Electrum Kali linux

[OmegaStarScream]

I'am guessting *paranoid*  that my PC is infected or something , even if it's not I wanna be sure , so I suppose that Dual boot should be fine and same as Linux Live CD , right ? I will be totally safe ? If yes then does anyone know if Kali linux works fine with Electrum , I don't want to screw up . ty

[rokkyroad]

I'm sure Electrum will work fine in Kali. Not sure why you would choose Kali. It's really big and plum full of penetration software. It is commonly used by those wanting to break into wifi networks and others. You better know what you are doing with it or you may find yourself "hacked" or tracked down.

No one is totally safe but putting your wallet on a linux OS is safer particularly if that OS is dedicated to the wallet and not used for anything else and kept offline except for transactions and updates.

[OmegaStarScream]

I'm sure Electrum will work fine in Kali. Not sure why you would choose Kali. It's really big and plum full of penetration software. It is commonly used by those wanting to break into wifi networks and others. You better know what you are doing with it or you may find yourself "hacked" or tracked down.

No one is totally safe but putting your wallet on a linux OS is safer particularly if that OS is dedicated to the wallet and not used for anything else and kept offline except for transactions and updates.

I'am planning to learn some stuff about Kali linux that's why I'am asking, and I will be switching between different Linux operating systems such Mint , Ubuntu etc ... I know those are famous so Electrum will definitly work on them not sure about Kali
for what comes to being safe part , what I meant is if I'am infected on Windows right now , and I dual boot Kali linux then logically the Linux should be safe by default right ? if I don't visit any websites or something like that  .

[shorena]

Electrum should run fine on Kali[1], but I would not suggest using Kali for anything other but... uhm, well what its meant for. The main "problem" with Kali is that you are always root. Its not actually a feature, but more later. Where other Linux OS's keep you as the user seperated from root access in order to protect you (from your mistakes) and the OS (from your mistakes and other that try to take over the system). Its common that you have to call in root right, e.g. via "sudo <command>", "su -" or something similar, many distros also force you to set a root password. Since many tools on Kali need root access to work properly, e.g. to change the mode of your WiFi card, it makes sense that its that way. It just does not make sense if you want to surf the net or use a bitcoin wallet. I would suggest you keep Kali on a bootable DVD and save any results of your research to an USB device or something similar. That way you always have a clean and functioning OS when you need it.

If you want a distro for electrum, look into tails[2] they come with electrum support now.

Oh and remember if you have fun with someone elses machine, get an agreement in writing, verbal is not enough. That way no one can sue you later.

[1] I know we talk about the distro, but -> http://orig05.deviantart.net/4bb5/f/2013/098/2/b/heroes_of_newerth___kali_by_izaskun-d60w20k.jpg
[2] https://tails.boum.org/

[rokkyroad]

Good point about "root". Running as root is dangerous. Most live cds run with elevated privileges.  I've never installed Kali (previously Backtrack). Are you sure it does not setup a user account on installation?

what I meant is if I'am infected on Windows right now , and I dual boot Kali linux then logically the Linux should be safe by default right ?

No guarantees but its unlikely linux would be affected.

[OmegaStarScream]

@Shorena , lol Don't worry I'am not planning to hack anyones PC using Kali , as I said I'am trying to learn as much as possible at the moment using different operating systems and different programming languages since I'am young and I have time for the moment , that's all   but since you came up with tails , I did some research http://www.computerworld.com/article/2863937/snowden-docs-show-tor-truecrypt-tails-topped-nsas-most-wanted-list-in-12.html and I may really use it after all .


@Rokkyroad how no Guarantee I said by default .. I mean I just download Kali linux then setup Electrum and that's all , how in the world a virus would jump from my Windows to my Kali linux (if there is any)

[shorena]

Good point about "root". Running as root is dangerous. Most live cds run with elevated privileges.  I've never installed Kali (previously Backtrack). Are you sure it does not setup a user account on installation?

what I meant is if I'am infected on Windows right now , and I dual boot Kali linux then logically the Linux should be safe by default right ?

No guarantees but its unlikely linux would be affected.

Honestly, I never saw any reason to install Kali so I might be wrong about that.

-snip-
@Rokkyroad how no Guarantee I said by default .. I mean I just download Kali linux then setup Electrum and that's all , how in the world a virus would jump from my Windows to my Kali linux (if there is any)

The chance is small since the virus would have to look for a different OS specifically to invest that. Once it has one OS under control there is nothing stopping to spread on another OS on the same system though. A live CD/DVD is not affected by this ofc.

