Bitcoin Forum

I know many people store their crypto in their hardware wallets.  Some store it on their computers.  Some have a computer solely for crypto to be safe.



First off, is buying anything that used for the computer unsafe if you plan to store crypto in it?  Example buying a used laptop but then doing a complete factory reset and wiping everything?  Or could a hacker still put a virus/keylog in it?



Now what about other things?  Like imagine buying a used wireless mouse or keyboard.  What about a wired mouse or keyboard?  Or maybe even a used modem or wireless router?  Is it possibly to get a virus/hack keylogged if buying anything like this used?  I thought modem/router possible because well its connecting to the internet?  Obviously something like a used monitor cannot cause anything like this right?  What about a used usb cable connecting your modem to your computer?  A used flash drive definitely for sure?  But you should never have an issue if its a new one right?



With a wired mouse or keyboard, could someone just install something inside it or something and you get keylogged etc?  What if say you left your keyboard with someone and say that person is a hacker and then install something into it.  Then when you plug it into your computer, could you get hacked?



What about a modem or router?  Could someone install something inside it where when you connect to the internet, they see everything you type etc?  Like i know hackers put out fake wifi so if say a starbucks or hotel is there, you connect to it thinking its that wifi but its actually a hacker putting the name to trick you etc.  Then you connect to it and they see all your credit card info.



Obviously you should buy things new.  But if its a modem or router or computer, if you do a factory reset, does that 100 percent wipe everything clean?  I heard of cases where people would install trojans in other people laptops without them knowing.  The person then later access their laptop or notice things got hack etc.


Thoughts on all this?  Now let just say its not for crypto but just regular email and banking and everything else.  Is buying any of these things used foolish?  Or imagine just borrowing a wireless mouse or modem from someone such as a friend or acquaintance... but their intention was they know you had crypto and put a virus on the modem or mouse.  Thoughts on this?



So could you get hacked/keylogged on


1.  Wireless Mouse or Keyboard
2.  Wired Mouse or Keyboard
3.  Modem or Router
4.  Monitor
5.  USB Flash Drive
6.  Ram




From this list, i know USB Flash Drive is 100 percent because you can store files there.  Thus if a hacker has your laptop, they could just plug the flash drive in and put a virus/keylog and then leave your computer as is and then you access it and you have no clue right?


I assume the only one in this list which is impossible would be a monitor right?


But what about a used modem or router or mouse or keyboard?  I assume wireless increases chances a lot than wired right?

Well the virus in the Flash Drive would be depending on how good your antivirus is. If you have something like Bitdefender or Karpersky most of them shouldn't run and you should get a warning if you have them active.

Everything in that list could be modified and used against you if a person who really knows what they're doing make the changes. As far as i know, some U.S. agency i won't name can even tap the signal of your monitor by replacing the wire i think. They could probably use more methods than that but i'm still learning myself.

I have some doubts with the RAMs, since i know it is used to Bypass antivirus software and that the information is wiped everytime you restart your computer. It's not 100% foolproof depends on what they use and your antivirus again, but something that could persist through reboots inside the RAM is something i don't of yet.

Be especially careful with modems/routers, hacking into those things is too easy to be truth and it is.

If you want to be 100% safe, even though you used a used computer, then don't ever connect it to the internet. Use your computer offline, and don't forget to re-install anything. Wipe your harddisk, use Linux, etc. Those keylogger from mouse etc won't be able to cause you problem if it ever exist as long as you don't connect your computer to the internet, unless your hacker somehow lives around you and use some kind of WiFi to transmit the data from the mouse/keyboard directly.

In short, hackers needs to get or download the data from your computer (if it's hacked), either via internet, other connection devices such as bluetooth or go to your house directly. So you can protect yourself by disconnecting from the internet, make sure there's no other connectivity devices activated, or keep your computer somewhere safe.

In 99% cases no, as mouses and keyboards don't have writable memory.
But there are some mice with macro function, especially gaming mouses, those could theoretically store a virus.


Again, monitors don't have a way to store data, and unlike mice, they don't have a shot at the USB connector and a chance to infect your computer with a fake firmware.


Not possible with standard ram, as the memory empties when the power source is turned off.

The costs of trying to turn those into hacking tools are simply too great and unless you target a specific individual and you are sure he will use it on a specified computer filled with valuable information it makes zero sense to do it.

Only things I wouldn't consider buying secondhand are hard drive and flash drives, the rest can do. Mouse, I definitely wouldn't buy secondhand as for the macro buttons and it is somewhat programmable and can store data--and obviously for hygiene purposes. The rest cannot easily be programmable or require deep technical understanding to store data/malware (CPU, RAM and gfx cards) so i'm good in buying them. For monitors, it isn't programmable AFAIK, so it's also good in buying them.

It depends on how you are going to use the hardware. I bought an old second hand computer and printer to create and print some paper wallets, but I physically destroyed it with a hammer after I used it. <It cost me about $40 to $50 at the time, but I know that those paper wallets will never be accessible to anyone on the internet.>

A lot of people never use the computers on-board OS again, they low level format the HDD <for storage> and they boot with a OS like "Tails" to use the rest of the hardware.

