Now that people have told you what a paper wallet is, let's see how to make one in a secure way.
I’ll give you two different methods.
The first one is “security paranoid”; it means that you will be 99.99999999999% secure that your bitcoins are safe and hacker-proof. BUT, it is more complicated. Probably this is too paranoid, but I prefer to give you all the options!
The second is still relatively safe, but much easier. If the amount involved is small, you can maybe choose the easy way.
1. Super-safe modeFirst of all you need to create a bootable USB stick with a linux distro. I have always used Ubuntu. Here you have an easy guide (
https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/linux/create-a-bootable-ubuntu-usb-flash-drive-the-easy-way/). The super/extra/mega-secure way would be a brand new USB stick. But it's sufficient if it has been formatted using a secure method (like formatting with three passages).
On this stick, you will save the webpage “bitaddress.org” (verify the page is legit - here you have the hash of the legit page
https://www.bitaddress.org/CHANGELOG.txt.asc): this is the page that will generate your key pair and the paper wallet. In theory you could do it directly on the website, but you want to avoid that at all costs. You want to save the page offline and run it on a secure computer disconnected from the internet, so that the keys don't leak. You just go to the page, and than you save it (file -> Save page as) on the USB.
Now take a computer that you think is sufficiently secure, and disconnect it from Internet. Make sure you first set it up to boot from the USB. Insert the Live USB stick and turn the computer on. You will see that Ubuntu starts loading. You will be asked if you want to install or try it. You don't need to install it, try is ok. Make sure the computer is NOT connected to internet.
Open bitaddress. You will have to move your mouse to generate randomness. Then go to the tab "paper wallet" and generate some new ones. Now press "print" and save the paper wallets as PDF on the USB stick.
Turn everything off
Now you need to print the paper wallet. Try to find a good printer but that is not connected to the internet (network printers are not good for you). Most advanced printers make a copy of whatever they print or scan in an internal memory. You want to avoid this, so try to use a dumb printer. Print at least three copies of every paper wallet you created
Keep the paper wallet in a sealed bag, to prevent it from getting wet. Periodically (once every 6 months) check if the ink is ok and can be easily read.
Remember to destroy or format in a extra-secure way the USB stick were you saved the paper wallets (or keep it in a secure place like a safe).
2. Relaxed (but still relatively secure) modeUse a computer that you think is sufficiently secure. It would be good if this computer has just been formatted, to be sure that there are no viruses or keyloggers.
Open the page “bitaddress.org”. Once the page is open, (even before generating the randomness) you will disconnect the computer from internet.
Now move your mouse to generate randomness. Then go to the tab "paper wallet" and generate some new ones. Now press "print" and save the paper wallets as PDF on a USB stick.
Turn everything off
Now you need to print the paper wallet. Try to find a good printer but that is not connected to the internet (network printers are not good for you). Most advanced printers make a copy of whatever they print or scan in an internal memory. You want to avoid this, so try to use a dumb printer. Print at least three copies of every paper wallet you created
Keep the paper wallet in a sealed bag, to prevent it from getting wet. Periodically (once every 6 months) check if the ink is ok and can be easily read.
Remember to destroy or format in a extra-secure way the USB stick were you saved the paper wallets (or keep it in a secure place like a safe).
