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Author Topic: change electrum wallet password for all computers??  (Read 614 times)
konnebonne (OP)
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May 09, 2017, 11:08:43 PM
 #1

Hello,


This is my very first post on this forum so first of all, if im off on the wrong side of the forum just direct me! Also ive tried searching for this issue but with no luck. A classic Newbie Smiley


The question that i have is simple, i use whonix system and first off i was only logged into the bank on 1 computer. Later that one got away somehow (dont want to exploit why). But ofc i had my seed backed up with veracrypt on a usb.

So i can access the wallet with no issues and put a password to login on my "new" computer.

I later tested to use the seed on my mates computer and could then use a completely new password?

Meaning, wherever i use my seed i have to set a password, and it dosent have to be the same as on the 2d computer.


My Question is, how do i change so that the "Computer that got away" have a new password, can i only do this from that perticular computer?? There must be a way to set a default password for all computers
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May 10, 2017, 01:32:00 AM
 #2

No... The password used to encrypt the wallet is specific to that device and installation. Different installations are independent from each other with regards to settings and passwords. So, even when you "restore" from seed, you are making a completely independent version of the wallet... so you can use a different (or no) password and all other copies on separate devices are unaffected

The moral of the story, don't got restoring your wallet on random PCs, and if you have "lost" a PC with a copy of your wallet, you may want to seriously consider creating a brand new wallet and moving all your coins to it. Even though the existing wallet on the lost PC should be safely encrypted, if your password was weak, it could be bruteforced and someone else could get access to your coins...

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Abdussamad
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May 10, 2017, 10:04:42 AM
 #3

Hello,


This is my very first post on this forum so first of all, if im off on the wrong side of the forum just direct me! Also ive tried searching for this issue but with no luck. A classic Newbie Smiley


The question that i have is simple, i use whonix system and first off i was only logged into the bank on 1 computer. Later that one got away somehow (dont want to exploit why). But ofc i had my seed backed up with veracrypt on a usb.

So i can access the wallet with no issues and put a password to login on my "new" computer.

I later tested to use the seed on my mates computer and could then use a completely new password?

Meaning, wherever i use my seed i have to set a password, and it dosent have to be the same as on the 2d computer.


My Question is, how do i change so that the "Computer that got away" have a new password, can i only do this from that perticular computer?? There must be a way to set a default password for all computers

First of all electrum is not a bank.

Second knowledge of the seed allows anyone to restore your wallet. The password is not required if you have the seed. Since your seed has been exposed on potentially insecure systems you have to create a new wallet with a new seed, send all your bitcoins to a receiving address in this new wallet and stop using your old wallet.

You can create a new wallet using the file menu > new/restore option. In future be mindful of which wallet you have open at any time. The window title bar should contain the wallet name. Don't go receiving bitcoins at your old wallet.

Finally you may be wondering what the password is for. The password is for encrypting the wallet file on your PC so that if some malicious person or program should get access to that they can't spend your bitcoins without knowing the password to decrypt the wallet file. The wallet file contains the seed and related meta data. If you have the seed then you don't need access to the wallet file.
konnebonne (OP)
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May 11, 2017, 05:35:20 PM
 #4

Alrighty,

Should thought that if u had the seed u could make a global password for all the computers u ever used ur seed to login at, but if u cant then yes. The best way is to make a new Wallet and only use that one instead!

Ty

Kind regards

Konnebonne
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May 11, 2017, 09:58:23 PM
 #5

Alrighty,

Should thought that if u had the seed u could make a global password for all the computers u ever used ur seed to login at, but if u cant then yes. The best way is to make a new Wallet and only use that one instead!

Ty

Kind regards

Konnebonne

Others here:  would below work, I have never tried it?

You could save your encrypted Electrum wallet.  Then copy that encrypted wallet file to another computer (with Electrum already installed).  You would have to update the wallet by going online if any activity has happened since the saved file was made.  Always keep the SEED in any case as its Electrum's fail safe recovery mechanism.  This procedure while safe, is not the ordinary way to go about accomplishing Electrum use on multiple computers.  Wondering if this would work?

I don't recommend using Electrum on any online computer where the SEED is available.  Electrum is very secure but many users have systems that aren't.  Don't chance online + SEED on the same machine.  Cold (two computers) or hardware wallets are the way to go.  My .02

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Abdussamad
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May 12, 2017, 07:54:11 AM
 #6

Should thought that if u had the seed u could make a global password for all the computers u ever used ur seed to login at, but if u cant then yes. The best way is to make a new Wallet and only use that one instead!

Electrum is not a centralized service that controls your wallets so this could never happen. You really need to stop thinking of it like that. The entire idea of bitcoin is that you are in control of your money and you alone are responsible for it.
Abdussamad
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May 12, 2017, 07:58:15 AM
 #7

You could save your encrypted Electrum wallet.  Then copy that encrypted wallet file to another computer (with Electrum already installed).  You would have to update the wallet by going online if any activity has happened since the saved file was made.  Always keep the SEED in any case as its Electrum's fail safe recovery mechanism.  This procedure while safe, is not the ordinary way to go about accomplishing Electrum use on multiple computers.  Wondering if this would work?

Yes it would work but I wouldn't consider it safe. There is some risk involved with this too because wallet passwords can be bruteforced.

A safer way of doing this is to create a watch only wallet. You can grab your master public key from the wallet menu and use that to restore a wallet on the other device. This way you can view balances and transactions but your bitcoins will not be at risk because there is no seed in the watch-only wallet.
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May 12, 2017, 08:39:46 PM
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You could save your encrypted Electrum wallet.  Then copy that encrypted wallet file to another computer (with Electrum already installed).  You would have to update the wallet by going online if any activity has happened since the saved file was made.  Always keep the SEED in any case as its Electrum's fail safe recovery mechanism.  This procedure while safe, is not the ordinary way to go about accomplishing Electrum use on multiple computers.  Wondering if this would work?

Yes it would work but I wouldn't consider it safe. There is some risk involved with this too because wallet passwords can be bruteforced.

A safer way of doing this is to create a watch only wallet. You can grab your master public key from the wallet menu and use that to restore a wallet on the other device. This way you can view balances and transactions but your bitcoins will not be at risk because there is no seed in the watch-only wallet.

As you know I couldn't agree more.  My intention is to never again have a seed on any computer that goes online.  I figured the saved wallet file would work but with SEED being present I vote "no thanks" on the risks.  Thanks for confirming it would work.  Its been a long time since I have placed a SEED even on a cold wallet setup using Electrum.  My Trezors make me lazy where researching these issues is concerned.  I did all this stuff for a few years when I started out, but you lose a little when you don't "practice" the steps somewhat often.  Same as my linux coding when I don't stay sharp.  LOL!

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