MEW Offline

[sunil_ad]

In one of the internet forums, instructions were given to use a 'fresh' computer to store the offline MEW.

I can understand isolating the computer from internet after storing the offline mew. But does it have to be
an internet-free computer before, as well?

[MadGamer]

Not necessarily because even If you got infected before, It wouldn't matter as your computer won't connect to the internet anymore to send any data.

[ittikorns]

It doesn't have to. Most instructions were written as the safest to install wallet on your local machine. However, if you're certain that your machine has never been infected before then don't worry about it.

[dumiya]

In one of the internet forums, instructions were given to use a 'fresh' computer to store the offline MEW.

I can understand isolating the computer from internet after storing the offline mew. But does it have to be
an internet-free computer before, as well?

Running MEW offline makes you safer than login in through the web browser by entering the MEW web site's URL. If you mistakenly enter a typo you may ended up with reaching a phishing site. Sometimes you may Google MEW keyword and might click an ad which claims as MEW site and get scammed. You can avoid such incidents by using MEW offline.

There is no need for a fresh computer if you have a virus free computer which is not connecting to the internet or external devices such as USB pen drive.

[leea-1334]

It does not have to be internet free, but that is the maximum precaution. The thing is, many users may scan their computers for malware and viruses, but not everything gets caught, and not everything is updated. As users above post, just be careful you only access MEW through legit channels.

Do NOT ever Google and click links from search engines. Just type it out the first time properly, and when verified, click it to your bookmarks so you force yourself to visit the same bookmark every time.

[badykvik]

It does not have to be an internet free computer before you store your offline MEW and I think there is no need to store the offline MEW on a new computer if you know your present computer has not been infected by a virus. Making use of MEW offline is safer than logging in through the web browser where a mistake might occur in the process of typing information in thereby exposing the account to hackers of scammers.

[apoorvlathey]

The storing of MEW wallet files on internet free or fresh pc is just as an way to increase security. Few weeks back, MEW's official site got hacked by changing their DNS, so if you had the wallet on your PC, then your funds would not have been affected.
If you are planning to use your wallet as a cold storage for coins, then it is preferred to do so on an offline machine, just in case something bad happens.

[livingfree]

You don't have to get a "fresh" computer just for the sake of good security. You can right down the private key on a piece of paper and keep it somewhere that you can only know it.

Don't connect to the web if you are keeping a big sum of ETH / token and you just want it to keep for life. Also you can simply buy hardware wallet like trezor or nano ledger s for safe keeping.