How do you get an address?

[Anillos2]

If you use a good password you can use Electrum. It's tinny in size and very secure, since the wallet doesn't exit, It's generated everytime that you need it from the password.

But remember that the password should be strong and You should write it in paper.

[RealT]

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)

1.  I visited the site and it generates the private key for you.  How is this secure?  i thought that only the private key holder should know what it is, but here a computer is generating it for you!?

2.  Can't you just write the numbers down for your private key, why do you need a paper wallet?

This is crazy......
Thanks

[Birdy]

Can't you just write the numbers for the wallet down?

Yes, you can (and it would also be called paper wallet).
That provides no benefit over printing them (unless you have no printer xD), but a very high chance of you making a mistake.
And then in 2 years you are sitting there, was that a "5" or a an "S"?

If your computer is malware infected right now that malware could capture whatever you look at.

1.  I visited the site and it generates the private key for you.  How is this secure?  i thought that only the private key holder should know what it is, but here a computer is generating it for you!?

Obviously you have to choose a good source for that, the good ones are open-source, so that everybody (skilled enough) can find if there is anything wrong with it.
the private keys are generated randomly.

[RealT]

Can't you just write the numbers for the wallet down?

Yes, you can (and it would also be called paper wallet).
That provides no benefit over printing them (unless you have no printer xD), but a very high chance of you making a mistake.
And then in 2 years you are sitting there, was that a "5" or a an "S"?

If your computer is malware infected right now that malware could capture whatever you look at.

1.  I visited the site and it generates the private key for you.  How is this secure?  i thought that only the private key holder should know what it is, but here a computer is generating it for you!?

Obviously you have to choose a good source for that, the good ones are open-source, so that everybody (skilled enough) can find if there is anything wrong with it.
the private keys are generated randomly.

Okay, is the site you recommended opensource?  in short, what is the absolute most secure way to do this (get an address, get a handwritten paperwallet, get a private key).
Can you make your own private key (if so, how)?
Sorry for the questions, but all I want to do is get some BTC securely and I don't think this is too much to ask.  Obviously this process needs to become much more accessible to the general public in order for mainstream adoption.

Thanks

[Birdy]

Okay, is the site you recommended opensource?

yes

in short, what is the absolute most secure way to do this (get an address, get a handwritten paperwallet, get a private key).

The absolute most secure one? Guess you have to ask the more paranoid (or more technical versed) ones for that ^^
But using that wallet creator on a laptop that will never go online again is very secure.
There are also other very secure options, like the Armory Offline Wallet and Trezor.

Can you make your own private key (if so, how)?
Sorry for the questions, but all I want to do is get some BTC securely and I don't think this is too much to ask.

Thanks

I guess you could do the math yourself / write your own program that does calculate an address (ask in the tech board ^^) or try out different combinations with an import function (e.g. in bitcoin-qt client) until you have a valid address.

[odolvlobo]

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

Go to bitcoin.org and click on "Get Started With Bitcoin". It will help you choose a wallet.

[odolvlobo]

Before you go down the paper wallet path too far, keep in mind that the private keys must be in a wallet on a computer connected to the internet in order to send or spend bitcoins (unless you are using armory, or something like it).

[monbux]

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

It depends on how much bitcoins you are looking to hold.  If it's just a small amount, using an online wallet such as blockchain is nice.  Inputs.io is not exactly a wallet but I do keep some bitcoin in there too.

Get a bitcoin-QT and back it up if you want to feel secure.  Or cold storage

[RealT]

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

It depends on how much bitcoins you are looking to hold.  If it's just a small amount, using an online wallet such as blockchain is nice.  Inputs.io is not exactly a wallet but I do keep some bitcoin in there too.

Get a bitcoin-QT and back it up if you want to feel secure.  Or cold storage

More BTCs than I would walk around with in my pocket if it were cash.  More than I could get over easily if they were lost.

[nahtnam]

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. You can get the bitcoin-qt which downloads the whole blockchain, but I recommend http://coinbase.com since they are online (accessible everywhere), you can buy and sell BTC from them, and they pay the fees for you!!!

[roflmao129]

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

Go to bitcoin.org and click on "Get Started With Bitcoin". It will help you choose a wallet.

I believe that trybtc.com is also a nice site to first check out bitcoins.

[DannyHamilton]

More than I could get over easily if they were lost.

You do understand that bitcoin is still experimental and could become worthless at any time right?  This is an extremely risky investment, and carries a significant opportunity of overwhelming loss.  You really shouldn't be putting money into bitcoin that you can't get over if it's lost.

[BarkinTree]

i like inputs.io -- i know, i know, get a qt client, learn about being safe and alll that stuff, but for convenience, i love it!

[DannyHamilton]

i like inputs.io -- i know, i know, get a qt client, learn about being safe and alll that stuff, but for convenience, i love it!

That's not a wallet.  That's an uninsured, unregulated, un-audited 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?

[jason44]

I suggest electrum. It's a really nice wallet that doesn't make you download a huge blockchain.

[RealT]

More than I could get over easily if they were lost.

You do understand that bitcoin is still experimental and could become worthless at any time right?  This is an extremely risky investment, and carries a significant opportunity of overwhelming loss.  You really shouldn't be putting money into bitcoin that you can't get over if it's lost.

If I speculate and lose to the market of natural flaws of the BTC than fine.  If I lose to a hacker or a technical mistake than I will be upset (as anybody would).  The subject of this thread is how to purchase and store it securely.

I've read alot of contradictory info.  Some of this info. actually suggests that the main websites for BTC info aren't telling you the safest way to store the "key".  Again, I like the philosophy of BTC, but need to be comfortable before purchasing.