Scan QR code of paper wallet?

[Frosten]

Hello!

a few questions. I don't have a webcam.

1. I'm planning to move my paper wallets to new wallets. I have a offline computer, can I some way use a old phone as a qr-scanner and import it, if the phone has no internet connection and is reset? Or do I need to type the private key manually for all the paper wallets?

Sometimes I want to scan the paper wallet to a offline air-gapped machine and import the BIP38 key and double check that it's encrypted with the correct key. But it's getting old pretty quick to manually enter the keys.


2. Would it be possible/safe to use The android Bitcoin wallet to import the old paper wallet and then move coins to a new paper wallet with my android wallet? It's encrypted BIP38.
https://github.com/bitcoin-wallet/bitcoin-wallet




I hope I make any sense! I appreciate any help.

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[cikatuna]

Search on google play for qr code reader
scan private key,
copy private key and send it to your facebook messages
Copy paste on computer from facebook private keys.

Ta-da you are done!

[Frosten]

copy private key and send it to your facebook messages
Copy paste on computer from facebook private keys.

Are you kidding me? I have no control over the data sent through facebook or messenger. Sending private keys through services you don't control is not a great idea.

I'm looking for a secure and open source qr-code reader for android, one that don't collect data, hopefully one that can send the information through a USB cable, don't really know how yet. Maybe I need to order a webcam...

[TryNinja]

copy private key and send it to your facebook messages
Copy paste on computer from facebook private keys.

Are you kidding me? I have no control over the data sent through facebook or messenger. Sending private keys through services you don't control is not a great idea.

I'm looking for a secure and open source qr-code reader for android, one that don't collect data, hopefully one that can send the information through a USB cable, don't really know how yet. Maybe I need to order a webcam...

You could avoid doing it through a third party service by saving your private keys in a txt fale and then, transfer it to your computer with your USB.

If you want a app that does read your QR code and sends to your PC, there is this app called Barcode to PC for Android and IOS that does the trick[1].

[1] https://barcodetopc.com/

[Frosten]

Thank you TryNinja! I will try it.

[slate_main]

Search on google play for qr code reader
scan private key,
copy private key and send it to your facebook messages
Copy paste on computer from facebook private keys.

Ta-da you are done!

NOBODY do this.

You can always download and OCR text scanner on your smartphone to avoid writing down all those keys, just connect to computer and copy from phone. Safe, offline...

[jackg]

copy private key and send it to your facebook messages
Copy paste on computer from facebook private keys.

Are you kidding me? I have no control over the data sent through facebook or messenger. Sending private keys through services you don't control is not a great idea.

I'm looking for a secure and open source qr-code reader for android, one that don't collect data, hopefully one that can send the information through a USB cable, don't really know how yet. Maybe I need to order a webcam...

You could avoid doing it through a third party service by saving your private keys in a txt fale and then, transfer it to your computer with your USB.

If you want a app that does read your QR code and sends to your PC, there is this app called Barcode to PC for Android and IOS that does the trick[1].

[1] https://barcodetopc.com/

OP, if you have an air-gapped pc that's always offline, I don't see too much of a point in using paper wallets (though it does give a bit extra security).

Just as a note, if you're trying to store it in a txt file as tryninja suggests, ensure you use a piece of software on your phone that can handle .txt files (my suggestion would be Python).

Also, if their is a loose/faulty connection or you have particular security software then the barcode app directly scanning to a computer may not work. You can always look into downloading a copy of electrum in order to resolve this.

Electrum download: electrum.org/#download - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.electrum.electrum
Python/text editor download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.qpython.qpy3


DEFINITELY DO NOT DO WHAT WAS SUGGESTED SECOND TO THE OP AND IMPORT YOUR PRIVATE KEYS TO MESSENGER - it may seem a nifty idea but putting them there is a bad idea (unless you have a password with AT LEAST 20 characters in it but even then it's risky).

[Frosten]

@jackg - I have ordered a webcam for future paper wallets, so I can use that on my air-gapped machine.

Yes I'm considering using Electrum or Mycelium for android, for moving coins between paper wallets, just to make the process a bit easier.

I would say that Electrum seems a bit more secure than Mycelium, because Electrum uses SPV validation and Mycelium uses central validation.

I still need to trust the trusted list from Electrum nodes (SPV).

[jackg]

I know for electrum, they only send public keys. These include extended public keys (produced from seeds) or individual addresses.

If you post a bitcoin address, it is designed to be almost impossible to decrypt (currently). There have been no brute-force private key hacks.

I personally like electrum, you may want to factory reset your machine first though in order to get it a little safer before you begin (but that's just a recommendation).

[Frosten]

Thanks jackg. Yes I have a few spare old android phones. Going to reset it before I use it.

[monkeydominicorobin]

Hello!

a few questions. I don't have a webcam.

1. I'm planning to move my paper wallets to new wallets. I have a offline computer, can I some way use a old phone as a qr-scanner and import it, if the phone has no internet connection and is reset? Or do I need to type the private key manually for all the paper wallets?

Sometimes I want to scan the paper wallet to a offline air-gapped machine and import the BIP38 key and double check that it's encrypted with the correct key. But it's getting old pretty quick to manually enter the keys.


