How do you get an address?

[RealT]

Hello,
I'm trying to get started with BTC and am definitely uncertain about some things.  I am planning to get some BTC from a person on localbitcoins.com.  What are the steps to do this?  I have no cell phone.
1.  How do I get an address?
2.  How do I get a passcode to buy and sell the BTC and store it securely (not online for people to hack)?
3.  How do I confirm that I've received the BTC once I give the seller the cash?

Thanks

[jambola2]

You need to make a wallet. I can suggest you visit http://www.inputs.io , it's really secure and easy to use. You'll automatically have an address after you've made a wallet.

I agree with Anon.
Also , there is no bitcoin shop.
It can only be bought and sold from other people.
I also suggest inputs.io

[umaOuma]

Hello,
I'm trying to get started with BTC and am definitely uncertain about some things.  I am planning to get some BTC from a person on localbitcoins.com.  What are the steps to do this?  I have no cell phone.
1.  How do I get an address?
2.  How do I get a passcode to buy and sell the BTC and store it securely (not online for people to hack)?
3.  How do I confirm that I've received the BTC once I give the seller the cash?

Thanks

Install Bitcoin-qt

You may check if you received the BTC in Bitcoin-qt, or anywhere checking blockchain.info bitcoin address in your browser (mobile phone with internet access is enought)

[Ledeci]

I would suggest you use blockchain.info

[FanEagle]

While I suggest you to use MultiBit which is simple and is small in size.

[mogrith]

Hello,
I'm trying to get started with BTC and am definitely uncertain about some things.  I am planning to get some BTC from a person on localbitcoins.com.  What are the steps to do this?  I have no cell phone.
1.  How do I get an address?
2.  How do I get a passcode to buy and sell the BTC and store it securely (not online for people to hack)?
3.  How do I confirm that I've received the BTC once I give the seller the cash?

Thanks

1. bitcoin.qt or for android  try Mycelium  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mycelium.wallet&hl=en Both create a starting address and store the info locally.

2. you will have to go online. coinbase in USA is fairly simple. in stting it up you give them access to a bank account. Buying BTC withdraws form account. Selling BTC deposits USD. This is a lot like setting up a paypal acount. At first until you are confirmed you will wait days to get the BTC. Like paypal they can confirm you by performing test transaction of a few cents you tell them the amounts and now you can buy upto 10BTC instantly

3. the wallet does this unconfirmed entries are grey and once confirmed become black.

[DannyHamilton]

You need to make a wallet. I can suggest you visit http://www.inputs.io.

I also suggest inputs.io

That's not a wallet.  That's an uninsured, unregulated, un-audited bank account.  Anyone who tells you otherwise is misleading you.

That's not a wallet.  That's a bank account.  Don't let anyone tell you differently.

If you don't have the private key, then you don't have the bitcoins.  It's as simple as that.  You have generously given away your bitcoins to a complete stranger based on a promise that they've given you that they will send those bitcoins anywhere you like anytime you like whenever you ask them to.

Imagine.  You're walking down the street with $1000 in your pocket.  You come to a corner where someone has set up a folding table and put out a sign printed on a piece of cardboard.  You're curious so you ask them what they're doing. They explain to you that they are operating a corner bank.  They tell you that if you give them all the cash in your pocket, they will hold on to it for you.  Then at any time in the future, you can just ask them to spend it for you and they will deliver the cash wherever you like.  They are not insured by the FDIC (or anyone else). They do not go through any sort of audit or submit to any oversight. You are not allowed to know how much total cash they are holding right now.

Do you hand them your $1000 and walk away, hoping that they'll still be there with their folding table tomorrow when you come back to ask for some of that cash to be sent somewhere?  If not, why would you do the same with your bitcoins?

I would suggest you use blockchain.info

That's a wallet.  That's a good suggestion for small quantities that you want easy access to from anywhere.

While I suggest you to use MultiBit which is simple and is small in size.

That's also a wallet.  That's a good suggestion if you don't have a lot of storage space in your computer and you don't want to maintain the complete blockchain.

1. bitcoin.qt

Also a wallet.  That one is known as the "reference client" and acts as a full node on the bitcoin network.  It uses 20 Gigabytes of space on your computer.

