Bitcoin Forum

Other => MultiBit => Topic started by: BroodAap on November 12, 2013, 08:53:33 PM



Title: Did I do enough to secure my BTC?
Post by: BroodAap on November 12, 2013, 08:53:33 PM
Hey guys,

I recently moved my BTC from a cloudstorage to MultiBit for security reasons.
When my BTC were succesfully transfered to MultiBit, I exported my privatekeys to a file with password. That file is now on a couple of USB-sticks. I also imported my private key on another computer as a test. IF I would delete MultiBit & all the files it's containing would that be enough to secure my BTC? The privatekey would only be on some USB-sticks.

Can someone confirm my thoughts? I'm kinda new to the software wallets because I always used cloud storage instead but now my amount of BTC is rapidly increasing I moved them to MultiBit.

Thanks for your response!


Title: Re: Did I do enough to secure my BTC?
Post by: jim618 on November 12, 2013, 09:08:31 PM
With your exported private key file you can create a new wallet and import them to get your bitcoin back yes.


In another thread I detailed how I backup my wallets so you might want to do that in addition.
It's here:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=323410.msg3465684#msg3465684


There is nothing wrong with what you are doing - it's simply a different way of securely your wallet/ private keys. You could do both as a "belt and braces" approach.


Title: Re: Did I do enough to secure my BTC?
Post by: BroodAap on November 12, 2013, 09:15:53 PM
With your exported private key file you can create a new wallet and import them to get your bitcoin back yes.


In another thread I detailed how I backup my wallets so you might want to do that in addition.
It's here:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=323410.msg3465684#msg3465684


There is nothing wrong with what you are doing - it's simply a different way of securely your wallet/ private keys. You could do both as a "belt and braces" approach.

Thanks Jim! Just had to make sure considering it's a lot of money!


Title: Re: Did I do enough to secure my BTC?
Post by: BroodAap on November 12, 2013, 09:31:51 PM
I found a new problem.. I deleted MultiBit using the uninstaller and checked the little box that says "force delete the folder in program files". After that I reinstalled MultiBit hoping to find an empty wallet. But my wallet and the BTC it contains is still there!? Is there a Back-Up file hidden somewhere on my computer? And if so, how do I delete it?


Title: Re: Did I do enough to secure my BTC?
Post by: jim618 on November 12, 2013, 09:44:29 PM
PLEASE DO NOT DELETE WALLETS


Sorry for shouting but someone just lost their bitcoin using MultiBit because they deleted all their backups unnecessarily. (And then their family member reformatted the USB stick their only copy was on).

If you look in the help in 'File descriptions' it explains where all the files are stored. But please don't delete your wallet and backup wallets unless you are absolutely sure what you are doing.


Title: Re: Did I do enough to secure my BTC?
Post by: BroodAap on November 12, 2013, 09:54:46 PM
Haha ok ok, I got it.
But my PrivateKey is on three seperate USB-Sticks, that would be enough to safely remove my wallet, right? Or do I have to put something else on my USB-Sticks aswell?


Title: Re: Did I do enough to secure my BTC?
Post by: jim618 on November 12, 2013, 10:05:42 PM
If your wallet is encrypted with a sufficiently strong password there is no good reason to delete it or any of the backups.

I find it incredibly frustrating when I get a support call and the answer to my question:
'You can use one of the automatic backups to recover your wallet'

is

"oh I deleted them all'.


Title: Re: Did I do enough to secure my BTC?
Post by: accord01 on November 14, 2013, 03:00:56 PM
When you guys are referring to transferring or backing up private keys, is that like just copying the actual code or a file?