A lot of the larger Printers also have built in HDDs that must be wiped, before you sell them <used for buffering> and you should never buy second hand hardware wallets.  :P

Nope, once a computer hard drive has been formatted all the installed application even a virus is wiped out.



If you buy a router from a person who sells it online that is a red flag, because those routers are definitely hacked and it might compromise all your information. Just get a modem or a router from your local Internet service provider.



Installing something from a keyboard would be a hard task without opening and dismantling the keyboard.


The modem has a digital fingerprint. It stores every webpage that you visited as long as you are connected to it, but it doesn't store every keystroke that you did.


Even if you do a hard reset a modem its digital fingerprint over the visited website will still be in its memory.


Buy new ones at the store so that you won't be thinking about these things.


I think what you should do is that stay in your room and don't get out of it. Your way to skeptic about the thing that's way too impossible to happen if you key your belongings to a safe place.

Going for new equipment is much more better than buying used ones especially when using these equipment for cryptocurrency. Buying used computers, routers, keyboard, mouse for cryptocurrency is not a good idea! To be on a safer side, buying new equipment is very important.

It's perfectly safe if you rebuild it again. Factory reset is likely to be safe but there is a chance of a hidden trojan. Format the harddrive and rebuild it yourself to be sure

Why are you so worried? I think you need to learn more about how to protect your crypto on your computer. Although you buy the new computer, it doesn't mean it is safe because when you are online on the internet, there is no guarantee for you to be saved. We are responsible for the security, and if you don't want to get hacked, then you need to take care of the computer and don't let anyone touch your computer.

Besides that, you should not use the computer after you got the crypto and it's better to keep all of your coins in the ledger and save it in one places without anyone knows except you. Then I think it will be safe for you and you don't have to worried about anything.

There is no guarantee for us to keep safe and it is why we need to be careful about everything we do.

When you do factory reset for the operating system then your computer is clean to have any program other than the defaults by OS. I do not see anything here to be worried about.

I do one more thing to keep my BTC safe. For long term saving I use MultiSig wallet. Two key installed in two different PC. So if anyone wants my coin then they will need to have access of both the PCs.

OP, you know the answer to this yourself, you seem like a smart guy. If you have even the slightest doubt about a device being clean of malware then don’t store crypto on it. It simply is not worth the risk.

Even new hardware can be tampered with by someone at the factory or during the delivery process.  The fact is nothing is 100% safe and life isn't worth living with all this paranoia.  Just cover all your basic tracks and you should be fine most of the time.

I think it is not to keep cryptocurrencies in computer. I think people should think about buying hardware wallet. Because I guess it is the safest way.


Factory reset can be enough. It may keep you safe without internet. When you make a connection to internet, then it all start again...


Except flashdisk, none of them has a store capaticy in it. It is all safe. But you have to understand that, computer using carries so much risks. Sometime wireless connection, chromecast, screensharing...etc. can be dangerous. So there are two ways to keeping your investment safe. One of them is hardware wallet and the second one is paper wallet. These two options are safe.

Quite an intriguing issue when you think about it. As crypto gets ever more ubiquitous why wouldn't people attempt to plant things on the gear they sell? It costs them nothing and may well come up with a result every now and then.

The answer is to forget computers all together for this particular area of usage. Beyond accessing websites there's no way I'd ever do anything crypto related on an internet accessible machine. Same goes for any equipment a level down such as memory and peripherals. Build your own walled garden and stay in there.

A new equipment does not give you a guarantee of safeness related to crypto. It depends on ourselves on how to protect our assets in our laptop or PC. Anything may happen on a brand new device especially once it is connected to the internet. Indeed a new device is better, as the possibility to face something related to the OP is smaller than buy a used device.

All of these concerns can be alleviated if you simply use a hardware wallet - suddenly you stop caring about potential viruses and malware. Once you have more than $500 in crypto, I think it's a necessity.

if its possible, use only 1 computer for crypto.(trade,withdraw, deposit) dont enter even most common sites.so noone can reach you.formatting pc dont clean pc %100

To the people that say use hardware wallet and forget about anything else.  I have one.  But the thing is other coins i have... they are not compatible with the hardware wallet.  So what do you do then?


Also if you trade on your computer for example and have wallets on it because your hardware wallet doesn't support those coins, you need to keep those wallets in your computer.  So what is your option there? 


So for example say your internet modem broke and you need to replace it.  Or your internet router broke and you need to buy a new one.  Would buying a used modem be fine or not if its used?  What if the seller is very reputable?  Now what if its a router?  If you buy a used router from a reputable seller online, is that reputable?  Because what would concern me is if the modem or router, you go online with it... then that person or anyone that put something in it could track your visiting websites and also track anything you do such as crypto or trading or banking etc.  Could they put a keylogger or virus on a used modem?  What about a router?  I assume a router would be more likely but a modem isn't?  Because if you need a new modem or router, is it unsafe to buy a used one or not?  Also those of you that say well a new computer or equipment isn't safe because what you do it on can cause issues.  Well of course.  But i mean getting the actual equipment.  So has anyone heard of cases where someone bought a used modem or wireless router and their computer got hacked/keylogged or anything like that with crypto?