[RealT]

Four different suggestions so far!  How's a noob to figure this out?

[over1977v]

I know you planning to get some BTC from a person on localbitcoins.com, but it might be safer to buy from exchange if you dont mind uploading your ID documents

Coinbase or Bitstamp

[RealT]

You need to make a wallet. I can suggest you visit http://www.inputs.io.

I also suggest inputs.io

That's not a wallet.  That's an uninsured, unregulated, un-audited bank account.  Anyone who tells you otherwise is misleading you.

That's not a wallet.  That's a bank account.  Don't let anyone tell you differently.

If you don't have the private key, then you don't have the bitcoins.  It's as simple as that.  You have generously given away your bitcoins to a complete stranger based on a promise that they've given you that they will send those bitcoins anywhere you like anytime you like whenever you ask them to.

Imagine.  You're walking down the street with $1000 in your pocket.  You come to a corner where someone has set up a folding table and put out a sign printed on a piece of cardboard.  You're curious so you ask them what they're doing. They explain to you that they are operating a corner bank.  They tell you that if you give them all the cash in your pocket, they will hold on to it for you.  Then at any time in the future, you can just ask them to spend it for you and they will deliver the cash wherever you like.  They are not insured by the FDIC (or anyone else). They do not go through any sort of audit or submit to any oversight. You are not allowed to know how much total cash they are holding right now.

Do you hand them your $1000 and walk away, hoping that they'll still be there with their folding table tomorrow when you come back to ask for some of that cash to be sent somewhere?  If not, why would you do the same with your bitcoins?

I would suggest you use blockchain.info

That's a wallet.  That's a good suggestion for small quantities that you want easy access to from anywhere.

While I suggest you to use MultiBit which is simple and is small in size.

That's also a wallet.  That's a good suggestion if you don't have a lot of storage space in your computer and you don't want to maintain the complete blockchain.

1. bitcoin.qt

Also a wallet.  That one is known as the "reference client" and acts as a full node on the bitcoin network.  It uses 20 Gigabytes of space on your computer.

Okay, it looks like some of the recommendations weren't so good....  Thanks for the support.  
You mentioned that blockchain.info is good for small amounts.  How small would these amounts be?  What if a person wanted to store larger amounts than the small amounts you refer to?  What would they do?

[torrentheaven]

What if a person wanted to store larger amounts than the small amounts you refer to?  What would they do?

Save these in cold wallet like armory offline or print paper wallet if you dont plan use it for longer period of time

[Birdy]

Four different suggestions so far!  How's a noob to figure this out?

All of them are fine, there were no really bad suggestions.

DannyHamilton is right that inputs.io has a way higher 3rd party risk (you have to got to trust the owner Tradefortress), I think it's still a good option for smaller amounts though.

Okay, it looks like some of the recommendations weren't so good....  Thanks for the support.  
You mentioned that blockchain.info is good for small amounts.  How small would these amounts be?  What if a person wanted to store larger amounts than the small amounts you refer to?  What would they do?

Small amounts means that you wouldn't care too much if it's lost, just like the money you carry in your real physical wallet.
Everything on your PC and the account logins for Onlinewallets could fall into the hands of malware.
If you want secure storage, you should use a paper wallet or cold wallet.

[erre]

You need to make a wallet. I can suggest you visit http://www.inputs.io.

I also suggest inputs.io

That's not a wallet.  That's an uninsured, unregulated, un-audited bank account.  Anyone who tells you otherwise is misleading you.

quote

[DannyHamilton]

What are the steps to do this?  I have no cell phone.