2. Would it be possible/safe to use The android Bitcoin wallet to import the old paper wallet and then move coins to a new paper wallet with my android wallet? It's encrypted BIP38.
https://github.com/bitcoin-wallet/bitcoin-wallet




I hope I make any sense! I appreciate any help.

Since we are into paper wallets.  As I trust them more than anything else.  I will let you know about OMNIWALLET.COM
1. Omniwallet allows you to redeem your wallet by importing old paper wallets.  I KNOW because I have tried it myself and up until now I still trust it because it also allows you to build.
2.The so-called watch address. To watch the value of your old paper wallets. Other online wallets will not allow you to do that.
3. So if you are still hesitant to use it. Just play with it for  a while until you are comfortable using the wallet.
4. I would advice against using Android applications.  As much as possible stay away from Android apps when it comes to managing your Bitcoins.
5. As you mentioned transfer it into your new paper wallets.

[LoyceV]

Just typing private keys takes a few seconds, I get it right at first try 50% of the time.
Using a phone, saving to SD-card, and copying to your computer seems like more work to me.

@jackg - I have ordered a webcam for future paper wallets, so I can use that on my air-gapped machine.

How do you transfer the coins form the air-gapped PC? Sign a transaction, broadcast it on another PC?

Yes I have a few spare old android phones. Going to reset it before I use it.

I never trust Android to completely remove data from the phone, but as long as it's offline and you never use the same private keys again you don't have to destroy the phone after your session.

copy private key and send it to your facebook messages

No. Just no. I know it's been said before, but let's emphasize it again: don't recommend Facebook messages when someone is working securely on an offline computer. Always assume Facebook stores all your data for eternity.

Since we are into paper wallets.  As I trust them more than anything else.  I will let you know about OMNIWALLET.COM

A web wallet is the last thing someone on an air-gapped PC needs. It's .org BTW, not .com.

[erilook99]

is a good breakthrough using qr code but there are advantages and disadvantages as well. the first must be easier because of the scan only, without we input one by one. we are less susceptible to viruses and data security so less

[Golerm]

Not sure I completely understand you but I think I've done something similar in the past. I moved scanned coins to a new wallet I created in Electrum.

Just scan the barcode using the Android Bitcoin app (make sure your phone is factory reset if you don't trust it), when funds are received send them to another (Electrum) address.

[jackg]

is a good breakthrough using qr code but there are advantages and disadvantages as well. the first must be easier because of the scan only, without we input one by one. we are less susceptible to viruses and data security so less

There's not really much of a virus hazard on a factory reset phone? That's the point of a factory reset. Caution is still a good idea and not connecting the reset phone to the Internet at all is a good idea (you can get qr codes that you can scan to send transactions input included I think) if not it's simple enough to do.

Thanks jackg. Yes I have a few spare old android phones. Going to reset it before I use it.

Any updates on how this worked for you if you've tried it yet? It'd be useful to find if you had any issues using it (or if you just waited for your webcam to arrive).

[Frosten]

Any updates on how this worked for you if you've tried it yet? It'd be useful to find if you had any issues using it (or if you just waited for your webcam to arrive).

Hello I forgot to give a update. I first tried to use Electrum, but it couldn't handle BIP38. So I used Mycelium (Android) instead. I made all transfers with Myceliym including the transfer to the new addresses. The phone was connected to the internet the whole time, but I never reuse paper wallet addresses and the old are empty now.

The new addresses are generated with a air-gapped PC and the paper is folded so I don't accidental take any pictures of my private key, but it's easy enough to scan the public key.   

I know it's not the most secure way but it got the job done, I mean now when my BTC is at my new addresses it should be aright now?

Thanks for the help Jackg!

[jackg]

Any updates on how this worked for you if you've tried it yet? It'd be useful to find if you had any issues using it (or if you just waited for your webcam to arrive).

Hello I forgot to give a update. I first tried to use Electrum, but it couldn't handle BIP38. So I used Mycelium (Android) instead. I made all transfers with Myceliym including the transfer to the new addresses. The phone was connected to the internet the whole time, but I never reuse paper wallet addresses and the old are empty now.

The new addresses are generated with a air-gapped PC and the paper is folded so I don't accidental take any pictures of my private key, but it's easy enough to scan the public key.   

I know it's not the most secure way but it got the job done, I mean now when my BTC is at my new addresses it should be aright now?

Thanks for the help Jackg!

That's great to hear!

If you haven't already, after doing these stages, factory reset your phone again at the end just so there's no storage that has been saved here (you might also consider doing this a few times toensure the data is definitely gone from the phone).

It is still a fairly secure method anyway if you only had mycelium, the factoy apps and were just making new private keys from the old addresses (obviously, that depends on how you printed your private keys though - if anyone else has access to that printer it might be useful to reset that if possible as the printers broadcast queues and other data across the local network where you private keys and their qr codes could be stored).

[Spendulus]

....Always assume Facebook stores all your data for eternity....

For that matter, it'd be wise to not scan a private key with ANY square code app.

Apps are notorious for back end personal data thievery.

[NewalTurim]

After reading all of this it seems so much easier to me, to just write down the private and public key. Walletgenerator and MyEtherWallet give you the opportunity to have multiple coins on them, well and for the other coins you need an extra wallet. but that should be worth it for your peace of mind