Used equipment is pretty safe if you run a good antivirus that scans everything including memory and boot sectors. You should also make sure to clear bios.
Another rule of thumb is to never sell your old hard drives. A lot can be recovered from a wiped drive even one that doesn't work.


Many keyboards also have a memory function. I have a cmstorm keyboard where you can assign a key or function to every single standard key, meaning that you can have a space function under alt if that's what you want.

That's true. Nowadays, with the right amount of resources almost nothing is really impossible - Only unlikely.

If someone wants to target you really bad they will find the way to do it, with or without specific hardware attached to your machine. Now unless you are considered a valuable target for anyone then it's almost sure that it would be only a hacker trying to fish something, whatever that could be profitable.

I believe that you now have a pretty good knowledge level to know which parts you can safely buy in the majority of cases or if the conditions mentioned above don't really apply to you.

A piece of paper with 12 words makes a solid cold wallet. You seem to be a little mistaken in what a wallet is, contrary to what the name suggests, it doesn't store coins. If anything, its the private key that allows you to move them, but they are not stored on any computer but the blockchain itself. What people lose when they lose their wallet (priv key) are not the coins, but the ability to move them anymore...

Now, being paranoid about the moment when you do want to move the coins is logical. You should, in fact, forget windows and osx, stick to linux, perhaps a live iso if only for the time you want to move coins around. If you use something like Tails (https://tails.boum.org/), it connects via Tor (https://www.torproject.org/) only, so even if there is some sniffer in your router, it won't be able to catch anything.

If you DO install Linux, you can use encryption in your entire drive. With a decent password, even if stolen they won't be able to obtain anything.

While no OS is perfect, something like Linux is highly unlikely to fall victim to most common attacks. The best effort you can ever do towards protection, is starting to use it to drop any fears about it. There are several distros (https://distrowatch.com/) to choose from, each catering to a different type of community. You should experiment and eventually find one where you feel confident, and start using that.

I have said it many times: It is far more difficult to secure windows than Linux, and for the most part Windows is always at risk due to its flawed design. The fact that you don't have full control of it, should give you a warning.

I'm not sure about the risk with the RAM but I'd definitely wipe the hard drive clean. That's where malware would get installed.

The meta data can cause many issues like the malware that modifies the clipboard data can check the address while transferring funds. Due to such issues it is not advisable to by used equipment for crypto related uses.

When i got in to crypto Desember 2017 i did buy a new laptop only for crypto. I use this laptop only to buy and sell crypto and i have another one that i use to pay bills and read emails and so on.

that is an unnecessary overkill my friend. you have spent a lot of money on something that you only use for cryptocurrencies and it is not that safe if it is connected to the internet so you are not really increasing your security.
if you wanted to spend money like that, then you could have simply bought a hardware wallet to store your bitcoin (and a bunch of other altcoins that are copies of bitcoin) which would have cost a lot less and provided a lot more security.

Well, the best way is using a piece of paper for your private keys. Make QR codes of them for easy copying.

If you need to use an online wallet, I suggest running it on its own dedicated virtual machine. I have a Windows 64 machine and many of my wallets have their ubuntu VMs in it.

If you look the list of supported coins&tokens by Trezor (https://trezor.io/coins/) or Ledger (https://www.ledger.com/pages/supported-crypto-assets), who support over 1000 coins / tokens then you are using some fairly exotic coins, and they probably have very low value.

If you are concern about used equipment, then just no buy such things and use one device only for cryptocurrency, or pay attention to device security (antivirus, firewall, antimalware), and try to using common sense when surfing / download on internet. That's quite enough to be pretty safe when it comes to security of any coin, everything else is exaggerated paranoia that does not help you in life.

Cool . same here happen to me actually , i buy a laptop on the 3rd quarter of 2017  so that i can i use it on working on this forum ( specifically for posting )  . i find it hard to use mobile because the screen is small , my eyes were also hurt when using a mobile phone .

@op i dont see anything wrong on buying a used computer for doing crypto works because i did also done that before in which i buy a second hand laptop from an online seller that i didnt know personally  . the laptop is not reformated and it includes freebies such as the original owners hardrive and software accounts  .

Unfortunately there's no fairly used Computer Equipment that's safe for cryptocurrency, or safe for any type of document generally. Many used Computer equipment are purposely hacked before there are sell out, this was my experience when i worked with Computer dealers years back, they do the hack, sell to their friends and then exploit their systems for selfish interest. Just to gain access to their privacy.

Advise: Buy fairly used Computer equipment, format the system by self or another dealer and then do the installation by self.

Or he could do both if he wants even more security.

Both of your ideas are pretty good especially the hardware wallet, but both implemented can be a huge change when it comes to security.

I would say especially if you have a really huge amount of Bitcoins, but this is something i might use in the future. It's really good.

there are viruses that now can live in the BIOS. they will survive a drive format or drive replacement and reinfect any new OS installed on that system.

