Cold storage - Question

[Towelielie]

Would it be safe if I use cold storage on USB stick? And whenever I need or use that usb I disconnect from internet?

Or should I get hardware wallet.

I dont know, i feel paranoid after reeding how insecure online wallets are.

Also do I need to be online to transfer bitcoins?

[LiteCoinGuy]

a hardware wallet is probably the easiest + a secure way for most people to store coins. an online wallet is a bad idea indeed.

check this out:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=899253.0

[Towelielie]

a hardware wallet is probably the easiest + a secure way for most people to store coins. an online wallet is a bad idea indeed.

check this out:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=899253.0

Which one would you suggest me to get?
Which one is the safest.

[FUBAR-BDHR]

a hardware wallet is probably the easiest + a secure way for most people to store coins. an online wallet is a bad idea indeed.

check this out:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=899253.0

Which one would you suggest me to get?
Which one is the safest.

I use a Trezor for my cold storage.  Works great and easy to use.

Some people use old laptops or computers they disconnect from the internet as well.

[jackg]

Would it be safe if I use cold storage on USB stick? And whenever I need or use that usb I disconnect from internet?

Or should I get hardware wallet.

I dont know, i feel paranoid after reeding how insecure online wallets are.

Also do I need to be online to transfer bitcoins?

May be cheaper to get a hard drive. You can then simply store it there for use offline.

Unless you use Coinbase Vault to store the Bitcoin (as cold storage) which makes it hard to withdraw fuds without a 48 hour canellation period.

[Towelielie]

Would it be safe if I use cold storage on USB stick? And whenever I need or use that usb I disconnect from internet?

Or should I get hardware wallet.

I dont know, i feel paranoid after reeding how insecure online wallets are.

Also do I need to be online to transfer bitcoins?

May be cheaper to get a hard drive. You can then simply store it there for use offline.

Unless you use Coinbase Vault to store the Bitcoin (as cold storage) which makes it hard to withdraw fuds without a 48 hour canellation period.

If I use harddrive it would be same like using USB tbh.. If any virus connects to my drive im screwed. Ill just get trezor.

[jackg]

Would it be safe if I use cold storage on USB stick? And whenever I need or use that usb I disconnect from internet?

Or should I get hardware wallet.

I dont know, i feel paranoid after reeding how insecure online wallets are.

Also do I need to be online to transfer bitcoins?

May be cheaper to get a hard drive. You can then simply store it there for use offline.

Unless you use Coinbase Vault to store the Bitcoin (as cold storage) which makes it hard to withdraw fuds without a 48 hour canellation period.

If I use harddrive it would be same like using USB tbh.. If any virus connects to my drive im screwed. Ill just get trezor.

If you use it on an offline computer, then you are not screwed.

Though I see your point.

[Towelielie]

Would it be safe if I use cold storage on USB stick? And whenever I need or use that usb I disconnect from internet?

Or should I get hardware wallet.

I dont know, i feel paranoid after reeding how insecure online wallets are.

Also do I need to be online to transfer bitcoins?

May be cheaper to get a hard drive. You can then simply store it there for use offline.

Unless you use Coinbase Vault to store the Bitcoin (as cold storage) which makes it hard to withdraw fuds without a 48 hour canellation period.

If I use harddrive it would be same like using USB tbh.. If any virus connects to my drive im screwed. Ill just get trezor.

If you use it on an offline computer, then you are not screwed.

Though I see your point.

So you dont need to be connected online to send or receive bitcoin?

[NeuroticFish]

You need to be online only to send bitcoin.
If there are amounts of bitcoin you don't plan to use for long time (year/s?), you can keep those on paper wallets.

If you generated them on a safe environment (then scrape that environment) it's one of the safest options to store your money imho.

[Fortify]

There are increasingly sophisticated viruses and trojans trying to target bitcoin. A normal usb to would likely be vulnerable to download when it connected to an infected system. You may know encryption techniques to protect the wallet file or use a dedicated piece of tech like the Trezor.

[Towelielie]

There are increasingly sophisticated viruses and trojans trying to target bitcoin. A normal usb to would likely be vulnerable to download when it connected to an infected system. You may know encryption techniques to protect the wallet file or use a dedicated piece of tech like the Trezor.

