How to teach people to download software wallets?

[pereira4]

I keep seeing people that want to get started in bitcoin, asking "how do I buy bitcoins?" then they buy them, usually from Coinbase, or any other big sites like those, and they keep the coins there. It's like they don't make the effort to learn the fact that having coins outside of your local software wallet is very stupid. All those people are prone to suffer losses as websites come and go, and don't get me started on the people that keep their coins on all those shady exchanges.

How to avoid seeing this phenomena? it's like no matter how this is repeated, they never listen.

[1714265402]

1714265402

[1714265402]

1714265402

[springgers]

Actualy if you have a low volume, you can use an web wallet, if you lose will be "$50"...

I don't know, it's not your money, let they lose it if they want, everyday and everywhere we can see threads about wallets/exchanges/etc

Desktop/Mobile wallets aren't so safe too, if you have BIG amounts, is better to use a paper wallet.

[mobnepal]

Usually for newbie it will be hard for them to understand how to install and run bitcoin daemon, so better option for them will be to use paper wallet and store all bitcoin they have bought in it and not connect it to web wallet till they need to use those bitcoin. Another option could be using desktop wallet like electrum.

[isen]

These people obviously didn't understand the concept of Bitcoin very well,they need to realize that as long as they don't hold the private keys then they don't have 100% control over these funds.
Also, someone has to inform them that online wallets are not so safe as they might think and that there are much better options to store their Bitcoins like hardware wallets,paper wallets etc.

[bitbunnny]

People always go for easiest and the least complicated solutions. So, if they are beginners it's kind a logical step to use exchangers as wallet. I don't agree that this is good solution but they probably don't have much Bitcoins anyway.
Do your best to teach them about advantages and disadvantages of all kinds of wallet and they will decide for themselves. And at the end they will learn, this way or another.

[iv4n]

Like in most cases this people will learn this on hard way, after they lose their money in some way, they will try to think about better wallets and better protection of their coins.
How to teach them? Simply, make few videos about people who lost a lot of money in exchange sites, with online wallets. Short video that will educate all new people and some old ones.

[Kprawn]

I should think the obvious answer would be for us to teach people about paper wallets at the same time when we teach them about web

wallets. They should know how to buy them and then how to store them safely. The problem with this is, most of these methods to create

paper wallets are too complex for the average newbie that just bought bitcoin for the first time. We should make easy tutorials and post it on

the web for everyone doing this for the first time.  

[amacar2]

As most of the new people who start to use bitcoin want simple user interface just like the usual payment processors like paypal, perfectmoney etc they have been using from long time and as coinbase, xapo, blockchain like web wallets give them similar type of user interface so those people will not care much and keep on using this web wallets to easily access and send/receive bitcoin so this situation may remain for future also.

[jak3]

now this a great mess i am getting frusted with the same question that why most people consider coinbase like wallets or some common sites for their everything. i am kind of adventerious and i like using and experimenting new softwares and their new features but new users only try to learn what they have seen live examples of and on most of the tutorials or guide even at youtube coinbase is one famous brand i have seen 99% btc accepting sites have the coinbase logo on them

[prabowo96]

Just send this to other people https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet

So they can see the weak points of any wallet and well, exchange isn't wallet... Other day I saw a nice graph about wallets but I don't found the thread right now.

[shinratensei_]

How to avoid seeing this phenomena? it's like no matter how this is repeated, they never listen.

You got the clue, they never listen and it means having a harsh mind, so what are you doing if you already try for teach them about using the soft wallet (offline) and he does not listen to you? For those people are listening to the others suggestion, it's no need any special way for teaching them. it's not about need but for taking concern or nothing.
So what are you doing if they are never listening to you, just give them an evidence.

[pooya87]

I keep seeing people that want to get started in bitcoin, asking "how do I buy bitcoins?" then they buy them, usually from Coinbase, or any other big sites like those, and they keep the coins there. It's like they don't make the effort to learn the fact that having coins outside of your local software wallet is very stupid. All those people are prone to suffer losses as websites come and go, and don't get me started on the people that keep their coins on all those shady exchanges.

How to avoid seeing this phenomena? it's like no matter how this is repeated, they never listen.

actually i think coinbase is the best way for a beginner to start with bitcoin, for both buying and holding bitcoin because it is easy and newbie friendly.

and then after they buy and get involved, there is two different paths anyone can take: either a full node like bitcoin core or an SPV wallet depending on the bandwidth, storage space and other stuff. and by that time they should know enough about bitcoin to be able to install a wallet.

[harizen]

I keep seeing people that want to get started in bitcoin, asking "how do I buy bitcoins?" then they buy them, usually from Coinbase, or any other big sites like those, and they keep the coins there. It's like they don't make the effort to learn the fact that having coins outside of your local software wallet is very stupid. All those people are prone to suffer losses as websites come and go, and don't get me started on the people that keep their coins on all those shady exchanges.

