When you print something, the files you print get stored somewhere u dont know?

[pereira4]

I was wondering about making a bip38 encrypted paper wallet, but I have the worry of the QR codes being kept somewhere during the printing process, maybe in some kind of temporary file that I don't know of. I want to be sure that I completely delete the file that has the private QR code from my hard drive, so I will use the program called Eraser. The problem is, I don't know if when you print something, the file you are printing, like I said before, gets stored temporarily in other folder, or something like that, or even on the hardware of the printer? somehow. But I doubt it, my printer is a pretty old HP one, so I doubt it has the ability to store stuff.
I hope my question makes sense, if not then I can try to rephrase it.

[odolvlobo]

I was wondering about making a bip38 encrypted paper wallet, but I have the worry of the QR codes being kept somewhere during the printing process, maybe in some kind of temporary file that I don't know of. I want to be sure that I completely delete the file that has the private QR code from my hard drive, so I will use the program called Eraser. The problem is, I don't know if when you print something, the file you are printing, like I said before, gets stored temporarily in other folder, or something like that, or even on the hardware of the printer? somehow. But I doubt it, my printer is a pretty old HP one, so I doubt it has the ability to store stuff.
I hope my question makes sense, if not then I can try to rephrase it.

It is possible that the image of the paper wallet, including the private key, is stored somewhere when you print it. If that concerns you, then BIP 38 encryption of the private key is a good solution. The encrypted private key is shown on the paper wallet, but it cannot be used without the password, which is not in the image.

I give out Christmas cards with BIP-38 encrypted private keys, but I send the passwords separately. The cards can be shown to anyone without being concerned about losing the bitcoins.

[2c0de]

I was wondering about making a bip38 encrypted paper wallet, but I have the worry of the QR codes being kept somewhere during the printing process, maybe in some kind of temporary file that I don't know of. I want to be sure that I completely delete the file that has the private QR code from my hard drive, so I will use the program called Eraser. The problem is, I don't know if when you print something, the file you are printing, like I said before, gets stored temporarily in other folder, or something like that, or even on the hardware of the printer? somehow. But I doubt it, my printer is a pretty old HP one, so I doubt it has the ability to store stuff.
I hope my question makes sense, if not then I can try to rephrase it.

1-Yes, every computer saves print files somewhere, and this is true regardless of the type of computer.

Furthermore, even if you're not printing from PC, the printer itself has memory, and does store files. Only old printers didn't have memory, but rule 1 still applies.


Your best bet would be purchase a shopping confirmation leaf printer, but research for a specific printer type that is secure in this way (many aren't)



Alternatively, if you do it manually, just put a piece of light paper on your monitor and with pen copy the QR code with private key on the paper with dark color. You can print the grid with three corner rectangles and will be very secure.

[European Central Bank]

What happened to that dedicated paper wallet printer that was around a while ago? I can't really remember the details too good but it was an all in one unit. I guess you're not gonna get much usage out of it.

[2c0de]

If your printer is secure:
Alternatively what you can do, on a computer with linux started from USB disk, you can print hundred (large batch) of paper wallets. If the printer itself has small memory the last ones could be saved, but if the memory is not big it will be flushed. so the last few wallets could be in memory, so you throw away the last few papers printed then store all the first ones on safe place and use them in sequence.

Also be careful about fire / water . If this is a risk in your locality, consider print to metal sheet etc.

[Kprawn]

Many small printers have a built in buffer or printer cache... most of the time this buffer is cleared, once it's content was send to the computer... but you can also clear the buffer by hard rebooting

the printer. The bigger printers and photo copiers use a hard drive to do this, and this is where the problems starts... most hard drives on these printers are not wiped and people retrieve this

content and even deleted files from these hard drives.  The smaller printers have very small memory, but some of them have upgrades to more memory.. but it's a lot like RAM for a computer. I

use a old HP printer not connected to the internet to print my paper wallets.... after a year or two, I crush it to pieces. 

[GenTarkin]

With a bip38 wallet,  u are being way over paranoid bout what gets left on printer. As long as you pick a secure / long / unique password you can effectively not care who u give the wallet to.
As stated above, actual wallet creation should be done from a live linux boot environment. Thatway, rebooting computer whipes its memory of wallet creation.

[thejaytiesto]

With a bip38 wallet,  u are being way over paranoid bout what gets left on printer. As long as you pick a secure / long / unique password you can effectively not care who u give the wallet to.
As stated above, actual wallet creation should be done from a live linux boot environment. Thatway, rebooting computer whipes its memory of wallet creation.

Well it's a legitimate concern... I for example, created some paper wallets, but they were not encrypted, now im worried that they are stored on my printer memory? but as far as I know, my printer doesnt have internal memory, but some mentioned buffer or something...

I did the printing in a linux boot, one of those where you boot with the CD, and the entire OS is run under ram, then once I was done printing, there are no temporal files possibly left since ram gets flushed. But now im worried about traces being left on the printer, of my QR codes which are not encrypted, but even if they were encrypted, I would still like to know that the printer is clear.