Bitcoin Forum

Hey I have a couple of newbie questions

• Can I connect to and access my Ledger Nano S safely using my iPad (old school, 16gig) with a cable? Oh and my internet connection will be a public source, think public library or Starbucks.
  
  Or can I connect to my Ledger Nano S safely using my iPhone (version 5) with a cable?  Again my internet connection will be a library or Starbucks (because I do not have my own WiFi connection)

Will either of these two options be "safe" or what? :P

Also is it "safe" to access Binance on an old school iPad, using the public library WiFi?

 :-X

Due to limitations on the iOS devices (IPhones and IPads), you can’t. You would need to buy the new Ledger Nano X to use it through bluetooth. The Nano S only connects to android phones and PC.

For the same reason above, no.

It’s not completely safe unless you are connected to a VPN. But, it can work fine in most cases.

It depends on your definition of "safe" and your interest in privacy, anonymity and security.

I take this kind of stuff seriously. I wouldn't even connect to a public WiFi without VPN, let alone do something "harmless" like logging in to my emails, and certainly not logging in to an exchange account, online banking, or something similar. With a public WiFi you have absolutely no idea who or what is watching or accessing your data - not just the WiFi owner, but since most public WiFis have awful security, many times anyone else using the same WiFi can intercept your data with fairly minimal effort.

But having said that - do people do it? All the time. Do they get hacked and lose everything? Rarely.

As @TryNInja said, it's not possible. The reason is both iPads and iPhones do not have support for the OTG feature. OTG (On The Go) cables allow a device like most Android phones to be able to connect and read other external devices like USB drives. Now without this support, it means your iPhone or iPad won't be able to read your Ledger Nano S as an external device.

Chances of something not-so-good to happen to you is pretty slim, but if you have a good amount of funds on your Binance account, probably don't risk it especially in a public library wifi because they're mostly unsecure like what o_e_l_e_o just said. I suggest that you just use your mobile cellular data instead for a lesser risk of a man-in-the-middle attack.

The open Wifi should not necessarily be an issue, because the device was designed in such a way for you to execute and validate <confirm> transactions on the physical device. So even if a third party gained access to the data that was send between yourself and the device, then they would not be able to transfer coins from the device without having physical access to it.  :P

This is why it is safe to use these hardware wallets in any scenario where you have access to the internet. I know some people did manage to extract private keys from a Trezor hardware wallet a few years ago, but they had the physical device and they had specialized tools to do that.

This is why it is one of the safest methods to store your coins.  ;)

More on my situation.

Neither my iphone or my ipad have data connections.
The iPhone is not jailbroken and it does not have data hooked up.
The iPad is an older model without data options.

How do you make your own Virtual Private Network using the iPad or iPhone?

Is a VPN the same thing as a personal hot spot?

Because, I am not going to buy another Ledger Nano.  If I remember correctly the one I have was $80, and by the time a Nano X arrives in the mail they will release a Nano Y or Nano Z.  The whole Nano device idea seems like nobody will use those in a year or two, or the certainly will not cost $80.

You purchase a subscription to VPN provider which supports mobile devices, preferably one with an iOS app. Here is a list of ones you may want to consider: https://www.privacytools.io/#vpn


No. A personal hot spot allows you to connect the internet with a WiFi capable device through your phone's mobile data. Simply put, a VPN encrypts all your internet traffic and routes it through another computer to improve your privacy and security.


The Nano S still works just fine, and will do for years to come. At present, however, there are no plans to make it compatible with either iPhones or iPads. Your options are either to use the Nano S with a computer, or buy a Nano X to use with your Apple devices.