*warning* Two current security issues with mobile devices

[pooya87]

you should always check "any" wallet you are downloading,
1) check their community, their code,... to see how they save your private key, how their security is,...
2) download from their official website and the correct links
3) [important] check the integrity and Authenticity of the downloaded file by checking the signature.

[Schuyler]

Lol well I have a blackberry so I'm not on the world's least secure device (apple) therefore this isn't a concern. Of course most people in the world use an android device and I'm using android ported apps so I guess the same applies. Don't store more than you are be willing to risk. I never keep more than 0.05BTC in mycelium. I thought that was a good solution for blockchain.info when I was a newbie, but somehow my 2FA was 'hacked' (rofl, clearly not. Thanks blockchain.info for the important lesson. Never trust those fools with my money).

What have you encountered specifically with blockchain.info? That is the mobile app I am using right now. Are you allowed to use 2FA on the mobile app, as well?

[bamboylee]

Just to make everyone aware, there are a few security risks presently affecting mobile devices that require people to be vigilant.

Firstly, there are still fake, malicious wallets circulating on the App Store, always make sure you use download links from a reputable source.

Secondly, some wallets are automatically backing up private keys to the cloud.  Keys stored online are potentially a serious security risk.  Make sure your apps aren't doing this, or if they have, move your funds to new addresses immediately.

It's generally good practice to only keep small amounts on portable devices in the event of physical loss or theft anyway.  Larger sums should be locked away in cold storage, offline, somewhere secure.

Thanks for the advice. I do not normally have large amount in my online wallets. It is good to know that it is the right practice.

[jhenfelipe]

Nowadays, it's been really hard to trust any sites/apps that will hold our bitcoin earnings. It would be better to use those that are trusted, used by most users, reputable, and have positive reviews. Making research first may help. Another thing, I think it's okay to use more than one wallet, so that in case something's happened, you won't lose all your earnings. Just my opinion

[JeffBrad12]

Thanks for your tips, but anyone in here can give me more suggestion about which is better in your opinions, xapo or my cellium. I need your help the people is having experience with them. because I wanna to saving a part of my money into device wallet.

[davis196]

Just to make everyone aware, there are a few security risks presently affecting mobile devices that require people to be vigilant.

Firstly, there are still fake, malicious wallets circulating on the App Store, always make sure you use download links from a reputable source.

Secondly, some wallets are automatically backing up private keys to the cloud.  Keys stored online are potentially a serious security risk.  Make sure your apps aren't doing this, or if they have, move your funds to new addresses immediately.

It's generally good practice to only keep small amounts on portable devices in the event of physical loss or theft anyway.  Larger sums should be locked away in cold storage, offline, somewhere secure.

That`s why i will never use any android bitcoin wallet app.

Mobile wallet apps are most likely malicious or at least vulnerable to malicious attacks.

Cold storage is the best option.

[entrepmind23]

Nowadays, it's been really hard to trust any sites/apps that will hold our bitcoin earnings. It would be better to use those that are trusted, used by most users, reputable, and have positive reviews. Making research first may help. Another thing, I think it's okay to use more than one wallet, so that in case something's happened, you won't lose all your earnings. Just my opinion

As much as possible, we should avoid using wallet that has no reputation and a review of users that it is really a dependable and trusted site. It's convenient to use a mobile wallet but safety should come first. If someone opt to use a mobile wallet then it should only be for small amounts so that when there are problems and someone try to steal it then only a small amount will be lost.

[pereira4]

Using your phone to store bitcoin was always a major mistake. You should never carry anything more than pocket change in your phone, literally a couple dollars in bitcoin just like you carry only a couple dollars in your pocket (unless you are a baller...)

[talkbitcoin]

Using your phone to store bitcoin was always a major mistake. You should never carry anything more than pocket change in your phone, literally a couple dollars in bitcoin just like you carry only a couple dollars in your pocket (unless you are a baller...)

sometimes you need to have it for some usages so you hold them on your phone and honestly i don't see any problem with that as long as you are using the right wallet for it with the best security and then keeping it password protected.

[Btcforall]

Just to make everyone aware, there are a few security risks presently affecting mobile devices that require people to be vigilant.

Firstly, there are still fake, malicious wallets circulating on the App Store, always make sure you use download links from a reputable source.

Secondly, some wallets are automatically backing up private keys to the cloud.  Keys stored online are potentially a serious security risk.  Make sure your apps aren't doing this, or if they have, move your funds to new addresses immediately.

It's generally good practice to only keep small amounts on portable devices in the event of physical loss or theft anyway.  Larger sums should be locked away in cold storage, offline, somewhere secure.

Thanks for the warning and tips.With number of mobile internet users on rise,hackers have shifted their target to mobile devices.Precaution is the only safety

[Labumi]

Using your phone to store bitcoin was always a major mistake. You should never carry anything more than pocket change in your phone, literally a couple dollars in bitcoin just like you carry only a couple dollars in your pocket (unless you are a baller...)

sometimes you need to have it for some usages so you hold them on your phone and honestly i don't see any problem with that as long as you are using the right wallet for it with the best security and then keeping it password protected.

Yeah indeed, we need to secure wallet which is used to store all of your bitcoin we have. But if we forget against PC security, laptop, smartphone, etc then all the things you do will be useless, because they can still take your Bitcoin through devices that you use. so in addition to the purse of the device that you use should also be given good security

[X-ray]

i just curious how they can bypass google playstore and appstore's security,i guess those big company always reviewing every applications first or just submit it to their store?,i know becoming a developer in google playstore is quite cheap but it could make them have bad quality

[eternalgloom]

I just wanted to add that it's generally good practice to treat your mobile wallet app as though it's your actual wallet and just keep little money on there.
There's always the threat of your phone being stolen as well.

[Slark]

And this is is a reason I don't have any personal information stored on my mobile device. I also don't use mobile wallets at all.
We are not in the advanced adoption phase which will require me to use my mobile wallet on daily basis.
Some people who use mobile wallets are doing it not because it is necessary or comfortable but because they want to show off.

[x4]

This thread is very helpful for all bitcoin user and the same time a mobile user like me. But I've never download an mobile wallet app just everywhere from google or even playstore I always go to their main site and download from there or a link from them redirect to play store. Thats always even the app has an update.

[beerlover]

Besides that, phones are generally easy to hack and highly vulnerable to attacks, especially when connected to a public wifi. A certain hacker that sets up a public wifi can easily access all information stored in a phone so having a wallet used for long term storage in a phone is highly unadvisable.

[0209BitTradoo]

Besides that, phones are generally easy to hack and highly vulnerable to attacks, especially when connected to a public wifi. A certain hacker that sets up a public wifi can easily access all information stored in a phone so having a wallet used for long term storage in a phone is highly unadvisable.

Turn off wifi whle unused.Don't make auto detect/scanning.Better be manual. AFAIK data connection in safety status .

[drwtsn32]

I have never trusted an online or mobile wallet since I used bitcoin.
I feel like my money is in some sort of lake with just a fence as security.
That's why the wallet I use is at least based in my country.

[xdrpx]

I'm so afraid to install any Bitcoin wallet apps or banking apps from the app store, that I have none installed at the moment. I have Mycelium wallet on my android phone though which I've been using since ages, and it seems to be pretty good and safe. Apple should get very serious in what apps they accept in the store after proper screening.

[tobacco123]

Thanks for the warning. For me, I only keep a small amount of bitcoin in my mobile for just in case- I don't have a strong password for my phone but that's ok with me. I do keep some in Coinbase (desktop web based) and mostly in paper wallet.