EDIT: see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS#Security

I guess there is a possibility on Modem or Router and USB Flash Drive. On router the old owner can login back to the network and maybe it will infiltrate the computer within the network if you did not change the settings, like admin password, wifi pass, etc,. and in the flash drive there is a possibility that it has a virus the simple solution is format or scan with antivirus. That's it there is nothing to worry about.


Well, this is another story I didn't know until now that this is possible, I guess it is better to buy a brand new item and then build it with protection and security from antivirus. Anyways do you know how to remove this kind of virus (Mebromi)?

Hey all related question.  So i want to buy a new security camera for my apartment.  The reason is because if there are any thieves or if someone were to access my laptop and do something with it and then leave it as is and then if i use it, then i might have no idea they installed malware/trojan or anything like that.


Im going to buy a camera on amazon and i notice some reviews, they say the camera is hacked etc.  Reviews were like they heard or saw someone viewing their home or apartment with it.


Now if that is the case, does that mean they could view your keystrokes or anything you view on your laptop or anything like that?  However, if you are setting it up with only your cell phone which most of these security cameras seem to do, then thats fine?  I want to buy a security camera and point it at my door when im not there or even there but one concern is if it gets hacked, could i potentially hack my laptop or something or internet network or hack my wallet?  Or make sure you get a security camera where you dont read anything like this in the reviews.

Yes I believe that buying and using already used computer for cryptocurrency purposes is unsafe habit. And I think even a second hand cellular phone is also unsafe. Why? Because we know how technology become progressive now. Nothing is impossible. Anyting what you do  can steal specially when they put a device in used computer that you used. All your info and private keys can be steal.

it might be overkill but for some people (especially the more gullible ones) this is a basic defense against social engineering and malware attacks so a couple hundred bucks for a cheap laptop might be a small price to pay. i wouldn't want to keep private keys or log into exchange accounts on the same PC i use to torrent or open email attachments.

i don't keep any keys online myself but that also requires a second (offline) pc. i prefer the airgapped pc/qr code method for signing tx vs hardware wallets. i'm still a tad paranoid about using hardware wallets with potentially infected computers. maybe i'm just old school.

Yes everything can be steal especially if you buy used computer because in our generation technology are so progressive its better tobe safe used ledger nano if you want to stock your altcoin or maybe buy unused computer do a self manual installation.

Why should you buy used goods? To save a bitcoin wallet so that it is safe not to save it on a computer if we cannot buy the item, I only store it in my cellphone, memory or flashdick and use a passcode to open the file. For the past few years all of my wallets are under control.

Few other items im curious about.



1.  Laptop Charger

Are you serious?
Equipment that can't store data can't be used to transmit viruses to your laptop.
Not only that but also the charging port is not designed to accept data transfer.

It's a big difference between a laptop charger and a USB phone/tablet data cable that can also charge.

I haven't read all of this thread, but I'd like to make a couple of points.

reformatting the hard drive isn't enough,you need to re-partition the hard drive to ensure that there aren't any hidden partitions. Installing Linux on a former Windows machine would be a good way to do this.

Another safety precaution is to flash the latest BIOS. There are trojans that are able to insert code into the installed bios. I believe this is one of the tricks used by intrusive governments.

Security is very essential especially when talking about cryptocurrencies. But people nowadays take it way too seriously even for those who have like under 0.01 btc. I mean there is no point of securing your wallet if you do not possess a lot of balance at least more than 0.1 btc. btc yes, you can feel insecure about your balance and people can still those if you are not careful enough but aren't you sometimes taking a lot of security when no one is even interested on stealing your balance.

It is better to be safe than sorry,So it is better to spend more than buying cheap if it could secure your investment and other things.
This is better than risking your investment or funds,So we should really be careful on choosing where to buy our stuffs for crypto .

Hopefully we will all have lots more crypto in the future, so it is better to learn about security when you only have a few Satoshi. That way  the million or so that you will make next year will stay safe. :)

in my opinion if you have wipe and clean installation, and install a trusted antivirus I think there are no more problems. related to hardware I don't think there is anything to worry about because Harwdare has no memory allocation for executable programs except from the installation driver, use installations from trusted sources when installing drivers or using drivers on disks that are received with hardware packages. and you are safe.

This is very interesting and I feel I have something to add. I never knew about this but I read and was shocked. Did you know some pro gamers that play counter strike used their mouse to cheat?
They had an aimbot built into it. I don't know how I think it is pretty amazing even though its wrong. Now I would assume if a complex aimbot can be programed then something else can. However people don't go around selling second and mouses with key loggers on them. The counter trike cheat mouses are not like other mouses they have something or another that allows them to hold a program but they look like any other mouse.
Keyboards I guess you can do the same but I am pretty sure you have to mod the keyboard. I mean a keyboard is not a computer is cant process anything.

So dude basically I wouldn't worry about pc hardware it's fine. I buy all my hardware second hand and have never had an issue. I paid 1/3 the price for my gaming pc. I mined with it and everything.
Only people who want to do something and have a plan for it will mod a mouse or keyboard. So for example they will swap their modded keyboard or mouse out with another one in an office and hack like that.

