Bitcoin Forum

What's a good way to keep bit coins in the PC I use every day safe? I heard getting a wallet that encrypts wallet.DAT can be good. But is it secure enough? Thanks

A hot wallet runs on your computer. So whatever safety measures you get, you need your computer safe first.
A wallet that keeps its data encrypted is good, a wallet that asks for extra password when you want to spend coins is even better.

But the core wallet already does this. Actually even Multibit does this...

Also big block chain size could be an issue.. I don, thing making my hot wallet would be handy, right? So maybe I'll pass the core one.

there is no such thing like "secure enough" exists in computer science.

but from an end user standpoint, in most cases you're safe with a good extra password for your wallet.

move the client on another machine where you don't surf internet or download anything, if you can't, you can try with a virtual machine, and keep a small amount on the host to know if your pc is secure, if they steal that you know it's not secure

this is the best you can do for a hot wallet

Keep the majority of your coins in a cold wallet. 

If using hot like mentioned dont use it as a surfing computer, or download lot's of unknown files to it.   If you do use the computer normally keep only small amount in the wallet.   Also be careful of what wifi you connect to.

I would only use a cat 5/6 connection.

I would have 2 hot wallets.


I would bookmark a post from a forum does not have to this forum.

I would use a phrase from the post for the password Say the one above in bold. with an added date 03-24-2015  and 4 characters

$$@@

when you call you online wallet up.  drag

don't use it as a surfing computer,   +   03-24-2015  +  $$@@

into the password area  of the online wallet


this is very effective on a mac .  then use  a 2nd safety offered by blockchain.info/wallet


 Two-factor Authentication Details.
If you have lost your two factor authentication details your wallet is still fully recoverable. All we need is reasonable proof you are the account owner which can be provided by completing the form linked below


http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/673/YXN2BU.png

Yea for a secure hot wallet I believe using a 3rd party with 2 factor auth is your best bet. That way even if your CPU gets infected it should hopefully get stuck when it is asked for the 2FA code.

It's possible in a horror story they could get SMS forwarded to a number and beat 2FA.  It's slim chance of this happening though I do agree.

What's a good way to keep bit coins in the PC I use every day safe?

I heard getting a wallet that encrypts wallet.DAT can be good. But is it secure enough?

Thanks a lot !

Encrypting your wallet is a good idea but it only helps if your computer is free from malware (keyloggers, to be specific).

You should explore the idea of 'warm wallets'.
For example Electrum (or Armory? I'm not so sure) allows you to keep the wallet on offline computer and then allows you to spend them from an online computer (by signing the transaction from offline PC). So you get the best of both worlds.

what they should really do is, adding 2fa to the client directly, like a program that ask you for a password and user and then you can add 2fa as a security, would be pretty neat

it would make hot wallet possible

I highly suggest not keeping the wallet.dat on a every day use PC.   Yes encryption is better, and depending on password could make it hard/impossible to open.

Best and safest way is still cold wallets for your main BTC.

Someone posted a youtube video a month (or few months) back where they did just this. I believe they did a mod to multibit? They initiated the transaction and a window popped up, then they had to verify something on their phone before the transaction was actually sent. Does anyone else remember seeing this video?  It's killing me that I can't remember or find it now.

Does Electrum do that too?

Blockchain wallet is better than Coinbase wallet ? Please help me for that question !

Blockchain is always sync ? Can we transfer BTC to a exchange any time ?

Sincere thanks!

I really don't know how to secure hot wallet and I am learning how to do it for safety

Hot wallets are harder to secure since they  have access to the world through web surfing etc(Things you would never do on a cold storage device).

You could look at online ones such as blockchain set up with 2 factor authentication.  Just make sure to treat it like a hot wallet don't use it as your main btc storage.

IMHO yes. For coinbase, you don't have your private keys, and so if it goes down, you will lose control on your bitcoin.
For blockchain.info, you can make a backup of your wallet and can import it in another wallet client/service at any moment.


Blockchain.info do have some occasional downtime.

i interest

1. what betther secure cold wallet or hot wallet?

 ???

or trazer?

Depends on how much you are storing.  Each has it's place.

Hot wallet is good for holding a little cash for spending if you need it.  Don't put a lot in it.

Cold wallet is good for holing your BTC offline and is safer.  You don't surf internet, etc with this on a computer.   Keep it on a paperwallet or usb. (Have a extra copy aswell).  Be careful where you store the copies.

I disagree with you, but only somewhat.   
If you are in the USA:

1)  coinbase must be one of your wallets.-----------  2 coins.
2) blockchain.info  is a good wallet. -------------------------------------------5 coins.--  2  wallets each with 5 coins

3) 2 different exchanges.--------------------------------------------------------3 coins.---  each exchange with 1.5 coins

Above are not the exact amount of coins but more like the ratio of coins in each place.

Below is for the lucky that thought to buy and hold when coins were under 10 dollars.


4) a  few cold wallets only if you are heavy duty holder of coins.---------------------some crazy number 2000 or 3000 coins .