[OmegaStarScream]

Good point about "root". Running as root is dangerous. Most live cds run with elevated privileges.  I've never installed Kali (previously Backtrack). Are you sure it does not setup a user account on installation?

what I meant is if I'am infected on Windows right now , and I dual boot Kali linux then logically the Linux should be safe by default right ?

No guarantees but its unlikely linux would be affected.

Honestly, I never saw any reason to install Kali so I might be wrong about that.

-snip-
@Rokkyroad how no Guarantee I said by default .. I mean I just download Kali linux then setup Electrum and that's all , how in the world a virus would jump from my Windows to my Kali linux (if there is any)

The chance is small since the virus would have to look for a different OS specifically to invest that. Once it has one OS under control there is nothing stopping to spread on another OS on the same system though. A live CD/DVD is not affected by this ofc.

EDITED MESSAGE :

Just another question if you don't mind , how safe is the Electrum wallet that comes with tails ? and there is something that I can't seem to understand really ... which is Live using USB if I use the wallet which is by default on tails then reboot my PC and run the USB once again , will I find the bitcoins gone (if I don't save the seed) ? which means Live USB dosen't save anything ? so whats the point

I can 't seem to understand this https://tails.boum.org/doc/encryption_and_privacy/your_data_wont_be_saved_unless_explicitly_asked/index.en.html

[rokkyroad]

Your best bet is to do some practice runs installing Tails to usb, creating a persistent volume, and running it. Once you trust it go ahead and try out the wallet. Remember to carefully save the electrum seed and all associated passwords for Tails and electrum on paper.

To answer your question: If you do not setup a persistent volume none of your data will be saved when you shutdown Tails.

[Abdussamad]

Just another question if you don't mind , how safe is the Electrum wallet that comes with tails ? and there is something that I can't seem to understand really ... which is Live using USB if I use the wallet which is by default on tails then reboot my PC and run the USB once again , will I find the bitcoins gone (if I don't save the seed) ? which means Live USB dosen't save anything ? so whats the point

It is for people who believe their computer might be:

I'am guessting *paranoid*  that my PC is infected or something

So they do their business using tails instead of the OS installed on their computer hard drive.

I can 't seem to understand this https://tails.boum.org/doc/encryption_and_privacy/your_data_wont_be_saved_unless_explicitly_asked/index.en.html

What do you not understand about the following sentence:

Tails is designed to leave no trace on the computer you're using unless you ask it explicitly.

Perhaps a brief history of linux live CDs will explain things to you. Linux live CDs were first created in order to make it easier for people new to linux to try it out without changing anything on their computers. So you downloaded and burned this CD and then booted off it and it allowed you to play with Linux for a while.

Tails does all of the above plus it allows you to use Tor and it is designed for activist people who want a secure environment that they can get just by booting off this DVD/USB drive. They don't want governments tracking them. They don't want to worry about the software already installed on the PC hard drive i.e. they will be using arbitrary public PCs. Stuff like that.

[ColderThanIce]

EDITED MESSAGE :

Just another question if you don't mind , how safe is the Electrum wallet that comes with tails ? and there is something that I can't seem to understand really ... which is Live using USB if I use the wallet which is by default on tails then reboot my PC and run the USB once again , will I find the bitcoins gone (if I don't save the seed) ? which means Live USB dosen't save anything ? so whats the point

I can 't seem to understand this https://tails.boum.org/doc/encryption_and_privacy/your_data_wont_be_saved_unless_explicitly_asked/index.en.html

Adding onto what Abdussamad said, basically how Tails works (to my understanding) is that it all runs in memory and no information is saved to the USB, unless you explicitly tell Tails to save data (persistent volume).

So if you were to use Electrum with Tails with all default settings, what you'd initially have to do is generate a new Electrum wallet, and save the master public key for later use (when you request payments and such). You wouldn't put your bitcoins at risk by storing your master public key on an infected computer, as all you can do with that file is generate public keys for the private keys that Electrum generates.

Then, if you wanted to spend bitcoin, you'd have to boot up Tails, recover your Electrum wallet by entering your seed and send the coins.

tl;dr: Tails and Electrum should be a safe combination. You'll need to remember your Electrum seed to send bitcoin if you're using a completely live version of Tails since the USB won't save any data.

[OmegaStarScream]

Thanks for all your help guys I made everything however Tails is using the version 1.9.8 of electrum by default and I assume that the seed for that version and 2.0 version and above are not the same ? right ?

[shorena]

Thanks for all your help guys I made everything however Tails is using the version 1.9.8 of electrum by default and I assume that the seed for that version and 2.0 version and above are not the same ? right ?

You can use a 1.9.8 seed on electrum 2.x, but not an electrum 2.x seed on 1.9.8