Ram and USB drives have flash memory so no need to worry. RAM clears when it has no power.

The only thing I would never buy second hand would be hardware wallet. It just isn't worth it just to save a few bucks.

Well you say laptop charger has no issue.


What about say a powerbank for your laptop?  Example those things that you buy where it gives you power to your laptop when you have no outlet?  I seeen some where you connect it to the same power slot on your laptop... but i also believe they have some that connect to a usb-c port if im not mistaken?



So is buying a used powerbank safe in either of those cases?  S

I'm not an expert but this is also what i believe, when you completely did a clean format and installations and provide good anti virus you can be safe
as there's no possible threat in any hardware devices, not with I'm not aware of, but if you are doubting better not to buy and save money to buy brand
new and you'll not be worried about it.

Lol yeah if you want to be 100% safe, never connect to the internet, any data collected from your computer will never be sent to the hacker database.

yeah I know there is a lot of chance for a hacker to steal. but I have never bought a used laptop and cracked it because of that, if you want to be safe, reinstall it, discard all the data on the laptop and all viruses will gone.

Do not buy used or NEW computer equipment for crypto use  ;D

You all forgot that even new computers can and do come with malware/trojans/viruses.

Eg. My Lenovo laptop came with superfish malware when it was new. And it is still there. I couldn't get rid of it. Lenovo did publish repairs for many models of their laptops, but mine didn't ever get the repair. :(  

And for the paranoid:
There has been some talk about some hard-drive manufacturers hiding a wireless chip in the HDD, that could be used in stealing data from machines that are not connected to the internet. Apparently the potential thief would have to get within a few hundred meters of the device. Scary. How could you check against that kind of threats?

that should be fine as long as you keep it just for storage and don't connect it to the internet. Just wipe it clean before using it. As mentioned earlier just because it's new doesn't mean it's safe from a virus.

Used and new computer?
Then what should we buy then?
It all depends on the merchant you should only buy from the right one.
If you are having trust issue then go directly to factory to buy.

I believe that someone who’s disposing he’s gadget has to not intentionally get a victim from the said computer equipments.but you maybe right for some reason though it’s a once I a million chances that you may choose those items that has keylog

So the bottom line is always become a security people,before buying make sure that on those legit sellers only,and if you can do buy from people that near your place

hardware can be reset and cleaned rather easily to prevent any kind of malware remaining on it. for example if you buy a second hard SSD storage device you can simply format the hell out of it before using it.

You can purchase brand new or factory refurbished computer equipment from new egg using cryptocurrency. The last time I checked near christmas time.
The only thing I would be concerned about is purchasing things which have files and programs on them and storing anything of value like a hardware wallet for your cryptocurrency.
There was a story on one of these news shows and they conducted a study which they went on ebay and got 10 usb sticks all of them had been deleted by the original owners. But they hired one of those data recovery companies to see if they could get files from them after doing their processing the data so to be viewable.
They uncovered 8 out of the 10 had some sort of personal photos and videos. One even had hundreds of pics containing kiddie porn on it and they traced that guy who sold it on ebay and arrested him.
One of the usb sticks had a document of a person which contained all his financial records and scans of his passport and drivers license. The news show printed the 800 page document and tracked the ebay seller down and showed him what they uncovered on this sold usb device. He said this could of ruined his life if it ended up in the wrong hands. :-[

I think it's the best, or don't use internet access on that device because hackers won't be able to enter without internet access.
And I think the OP is too protective, even he worries about the mouse, keyboard, ram, monitor etc. I think it's better to buy new flash drives, hdd, mouse or keyboard, because this device can be infiltrated by malware but I don't think the seller will be like that. Monitor, RAM, processor, modem in my opinion is not necessary.
Or reset again after buying this used equipment.

I think you shouldn't have any problems with any of these if you were able to reformat that old computer. And I think even though it is going on the same router, hacking on you will still become difficult. But if you want to make sure, there are still available brand new laptops out there where you can use for cryptocurrency related things and you can also invest in hardware wallets.

No need to worry because with used devices, you need to replace storage devices and everything will be safe. Are you worried about using a used computer? Don't worry about restoring the operating system settings, and you will remove all the storage on your computer. If possible, replace your computer's storage device to make it safer.

I don't think there is a problem with using a second hand phone for crypto. I believe so far as you format the computer before using it, everything becomes new. The only problem is with when you use a network that is also shared with other people.

even if i buy something new, i'd completely wipe out all that is stored and installed in a laptop and do a fresh linux system on it.
i doubt there is someone out there that will put something on the firmware just to hack a machine. hacking shouldn't be that hard for them to really go into the hardware when they can do it with wifi. you'd worry more if you install lots of app related to cryptocurrency because its where they are not trying to gain access.