I bought trezor few moments ago, i hope it will be safe option to store my btc

[pooya87]

Would it be safe if I use cold storage on USB stick? And whenever I need or use that usb I disconnect from internet?

just for the record cold storage is something that stays on an always offline system. even if you disconnect your pc from internet and attack the USB you might not be safe because you PC (since it was online before) might have been compromised by something like a keylogger and that can steal your cold stored secrets.

[Amph]

use a non-infected device in the first place, (do a secure erase before using it) then you're fine to use your usb even online

you don't need to buy expesive HW like trezor, just be vigilant and don't download random stuff from the web

my hotwallet was never hacked, and i've done with it plenty of transactions

[ranochigo]

Would it be safe if I use cold storage on USB stick? And whenever I need or use that usb I disconnect from internet?

Or should I get hardware wallet.

I dont know, i feel paranoid after reeding how insecure online wallets are.

Also do I need to be online to transfer bitcoins?

May be cheaper to get a hard drive. You can then simply store it there for use offline.

Unless you use Coinbase Vault to store the Bitcoin (as cold storage) which makes it hard to withdraw fuds without a 48 hour canellation period.

If I use harddrive it would be same like using USB tbh.. If any virus connects to my drive im screwed. Ill just get trezor.

If you use it on an offline computer, then you are not screwed.

Though I see your point.

So you dont need to be connected online to send or receive bitcoin?

You don't have to. To send Bitcoins, you just need to generate a unsigned TX for the address and transfer it to the offline computer using a USB stick to sign it. Some clients have streamlined this process:
Electrum: http://docs.electrum.org/en/latest/coldstorage.html
Armory: https://www.bitcoinarmory.com/cold-storage/

[LiteCoinGuy]

use a non-infected device in the first place, (do a secure erase before using it) then you're fine to use your usb even online

you don't need to buy expesive HW like trezor, just be vigilant and don't download random stuff from the web

my hotwallet was never hacked, and i've done with it plenty of transactions

while this is true for someone who knows what he is downloading and doing online (you), it is untrue for technically-unsavvy people which OP probably is. so my advice is always: buy a hardware wallet. there are cheap ones too.


@Towelielie
good choice. have fun with it. 

[Kprawn]

Good choice to go with the hardware wallet there.  ... Just as a note to other people... Even if the hardware wallet seems to be the safest option out there at the moment... someone could still steal

the device and acquire the boxed information {Seed etc...} Keep the device in a safe place and separate from the notes you made on the recovery seed . We get people breaking into houses every day,

and a person with technical skills will be able to extract vital information from this device, using these notes.  .... Your fears with USB devices have merit... because of firmware hacks like BadUSB. 

[Towelielie]

Good choice to go with the hardware wallet there.  ... Just as a note to other people... Even if the hardware wallet seems to be the safest option out there at the moment... someone could still steal

the device and acquire the boxed information {Seed etc...} Keep the device in a safe place and separate from the notes you made on the recovery seed . We get people breaking into houses every day,

and a person with technical skills will be able to extract vital information from this device, using these notes.  .... Your fears with USB devices have merit... because of firmware hacks like BadUSB. 

TREZOR looks like normal heart rate device and nothing like something which you use to store money to be honest. So if I do ever get broken in my house I doubt thief would take it. Most of the people dont even know what bitcoin is xD

[Towelielie]

use a non-infected device in the first place, (do a secure erase before using it) then you're fine to use your usb even online

you don't need to buy expesive HW like trezor, just be vigilant and don't download random stuff from the web

my hotwallet was never hacked, and i've done with it plenty of transactions

while this is true for someone who knows what he is downloading and doing online (you), it is untrue for technically-unsavvy people which OP probably is. so my advice is always: buy a hardware wallet. there are cheap ones too.


@Towelielie
good choice. have fun with it. 

I am pretty tech-savy I know all shit about viruses and such...
I have windows 10 installed since its been out and never had any virus infect my pc but you never know what can happen in future so I think hardware wallet is best solution for me

[CIYAM]

For those that are tech-savy and want the best protection possible you are welcome to use this: https://susestudio.com/a/kp8B3G/ciyam-safe

(it uses QR codes for 100% air-gapped security)

[traitrkng]

Use electrum to send/receive coins from an internet-off pc.
If you search on site you can find a good guide about this method.
I think it's the best method before hardware-wallet, if you don't have too much movement
Good luck