How to avoid seeing this phenomena? it's like no matter how this is repeated, they never listen.

Well for buying and selling purposes, using web wallet exchanges is far less hassle than anything else. Like I said for "buying and selling" purposes only and not meant for storage purposes. And besides if a newbie will put really a big and decent capital to buy coins, something safe will be put in their mind automatically so still they will not use web wallets as storage.

It's a dumb for a person who will spend a decent money without thinking of a safety thing prior to buying coins.

[Kakmakr]

To be brutally honest, I do not know if it is a good thing for them to use these wallets, with all the security flaws these wallets seem to have. I would rather support one movement, where people are encouraged to use hardware wallets from the start, but at the moment these hardware wallets is too expensive and some people will not be able to afford it.

These companies should find ways to subsidize these devices, to make them more affordable. 

[DimensionZ]

If you are buying small amounts of Bitcoins to use for online shopping it's not that bad to keep them on the exchange site where you have bought them like Coinbase or Circle. Not all Bitcoin users are keen on holding coins for a long time and not all users are technically adept.
It's like saying not to keep cash in PayPal because it could get stolen. Yes it's true that Bitcoin exchanges love to announce they have had a security breach and x amount was stolen, but the same could happen to your software wallets as well.

[unamis76]

I seriously don't think there's more that can be done regarding this. Things have happened, there's news about that, the information is out there... Now people should try to inform themselves and learn that information is important.

[LFC_Bitcoin]

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. We will always hear/read about noob type bitcoiners losing coins due to user error.

[clickerz]

I encounter this also several times. The problem is they did not know what to do,seriously. We as an IT people,its easy for us, but tho those who are not computer literate,they do not have no idea what to do.Even if you give them instructions,they ca not follow, the best is mentoring with them step by step. Also, if they are interested and determine to learn bitcoin, whatever it takes they will study and do some self study.

[avatar_kiyoshi]

I keep seeing people that want to get started in bitcoin, asking "how do I buy bitcoins?" then they buy them, usually from Coinbase, or any other big sites like those, and they keep the coins there. It's like they don't make the effort to learn the fact that having coins outside of your local software wallet is very stupid. All those people are prone to suffer losses as websites come and go, and don't get me started on the people that keep their coins on all those shady exchanges.

How to avoid seeing this phenomena? it's like no matter how this is repeated, they never listen.

Same here, I've been told them if storing coin to online wallet or exchange wallet is very risky when we not hold private keys which it's an important thing to keep it safe.

I suggest them to use electrum wallet because it's no need to update big size data, just sync it online, the software is friendly user too and set up is very easy. Then some of them follow my advice, but not all.

[yayayo]

Teaching people to use software wallets is pretty easy: Point them to bitcoin.org. I always warn people that they should inform themselves before investing and that keeping coins at exchanges is careless for many reasons. You should not explain people how to buy Bitcoin before having ensured that they understand the basic principles of it. I always emphasize that not holding the private key of an address means not owning Bitcoin.

The problem is that nowadays large parts of the crowd are dronish beyond repair. They don't want to think for themselves and they don't want to make an effort to become independent. All they want is the most convenient solution. That's why I don't think it will be possible to convince all people to use their own software wallets.

ya.ya.yo!

[NeuroticFish]

As somebody else also stated, computers/laptops/cellphones are not so safe either.
If you know well the person(s) and they trust you, generate for them a paper wallet and ask them to transfer the coins there (maybe even keep yourself a copy for the case they lose theirs!!).

If you are the owner of an exchange and can afford 1 day of downtime... simulate a hack: show temporarily 0 funds to everybody and show a vague info that could be read as "exchange hacked".
Then next day, after you were on the news, you can tell "it was only a drill, don't panic, but please use your own wallets, for more safety".
It could be a good advertising after all 

[xIIImaL]

I encounter this also several times. The problem is they did not know what to do,seriously. We as an IT people,its easy for us, but tho those who are not computer literate,they do not have no idea what to do.Even if you give them instructions,they ca not follow, the best is mentoring with them step by step. Also, if they are interested and determine to learn bitcoin, whatever it takes they will study and do some self study.

Whatever IT or finance work, When you start any work first of all we need assistance. Its a same kind of that thing buddy. Just we need assist person to make him well and good about bitcoin and all its features. Have online wallet or any app is must to be part of bitcoin. when its come to transaction. So explain it to needed people.

[jacktheking]

Not going into details on how to teach people to use Bitcoin wallet instead of a exchange wallet. I am just here to share my experience on how I download my first Bitcoin wallet.

