with I would just be content with a USB stored version. If you have a pen and paper you could also just write it down the old fashioned way - sure it doesn't look so fancy but it really comes to the same thing.
Right now I am using USB offline storage. I am seriously considering shifting to paper wallet. But the problem is that I don't have a printer. So I will have to depend upon third party, which increases the risk.
Multiple SD cards. One in each of three states I frequent.
The problem with this though, which I'm trying to solve is that you can't tell if someone has accessed your SD cards without your knowledge. Sure they could be well hidden, but then if you need to get your BTC in the event of some accident, where you're in a coma it's going to be hard to communicate to someone else where they are.
Maybe this isn't your situation, but I was storing mine on USB sticks till I got paranoid over the idea that I can't really tell if a bank employe has been in my vault or if someone has popped the USB stick into their computer to make a copy and then slowly pulled a long con on me to gradually figure out what the decryption code might be.
I don't like it because it is held by someone else.
You are right not to like it. If you are not the sole holder of your private key, you don't own any bitcoin.
i use cold storage/electrum, though i could just delete it since i remember my code.. should probably delete some one of my two copies.
Multiple SD cards. One in each of three states I frequent.
Separate air gapped computer running Electrum so that I can sign txs offline and simply watch my address on my online computer. Have a couple of BIP38 encrypted versions of those addresses stored on paper wallets in various locations should anything happen to my computer.
Paper wallet secured in a safe place + offline wallets stored in usb flashcards and external hard disks
offline wallet (armory)
1) 1x usb key
2) 1x usb key
3) email backup
4) usb hard drive
5) phone backup
a life of economy ...
2) 1x usb key
3) email backup
4) usb hard drive
5) phone backup
a life of economy ... 
Your poll is broken. There is no such thing as "Online Wallet (Electrum, Armory...)" cold storage because storage is "cold" when it is offline, by definition.
I guess you could consider using hosted cold storage as cold storage, but I don't like it because it is held by someone else.
I guess you could consider using hosted cold storage as cold storage, but I don't like it because it is held by someone else.
I use good ol' blockchain.info
Hmm... I'm not sure that qualifies..
I use Armory offline. Just wish I had the BTC to make the hassle worthwhile.
legendary
Activity: 1302
Merit: 1008
Core dev leaves me neg feedback #abuse #political
Does a online wallet count as cold storage??
No!
Cold storage means on a system that is not online. (Offline computer, brain wallet, or paper wallet).
Blockchain.info definitely doesn't count.
I use good ol' blockchain.info
Does a online wallet count as cold storage??
legendary
Activity: 1302
Merit: 1008
Core dev leaves me neg feedback #abuse #political
Electrum. Simple and secure. Works for me.
Armory can be used completely offline.
Paper wallets can be password protected. As mentioned BIP38.
They also can be cut in parts and stored in different locations. Or generate a split wallet (bitaddress,org) to begin with. Also, paper wallets don't need to be printed, they can be stored as PDFs. You also can store your keys on several USB media and store in several locations. Plenty of options. The "best" solution depends on your situation and circumstances.
Think outside the box, but also think about how your family would get access to your coins in case you get hit by a bus.
They also can be cut in parts and stored in different locations. Or generate a split wallet (bitaddress,org) to begin with. Also, paper wallets don't need to be printed, they can be stored as PDFs. You also can store your keys on several USB media and store in several locations. Plenty of options. The "best" solution depends on your situation and circumstances.
Think outside the box, but also think about how your family would get access to your coins in case you get hit by a bus.
With that in mind, I've been designing this:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.6173252
NFC enabled, secure, easy to recover your data from, and multi-sig (multiple devices) meaning you can plan for loss, destruction, theft, etc... We are on the 6th and hopefully final prototype. It's designed to work with Hardware wallets, Armory, etc...
http://i.imgur.com/0Hz6QIn.jpg
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