I don't see any harm if I buy a used computer equipment that will be used specifically for Crypto Currency, however, just to be safe, I would buy a brand new hard drive and upgrade the memory the rest will be the same. I am not comfortable using or re-using someone else hard drive, even if they say everything has been deleted, we don't know if there's something hidden there. I would check the software installed, un-isntall and re-install.

after reading, my circle of understanding of cryptocurrency security has become very unreliable, of course in the mouse and keyboard, I do not think that there will be a virus, but in the router and supported laptop, I thought about it and take note.

it's better to buy a new notebook
and use the notebook only for crypto
no need to install any software except antivirus
don't even use the notebook for social media

It should be pretty safe if you do full install of windows on verified windows package from Microsoft, there's no malicious software available if you wipe out the HDD before hand.  The rest should be pretty safe once you got your web presence clean and safe, means only trustworthy websites. Network sniffing is definitely possible but the effort doing so weight too much for a widespread of people, unless your crypto footprint is targetable in the first place.

its a nice suggestion to avoid any hassel of reformating and possible infection of malware and viruses that might potentially stole your crypto and besides new lappy or pc is now affordable these days . the advantage of buying brand new from used is that you can get a longer waranty time and you can assure that the product will work to perfection like tou expected .

New lappy and pc's do already come with built in antiviruses so theres no need to install a new one but why restrict yourself from using it on other use or on other sites ?  You already have an antivirus , so no need to worry  .

Im curious about a few other products.



1.  Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)


2.  Powerbank ... imagine the ones where you buy where you can charge your laptop or tablet or phone. 




Can these contain malware or not?  For example whether its a used one or say a 3rd party sells it and they put it in? 

Anyone?

bullshit know to lock your computer in the right way and no body can get to what you hide,

Thanks for he tip mate ,great that I come to cross this board and saw this post since I am planning to purchase a second hand Laptop because my old one is acting weird these days

But having this thread I think I will just loan to purchase new one than used,it’s better safe than never because I always install all my details in my lappy even passwords and private keys

it always great to buy new laptop rather then used for sure mate :)

but if we talk about security it dosent matter...

we need to create here main post which explain how to secure pc to top level

Yeah I understand mate but atleast we know how expensive new laptop that’s why some are considering buying second hand specially if you are not capable of having new

And even there are security advices here still the risk of being planted is there so the better way to prevent being a victim is to have new.and thanks for that buddy yes I will be having new and may cost some of my altcoins or need to have a loan lol 😂

You just have the wrong choice, raspberry pi is capable enough to store most of your crypto but it is still vulnerable to damage, making a cold storage out of flash drive also a good idea and there is also intel nuc. installing crypto wallet or such to a computer doesn't require that much energy so most of the computers will do even the lower end.

I can buy any supported item,but only if it does not belong to the category of computer equipment.When it comes to tools that have some value for You it is better not to buy supported computer equipment.Crypto wallets can suffer if they are used on supported hardware.Given that cryptocurrency is gaining trend,many hackers will use different ways to steal Your passwords.

I think op is being a little too paranoid here. I don't think there's a danger in buying used computer equipment considering as long as you know to do all the precautions there is to avoid any unwanted event. However, if we're talking about selling them (used computer equipment), it's gonna be the other way around. For selling your used computer might leave some of your data to be harvested, which some of them might be your crypto wallets. Nevertheless, it is still will not happen if you do all the precaution to erase your data before selling them.

I buy many used things within reason. If they are looked after I would. I will buy the second hardware no problem at all. Cheaper and does the same thing. You will have much moeny left over since you can get it less then 50%
 I buy from rich people who upgrade  ;D

I won't buy a harddrive though unless its an ssd since a nomal hdd can be worn out. I think saving a few bucks buying second-hand crypto wallet software is not worth it. Not worth the risk for so small reward.

i think one can be fairly calm with a used computer just make a factory reset and reset the hard disk, use keyboard and mouse without flash memory, and a couple of good antivirus and it's done...

What about poker bank for laptop?  What about power bank for your phone?

That's the very reason why we needed to replace the hard drive when we will going to buy or sell our used computers, hard drive stored your data
so this equipment always play the role so in any events replacing it will not do any damage, wise buyers and sellers will not allow this data to be recovered
so they will pay attentions and replaced this one to a new one before or after the deal has been made.

Are you serious?  When you say these people do this, what exactly are they hacking?  Like bank accounts and debit/credit cards?  Or just bring noisy?  Because if they hack back account, the owner can contact bank and get it back.

What you pie isn't what's unsafe, it's who you buy from. Who is the vendor, and do you trust them? If you can't trust the person who you are buying from, for some reason, then you should consider doing more research before buying.

How much cost and time would it take a user to put malware in something like those 2 items i listed?


I

I keep some wallet data on the computer and it's safe. As long as I use a private network, I'm sure my data will be safe. So actually, hacking is an insecurity factor of the network used. For example we use a VPN that is less reliable, then our data could have been stolen by the owner of the VPN. So be careful when using public networks.

Almost all of the hardware you list doesnt have capacity to store and write data on them except the flash drive.But flashdrive with virus like a keyloger or worm viruses can easily be blocked by those anti viruses up to date.Its easy to prevent  getting hacked nowadays

Well if a flash drive can have, wouldn't a power bank for laptop can as well or not?  What if it has 2 usb ports but you only use the charger to charge the powerbank and connect it to your laptop to charge it?

