Create a paper wallet with a password-protected private key

[renfr]

Is that even possible? I have a quite important amount of coins to store and I plan on printing paper wallets however I'm scared that someone stumbles on the private key and take its content.
So is it possible to password protect a private key so that even if someone takes a screenshot of the paper wallet or robs the paper wallet will be unable to retrieve its content?

Also which kind of paper do you suggest to print the paper wallet? It would be pretty stupid to just rip off the bill even though I'm planning to make doubles just in case.

Note : I don't want to use electronic devices or anything, I could just store the private key on a password protected USB flashdrive but that's not what I want!

Thanks guys  

[cr1776]

Check out bip38.  This may be what you are looking for.  As far as paper, probably archival, but you could print on several different types for backup.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=333452.0

[TonyT]

What comes to mind is doing a simple Caesar cipher, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_cipher  for more information.

Though not fool proof, if you pick a simple key phrase that you can remember (like "BitcoinIsCool" for example) it will be difficult for anybody, even with the private key that is encrypted, to make money off you without a supercomputer and your thoughts in mind (that is, knowing you did a Caesar cipher).  Just make sure to practice reverse engineering the encrypted private key using pencil and paper (after you do it say three or four times it should be automatic, and practice it once a year so you don't forget), and, by all means, don't ever forget your key phrase (or lock in under another Caesar cipher, lol!)

TonyT

[renfr]

Check out bip38.  This may be what you are looking for.  As far as paper, probably archival, but you could print on several different types for backup.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=333452.0

Thanks! But it seems really difficult to put that in place, I don't have any skills in cryptography. Is there no software that could do that without any problems?

What comes to mind is doing a simple Caesar cipher, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_cipher  for more information.

Though not fool proof, if you pick a simple key phrase that you can remember (like "BitcoinIsCool" for example) it will be difficult for anybody, even with the private key that is encrypted, to make money off you without a supercomputer and your thoughts in mind (that is, knowing you did a Caesar cipher).  Just make sure to practice reverse engineering the encrypted private key using pencil and paper (after you do it say three or four times it should be automatic, and practice it once a year so you don't forget), and, by all means, don't ever forget your key phrase (or lock in under another Caesar cipher, lol!)

TonyT

Nice idea! I could use some farfetched mathematical formula to transform the private key, I might try that if there's no other possibility.

[cr1776]

Yes, there are wallets that support it - bitaddress.org among others let you generate them. Sorry that wasn't clear the first time. :-). Just take a look at the wallets and see if they do.  I think blockchain.info may too.

(Follow all the steps for creating them offline of course).

More info here too:

https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com/bip38-password-encrypted-wallets/

[renfr]

Yes, there are wallets that support it - bitaddress.org among others let you generate them. Sorry that wasn't clear the first time. :-). Just take a look at the wallets and see if they do.  I think blockchain.info may too.

(Follow all the steps for creating them offline of course).

More info here too:

https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com/bip38-password-encrypted-wallets/

I got it now! Thank you a lot! It's exactly what I wanted 

[cr1776]

Yes, there are wallets that support it - bitaddress.org among others let you generate them. Sorry that wasn't clear the first time. :-). Just take a look at the wallets and see if they do.  I think blockchain.info may too.

(Follow all the steps for creating them offline of course).

More info here too:

https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com/bip38-password-encrypted-wallets/

I got it now! Thank you a lot! It's exactly what I wanted 

Thought it might be. :-)

[MakeBelieve]

Nice information in that post and it has helped me thanks.

[Sheldor333]

Best go out and check this thread: http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1pxycu/tutorial_how_to_create_a_safe_paper_wallet_for/ there is a lot to learn here and everything is explained in details.