• Create an account at localbitcoins.com
• Look on localbitcoins.com for local seller that you can meet with.
• Respond to the seller's localbitcoins ad with the amount of bitcoins you want to purchase
• localbitcoins will provide you with a "verify code". DO NOT allow the seller to see or know this code under any circumstances
• Arrange a time and location to meet the seller
• Bring the cash and the verify code with you to the meeting
• Show the seller that you have the cash when you meet them
• The seller will send a "release code" to localbitcoins and will receive a "verify code" back from localbitcoins in a txt
• Since you have never given the "verify code" to the seller, the only way they could have it would be if it came directly from localbitcoins
• If the "verify code" received in the txt by the seller matches the "verify code" that you have, then (as long as you trust localbitcoins.com) the bitcoins are now in your localbitcoins wallet and you can hand over the cash
• Go home, log into your localbitcoins account.  You should see the bitcoins available for you to send wherever you like listed under the "wallet" link on the website

1.  How do I get an address?

Install a bitcoin wallet on your computer.  Wallets generate and keep track of addresses for you and allow you to send and receive bitcoins.

Some popular wallets to look into:

• Armory
• Bitcoin-Qt
• Electrum
• MultiBit
• https://blockchain.info/wallet

2.  How do I get a passcode to buy and sell the BTC and store it securely (not online for people to hack)?

I don't understand your question.  You can secure any of the wallets I've listed with a passphrase.

3.  How do I confirm that I've received the BTC once I give the seller the cash?

The seller will receive a txt message with a verify code.  Compare it to the verify code that you received from localbitcoins.  If it matches, then you casn trust that you have the bitcoins (as long as you trust localbitcoins.com).

[RealT]

Okay.
Can I have an address without any info being stored online?  I'm not trying to hide anything, I am very concerned about hacking.

[DannyHamilton]

You mentioned that blockchain.info is good for small amounts.  How small would these amounts be?

That depends on the individual.  Consider the amount that you need to have immediate access to while you are out, or the amount that wouldn't devastate you if you lost it to a hacker.

Essentially, think about an actual wallet in your pocket.  How much cash would you feel comfortable carrying around in that wallet while in a large crowd full of pick-pockets?

What if a person wanted to store larger amounts than the small amounts you refer to?  What would they do?

What do you do with your cash when you go out somewhere and you aren't comfortable carrying large amounts of cash with you?  You typically leave the excess cash at home?  Perhaps in a safe?

Consider learning about paper wallets, or at least installing a wallet on your home computer such as Armory, Bitcoin-Qt, or MultiBit.

[tinus42]

Okay.
Can I have an address without any info being stored online?  I'm not trying to hide anything, I am very concerned about hacking.

These wallets listed above store the private keys on your computer:

Armory
Bitcoin-Qt
Electrum
MultiBit

I prefer Electrum but look into each of them to see which one suits you best.

[RealT]

Okay.
Can I have an address without any info being stored online?  I'm not trying to hide anything, I am very concerned about hacking.

These wallets listed above store the private keys on your computer:

Armory
Bitcoin-Qt
Electrum
MultiBit

I prefer Electrum but look into each of them to see which one suits you best.

Okay,
I definitely don't want "private keys" being stored on the computer.
Danny Hamilton advised that I learn about paper wallets, and I think this is a good idea to avoid storing "private keys" on the computer (please correct me if I'm wrong).

So what would the steps be to have an address with no private keys stored on a computer?

Thanks again.

[tinus42]

Okay.
Can I have an address without any info being stored online?  I'm not trying to hide anything, I am very concerned about hacking.

These wallets listed above store the private keys on your computer:

Armory
Bitcoin-Qt
Electrum
MultiBit

I prefer Electrum but look into each of them to see which one suits you best.

Okay,
I definitely don't want "private keys" being stored on the computer.
Danny Hamilton advised that I learn about paper wallets, and I think this is a good idea to avoid storing "private keys" on the computer (please correct me if I'm wrong).

So what would the steps be to have an address with no private keys stored on a computer?

Thanks again.

The keys are generally stored on your computer in an file which you can encrypt with a passphrase. Make this as long and complex as you can remember. It's not as safe as a paper wallet but safer than an an online wallet. Of course you have to make backups and not forget your passphrase.

[Birdy]

Okay,
I definitely don't want "private keys" being stored on the computer.
Danny Hamilton advised that I learn about paper wallets, and I think this is a good idea to avoid storing "private keys" on the computer (please correct me if I'm wrong).

You are right ^^

So what would the steps be to have an address with no private keys stored on a computer?

Thanks again.

You could create paper wallets at https://www.bitaddress.org
(It's also possible to store that website and use it offline)