Well if you have to know, it is possible. If you are targeted, there is a chance to get you via social engineering: Example, I'm so nice, I'm sending you a new shiny usb keyboard! Am i not nice?

Basically anything USB could be a trojan (technically anything but lately usb is the trend). And USB with spy things can be bought in China or custom made by individuals or State organizations..

The computer used or new are about the same level of risk, assume compromised. I would use Tails or similar secure OS/distro if i were that paranoid, and it doesn't even need a hard drive (tho you could install that).

If you want to approach perfection, you would need perhaps to buy something recommended by the FSF (https://h-node.org/notebooks/catalogue/en).

Used or not, you can replace all the firmware/software of those, such as the Librem (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Librem) laptops.

I dont exactly what are you trying to ask but there is a safe and unsafe for this
Example:
Computers that are use in mining do a lot of work during mining it stresses the processor and all parts of it
since it has to run 24x7 for like years so that parts life span is short unlike computers that are only use for browsing and so on
so its not okay to buy this equipement unless you are willing to risk money because it will not last longer
this is a no for sellers its unsafe for the seller to sell his/her harddrive why? because we can crawl and get old data from that
believe even if you format the drive it can be retrieve, and thats dangerous if you have 100 bitcoin and you save the password on the drive
My suggestion is for buyers don't buy computers that are use in mining it will not last
on seller's please don't sell computers together with hard drives remove it its not dafe

it is possible to have malware if you are familiar with the movie  blackhat starring Chris hemsworth where the pumps are being control
one example but to be able to do that you have to know a lot of things, also in the movie they are using linux that's a great movie
thats why i like linux you can copy drives via terminal without being notice by others unlike windows people can definitely see it

As someone who's spent a lot of time on used hardware, and cryptocurrency, the number rule is to always assume the worst, and then prepare for that.

Assume the person who is selling you the used motherboard, or PC has infected it with malware, assume that if your BTC private key gets exposed on that PC, all is gone.

Usually the dumber hacker will install a malware on the windows account they'll set up for you, and then when your private keys touch that PC, you'll be fucked.

The best way to avoid this, use your own hard drives (I have a SSD and HDD that I install in every PC build), wipe their windows account and take their storage out - then you can wipe the mobo bios, or update it, but you should be safe with this.

Another good idea - buy a ledger, and your private keys will never be exposed to anything.

I don't think that's the best way to base something off - a movie isn't always an accurate representation of real world circumstances, and watching a "hacker" mash keys on a keyboard and breach the US goverment's database - isn't really how the real world works.

I'm not familiar about UPS, only PSUs if that's what your talking about - realized I wasn't accurate enough in my last post so I'll break it down.

A PC has these parts

CPU
GPU
Motherboard
Ram
Storage
PSU

The storage is of biggest risk, but usually none of the other components are able to store any data in them, so it'll be impossible for malware to be installed. You can only boot into BIOS without storage, so that's why I usually wipe BIOS or flash a new one on just in case.

Power banks on the other hand, their USB ports are only made for processing power, and unless you've bought one with a wireless signal (needs to send the data back to somewhere), and USD ports that can transfer data, you'll be fine :P

There is a little possibility to get hacked by the hardware what you have mentioned here, According to the IT expert Wireless mouse or keyboard, Wired Mouse and Wired Keyboard are not responsible in order to be hacked, In the same way, you don't blame Monitor also because the monitor doesn't carry any storage data. I also think that Wireless equipment has more chances than wired equipment to get hacked or leaked the information what you have stored. One thing you can do that you have to use your computer fully offline when you use a used computer or related equipment. Most important thing is that you should use a private network in order to keep safe your data for being stored. There will be no chance to be stoled from your device.

I have never had to buy already used computer equipment for cryptocurrency, but however, I think that the major thing here isn't whether or not the equipment is safe for use, but whether you are buying from a trusted source. If you are patronizing someone who is reliable, and has come through for you a couple of times, then there might be nothing to really worry about. Otherwise, it is unsafe.

it's actually a problem where 50% of people say it's safe and only a few people say it's not safe buying a used computer for cryptocurrency, but I myself am safe now because I also use a used computer for cryptocurrency because I don't have more money to buy a new one, a little advice if you buy a used computer, you must reinstall the computer first before exploring cryptocurrency.

Reformat is enough, as long as you unchecked the "quick format" option to completely wipe the drive. As long as you install genuine Windows or Operating System of your choice, you're pretty much safe. Here are some tips and facts to summarize:

1. Install genuine Windows only
2. Disable Quick Format option while doing OS installation
3. Fact: Keyloggers and viruses can't be stored on the most peripherals (e.g. mouse, keyboards)
4. DO NOT install pirated softwares.

Agreed, you can either fully reformat the hard drive, or even go as far as perform a full disk wipe via windows settings, and then reset up windows and partition a section (eg, 10 GB) and only use that special partition for your crypto-currency stuff.

If you are bothered to do that, just buy a new SSD or HDD to use, but the best way to keep your crypto safe would probably be to use a hardware wallet, because even if your hard drives have malware, it'll be impossible to get hacked due to the 2fa factor a ledger or trezor would add to the equation.

