Bitcoin Forum

Hey guys, I bought a few bitcoins lately and am now wondering what is the safest way to store them? Is it enough to store them on a multibit-wallet, with the private keys backed up on a few usb-sticks? Or should I use Armory or something? Or even a paper-wallet?

I just want to be ~99% sure not to lose my bitcoins, it's not much, but worth a lot to me  ;)

Maybe split them into 2 pieces and 1/2 on armory and 1/2 on printed into waterprooof foil sealed paper wallet :)

If you want to just hold the bitcoins, or majority of them, I suggest you make a paper wallet. Paper wallets are easy to secure and when done correctly they're fully offline. There are some good guides on how to properly make a secure paper wallet. I've not used Armory but I've heard it's a very good solution too. Armory is especially good if you need to access the coins frequently.

The safest way to store bitcoins is using "cold storage" -- storing them on a type of media that does not connect to the internet. So, a CDR, flash drive, paper wallet, USB, etc. Here is some good information:

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/How_to_set_up_a_secure_offline_savings_wallet

I set up a wallet.dat on my offline computer. I made copies of the wallet.dat on 3 USB drives, sent myself the bitcoin address in a text file (so I could send coins directly to cold storage), then deleted the wallet.dat from the computer. Voila! On the USB drives and nowhere else. I keep them in 3 different physical locations.

I keep my wallet.dat files offline and boot them on a comp I know to be safe.

Offline is always the way to go. Back them up on usbs and cds. Keep a little amount in a bloclchain.info wallet to spend or something.

offline ''cold'' storage on 2-3 places (computes, usb stick, dvd...)

Paper wallet correctly generated, with BIP 38 encryption is the safest IMO.
Using multibit is alright as long as your machine is free of malware and hacking. :)

All of the options you suggested are good, but paper wallets are the most risky one I think. They can easily be damaged or become unreadable.

You should always make a few backups, no matter you are using paper wallet, bitcoin-qt or multibit. :)
You could then store them in several different safe places. :)

this is one of the main reasons that i don't like paper wallets. i do use them, but i never use them as the only form of media that i back up a wallet with. too much risk there.

Can anyone tell me why should I buy bitcoins, have there any guarantee for future ? I am interested about Gambling Advertising Network.

If you have a considerably amount of btc, i mean 5 or more, i would be considering using a paper wallet, electronic devices are not always safe..
here is an example of paper wallet

https://i.imgur.com/wAhmRRDl.jpg

of course there is no guarantee. but there is a finite supply and a very strong network supporting it, so it is likely bitcoin will be worth much more than it is now. i have no idea what the Gambling Advertising Network is....

There is also no guarantee that your fiat will have the same purchasing power in the future. ;)

If you check his post history, you will find that he is promoting that "Gambling Advertising Network" in all of his posts.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=212160;sa=showPosts

http://bitcoinvanitygen.com/img/view.png

only paper wallet, its like safe deposit box
my tactic, make 3 copies of it, store in safest places only
thats it, im using only sites from signature for buying/storing btc

just be sure to make multiple back-ups of your wallets, preferably in multiple forms of media (e.g. paper wallet AND flash drive), and store them in *different* places. you wouldn't want all your back-ups in your house, and then your house burns down and..... poof. no more bitcoins for you. :-\

Uhm beware of posting your private qr your funds may get stolen it happen on TV already if i'm not mistaken. Someone just scanned the QR and violla!

well... you should read for example this thread:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=549603.0

you will find out what seems to be best for you.

I use 1 btc per paper wallet and then photograph the private qr and post it on the interwebs.
Then I put them in the safety deposit box at the bank.
I have done this with about 100btc so far and am waiting for a rainy day or to give them to my grandkids in my will,
boy are they going to be surprised ;)

LOL! fortunately for the person who posted that picture, from the looks of it, it seems the picture is too low of a resolution for anyone to actually scan the QR code.

next time, i would not rely on that, and simply not show the code for the private key! LOL. ;D

i'm glad you asked this! i had never heard of cold storage before 8)

Create a cold and hot wallet, place low amount in hot wallet, only transfer from cold wallet when you need it and put most of the BTC in the cold wallet.
-ranochigo

This is a nice updated (12 May) article about storing bitcoins, it covers almost all the best choices to secure them:

http://www.coindesk.com/information/how-to-store-your-bitcoins/

after getting my coins hacked once, i keep them on an offline computer.

Are you saying that I can make a digital backup (.wallet file) AND and physical backup (paper wallet) of the same wallet?? If so, how do you do it?

Atm I'm inclined to make a multibit wallet, back up the wallet.dat file and the private keys to multiple USB-Sticks/SD-Cards and also send them my two best friends ...
I don't really wanna use a paper wallet only, as I'm afraid that I'd lose them  :P

im using cold storage paper wallet generated offline from bitcoincoldstash.com
looks nice for me :)

Don't forget to encrypt the files before transferring them to USBs and your friends. You will never know when you will lost your USB or when your friends are in financial trouble. ;)

Be sure to create them offline, reducing the chances of getting hacked.

-open browser
-go to bitaddress.org
-go to File > Save as.. save page as html
-copy file into USB stick and transfer to OFFLINE PC/Laptop (preferably, one which has never been connected to the internet i.e. fresh OS install of Linux)
(the following is all done OFFLINE)
-Open the html file
-Create wallet
-Print
-Transfer funds to wallet via PUBLIC address
-enjoy your cold storage wallet

I do not think i will have it done any other way than cold storage.

Put them on a HD, remove the HD, bury the HD-