When I first started out with Bitcoin, the first site I visit is https://bitcoin.org and I spend my time reading the articles on how to get started with Bitcoin. Then I download MultiBit and start using Bitcoin. I believe that by pointing them to Bitcoin.org, should be enough. If they do not want to spend that 10 or 15 minutes to read a few articles to make themselves more secure, it is up to them when their Bitcoin lost.

[thejaytiesto]

As somebody else also stated, computers/laptops/cellphones are not so safe either.
If you know well the person(s) and they trust you, generate for them a paper wallet and ask them to transfer the coins there (maybe even keep yourself a copy for the case they lose theirs!!).

If you are the owner of an exchange and can afford 1 day of downtime... simulate a hack: show temporarily 0 funds to everybody and show a vague info that could be read as "exchange hacked".
Then next day, after you were on the news, you can tell "it was only a drill, don't panic, but please use your own wallets, for more safety".
It could be a good advertising after all 

Sure, your computer may not be safe, but you can take responsibility of your own computer. You have options, you have control over it. Now, what control you have over it if you give your private keys to some website? it's just not the same.

If you have an electrum wallet, or a core wallet, you can save several backups, it's impossible that you end up with an empty pocket.

[requester]

to use wallet software first user should know what is private key and what is public key. first user should have both the keys to access his bitcoin account. so public key is known to all and let's find the private key from blockchain. after having this 2 key user could  access his bitcoin address in any wallet software

[btccashacc]

I just recommend them to used wallet based on their needs, like what i did in past when i started out with bitcoin for the first time, i always tell them to google about what is bitcoin and how it works then visit https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet in order to select which wallet is best and suitable for them.
However the best place for storing their bitcoin are  wallets where they controll they own private key, that's why i suggest them to use those wallets.

[calkob]

It really depends on the amount of harddrive space and internet bandwidth they have, if they have lots of both then bitcoin core is a no brainer and if not then something like electrum is def the 1 to go for. 

[jackg]

I keep seeing people that want to get started in bitcoin, asking "how do I buy bitcoins?" then they buy them, usually from Coinbase, or any other big sites like those, and they keep the coins there. It's like they don't make the effort to learn the fact that having coins outside of your local software wallet is very stupid. All those people are prone to suffer losses as websites come and go, and don't get me started on the people that keep their coins on all those shady exchanges.

How to avoid seeing this phenomena? it's like no matter how this is repeated, they never listen.

This is actually quite a difficult subject of how to teach pepole how to download wallets if they're not tech-savvy.
The first thing is that you should buy anything before you have done research on it to ensure that it is a stable investment.
Also, not many people know how the blockchain and bitcoin core work and communicate with even the fundamentals. What I'd suggest they do is use a mobile wallet (as it's the easiest to set up) or use a wallet like electrum, (but electrum still technically have a copy of the private keys and addresses).

[NeuroticFish]

As somebody else also stated, computers/laptops/cellphones are not so safe either.
If you know well the person(s) and they trust you, generate for them a paper wallet and ask them to transfer the coins there (maybe even keep yourself a copy for the case they lose theirs!!).

If you are the owner of an exchange and can afford 1 day of downtime... simulate a hack: show temporarily 0 funds to everybody and show a vague info that could be read as "exchange hacked".
Then next day, after you were on the news, you can tell "it was only a drill, don't panic, but please use your own wallets, for more safety".
It could be a good advertising after all 

Sure, your computer may not be safe, but you can take responsibility of your own computer. You have options, you have control over it. Now, what control you have over it if you give your private keys to some website? it's just not the same.

If you have an electrum wallet, or a core wallet, you can save several backups, it's impossible that you end up with an empty pocket.

I do have my computer protected and I do have backups. I do use local wallet. It's the obvious choice and many do that. But many don't.
I was surprised of how many people don't actually know nor care if they have viruses. Most of those even have antivirus installed (usually disabled or badly outdated).
You just cannot ask everybody think and do as you do. All you can do is to offer them alternatives. If you do that, people (and OP) will chose the alternative they think it suits them best.

[staff_1307]

All this can be explained by the fact that they are just getting started in Bitcoin.

[savioroshan]

Yeah you are right. Exchangers wallet is not safe to store bitcoin. The only  way to keep bitcoin safe is desktop wallet. Newbies who are new to bitcoin they won't be having much knowledge about bitcoin. So it's our duty to educate them. I don't mean that we should go and tell everybody in this world about this. But you can do one thing. Dears and nears who are very new to bitcoin, we can give them our advice or teach them regarding bitcoin and it's different wallets. If anybody has got a good website regarding digital currencies, he can make a post about downloading, using and advantages of desktop wallets. If anyone is very active in bitcoin related forums, there they can guide newbies about using desktop wallets. Some won't listen these advices. They will learn by themselves from their experience. We cannot do anything for them.