Second-hand computers could have some unpleasant surprises from its previous owner, so it depends on how the previous owner treated it. Buying used does it a great way to save money, but does it worth the risk? So, take care with what you buy and clean it up properly, only then you could be fine with second-hand hardware.

I think if you do things with a little bit of knowledge and attention then there is no issue at all while using cryptocurrency. I know there are still lot of phishing attacks and keyloggers running all around but it's a truth that a little bit of attention while making transactions can save you from scam.

Using used computer parts is risky, even if you have enough knowledge and pay attention to securing the safety of your wallet, we really can't tell the if it is safe unless you know the seller, you can assure that he won't fool you when it comes to the parts of the computer. But of course, it's better to buy new parts even if it's cheap, just to secure your own safety.

I think you need to learn more about how to protect your crypto on your computer. Although you buy the new computer, it doesn't mean it is safe because when you are online on the internet, there is no guarantee for you to be saved. We are responsible for the security, and if you don't want to get hacked, then you need to take care of the computer and don't let anyone touch your computer.

But the thing is that why do such things? Always buy from genuine part seller and never ever buy second hand especially when you have to do crypto related things on your PC. Moreover never install any third party softwares from unknown sources on your computer and always use genuine windows I think these things are enough to save you from any scam.

I just thought about something else.


What about if your laptop needs a new battery and say you buy one off ebay?  If you buy a new battery, but its obviously 3rd party and not genuine from manufacturer, any risk in that?  What about a used one or open box?  Can someone put malware in a laptop battery?

No? There's no way you can do that with a battery, correct me if I'm wrong. Battery only supplies power. It might be connected to the computer but that doesn't make it prone to hacking or sending any virus to your PC unless there's another device connected to the battery you have to plug in. With little knowledge about PC components you should easily notice that tough.

You have save your bitcoin assets in offline wallet like you use nano ledger hard ware for your wallet safety, never save your bitcoin in exchange wallet because when you faced trouble your assets hacked exchange website never trying for responsibility about how much your bitcoin hack, use hard ware wallet for save your bitcoin is better than an exchange wallet.

Maybe I have paranoia, but I am very strict about buying used things, especially when it comes to computer technology.  If a person is engaged in cryptocurrency activities, then he should think not only about the security of his personal data, but also about the security of his cryptocurrency funds.

You are correct here mate, there is no way a battery or any other components could result in this issue, the only things that could be corrupted would be the storage, which would be the HDD or the SDD.

Just completely wipe eveything and you'll be fine mate. There's a windows setting where you completely wipe all data from all the drives and you'll end up being fine from there on. Nothing will happen to you.

This somehow related to hacking wherein you are trying to acces the data of someones computer. As we try to engagr in crypto, it is better to buy new equipment so that you cannot have any problems. As a trader we should concerned about out funds so it is better to spend some money for the equipment rather than losing a big amount of money.

It's not that it's unsafe to buy used computer equipment for cryptocurrency, but I would recommend you just to buy a new one so there will less risk of threats to your funds and your computer. And if the hardware can't store memory, then it means you can't get keylogged or get hacked from it.

I think it is completely safe to buy used computer equipment for you cryptocurrency activities if you have formatted it. All files will be deleted and no remnants will be seen or used. Obviously, the monitor, mouse, Ram, and keyboard have no way to store information. They don't have memory. Just make sure not to surf to sites that have a virus because there is a possibility there for someone to hack your account.

Of those you mentioned I think the most likely hacker to access your account is your modem, router and USB flash drive. You also have to add the Hard disk as all your personal PC applications are installed. So before you use the 2nd hand pc you should first format it to make sure that all the original owner's files that were used are erased.

Or its better to buy cheaper equipment than buying secondhand parts of computer. just to be sure that your security is assured. Using secondhand parts of computer is risky, even if it is from someone you know, it is not recommended to use such equipment. Fund for your own safety. dont risk your investment.

Sa pag kakaalam ko kabayan, maaari pading maging safe ang used laptop for cryptocurrency, may dalawang uri kasi ng pag foformat o pag rereset ng mga storage, maaaring ito ay permanent, o yung tinatawag na quick format, kung permanent ang gagawin, matagal nitong buburahin ang laman ng storage o Harddisk, ngunit may kasiguraduhang burado na mismo lahat ng laman nito, at ang quick format kung saang gagawin lamang low priority files ang mga files na binubura nito. Maaari lamang na mabura permanente sa quick format ang mga files kung labis na mapupuno ang storage.

Yes it is still better to buy cheap parts of Personal Computer, but also make sure it is brandnew. We should be more careful with our crypto currencies as they are not the same as fiat money that is immediately stolen when locked. It's good to spend expensive because it's also for the security of our hard-earned money.

Cheaper but of course the brand new product. When it comes to our own safety, its really better to produce a little effort and money to secure our own money. Buying brand new parts is the best way to do it. Computer parts with affected malwares are not easy to clean or to remove. And it's basically the root of failing in security.