How safe is a flashdrive?

[Pencil Pastel]

It is very much possible for viruses to install on flash drives. Remember some are so nasty and clever that when removed off your HDD they simply move over to your ram. Now ofcoarse you don't know this so it's very frustrating. Your antivirus should automatically even so if the flashdrive is infected then so are the pcs you transferring between.

[darkangel11]

I have heard suggestions here to have an offline computer where keys are stored. Even transactions that need to be paid can be saved, entered into the offline computer, signed, and the confirmation transferred back to the flashdrive to be uploaded to the internet. But this requires a flashdrive to go back and forth. So how much does that compromise security?

If one only transmits specific files back and forth to the flashdrive, is it safe? Or is it possible for a program to install itself unknowingly on the flashdrive while in the internet-connected computer?

First of all, there's no need to be so scared and overprotective. It all depends on how much money you're storing and how secure is your network and apartment.
I've been using hardware wallets on my online computers for many years with no problems.

You can safely store coins on your pc, even if it's online. You only have to remember about basic security measures (link clicking, opening attachments, entering suspicious sites), have good anti virus software and never store your passwords on your pc.

If you're determined to use an offline PC, connecting it for a minute to send transaction is perfectly safe and nobody will have time to hack you in those 2 minutes that you need to pay and disconnect.

[Pencil Pastel]

A flashdrive is bad for long-term backup. Hey static memory and clear when they haven't had any power for awhile.

[Terraformer]

If you desperately want to use SD Cards or USB drives/flash drives go out and by three high quality ones

The smartest thing i have heard today. I recommend the same approach, but instead of flash drive can be used quality CD+R disk. You can add information to it, with no afraid to erase previous session.

[hexafraction]

If you desperately want to use SD Cards or USB drives/flash drives go out and by three high quality ones

The smartest thing i have heard today. I recommend the same approach, but instead of flash drive can be used quality CD+R disk. You can add information to it, with no afraid to erase previous session.

CD-R disks are susceptible to chemical degradation.

[ulhaq]

I have heard suggestions here to have an offline computer where keys are stored. Even transactions that need to be paid can be saved, entered into the offline computer, signed, and the confirmation transferred back to the flashdrive to be uploaded to the internet. But this requires a flashdrive to go back and forth. So how much does that compromise security?

If one only transmits specific files back and forth to the flashdrive, is it safe? Or is it possible for a program to install itself unknowingly on the flashdrive while in the internet-connected computer?

First of all, there's no need to be so scared and overprotective. It all depends on how much money you're storing and how secure is your network and apartment.
I've been using hardware wallets on my online computers for many years with no problems.

You can safely store coins on your pc, even if it's online. You only have to remember about basic security measures (link clicking, opening attachments, entering suspicious sites), have good anti virus software and never store your passwords on your pc.

If you're determined to use an offline PC, connecting it for a minute to send transaction is perfectly safe and nobody will have time to hack you in those 2 minutes that you need to pay and disconnect.

So turning off the Wifi using the linux GUI is relatively safe in terms of knowing that it is actually turned off? I am planning on downloading and installing some basic software on a clean laptop and will then turn off the Wifi, generate encrypted passwords, and then later perhaps not connect to the internet, or maybe infrequently as you have mentioned.

If you desperately want to use SD Cards or USB drives/flash drives go out and by three high quality ones

The smartest thing i have heard today. I recommend the same approach, but instead of flash drive can be used quality CD+R disk. You can add information to it, with no afraid to erase previous session.

How long will a CR+R disk last compared to a flashdrive?

[bobitza202]

If you desperately want to use SD Cards or USB drives/flash drives go out and by three high quality ones

The smartest thing i have heard today. I recommend the same approach, but instead of flash drive can be used quality CD+R disk. You can add information to it, with no afraid to erase previous session.

How long will a CR+R disk last compared to a flashdrive?

A CD will probably last more, i have a Bach Concert cd from 87' and it still works  

[U2]

If you desperately want to use SD Cards or USB drives/flash drives go out and by three high quality ones

The smartest thing i have heard today. I recommend the same approach, but instead of flash drive can be used quality CD+R disk. You can add information to it, with no afraid to erase previous session.

How long will a CR+R disk last compared to a flashdrive?

It's way less ... practical to store and would be ruined so much easier. One scratch and you're screwed. Saying your music still works is all well and good, but what if you were storing tens of thousands of dollars on that CD? You wouldn't want it somewhere more secure?

[pooya87]

If you desperately want to use SD Cards or USB drives/flash drives go out and by three high quality ones

The smartest thing i have heard today. I recommend the same approach, but instead of flash drive can be used quality CD+R disk. You can add information to it, with no afraid to erase previous session.

How long will a CR+R disk last compared to a flashdrive?

A CD will probably last more, i have a Bach Concert cd from 87' and it still works 

it depends on the quality of that disk too. i have a bunch of CDs that had some valuable stuff on them and i don't know if they were shitty Chinese product or what but they stopped working after a couple of months!
it is always best to keep additional backups from a sensitive information like private keys which are holding your money!

p.s. your CD is as old as me

[vapourminer]

If you desperately want to use SD Cards or USB drives/flash drives go out and by three high quality ones

The smartest thing i have heard today. I recommend the same approach, but instead of flash drive can be used quality CD+R disk. You can add information to it, with no afraid to erase previous session.

How long will a CR+R disk last compared to a flashdrive?

archive quality cds:

http://www.verbatim.com/subcat/optical-media/cd/archival-grade-gold-cd-r/

[Mike Mayor]

Bad idea using a flash drive. It's called flash for a reason. It will not contain the data you want after a few years. The data is flash so it will clear eventually. Is an external HDD. It works because the data is written onto the drive plates. Please please please don't use any flash memory to save important things. They not Kent to store data they for transporting.

[machinek20]

It is not safe at all to used flashdrive, usually virus infected from the flashdrive, this indicates that flashdrive is not a good protection from malware and flashdrive is easily broken even without anyone using it, it can suddenly broke

[ulhaq]

So for storage purposes, and something that could be kept in a safe deposit box, what would be recommended? Hardware wallets are okay for bitcoin and a few other cryptocurrencies, but not for the vast majority. Using paper is cumbersome if there are a number of different cryptocurrencies, and optical recognition software would be necessary to scan in encrypted keys.

CDs and flashdrives are both ill-advised according to posts above. But from my research on flashdrives, as long as they are used periodically they should maintain integrity? Eg, I could insert them in a computer once/year. It would not be my only backup.

[Eternu]

I have heard suggestions here to have an offline computer where keys are stored. Even transactions that need to be paid can be saved, entered into the offline computer, signed, and the confirmation transferred back to the flashdrive to be uploaded to the internet. But this requires a flashdrive to go back and forth. So how much does that compromise security?

If one only transmits specific files back and forth to the flashdrive, is it safe? Or is it possible for a program to install itself unknowingly on the flashdrive while in the internet-connected computer?

If i remember right, and as far as i know there are programs that can install them self on your computer without you knowing it, i mean from flash-drive. But there could be something that a person could do to maximize protection of computer. First do not give flesh-drive to anyone and do not use it on computer that you are not sure it is safe to use, second have a good antivirus program, but even with that you can not be safe 100 percents.