So how can we ensure the highest level of anonymity while using Bitcoin?

[20kevin20]

I'm interested in having the highest level of anonymity as our privacy apparently only keeps fading away. The best and only way I know about is by using the Tor network, but I only know how to use the Tor browser. Is there a way I can use Tor for everything on my PC, just like a VPN?

Could someone guide me how I can achieve the highest level of privacy? Thanks

[OmegaStarScream]

If your goal is not to let people trace you and find what you're doing with your bitcoins then you could simply use mixers (ChipMixer) or privacy-focused wallets like Wasabi.

On your phone, you could use Orbit which should encrypt everything you do and not just your browser traffic. I think It's not an option for the computer because not all apps you use let you configure them to connect through the Tor network.

The solution in that case is to buy ProtonVPN and connect to servers that use the Tor network or... Install Bluestacks (Android emulator), Install Orbit there and do whatever you want in that emulator.

[aplistir]

I'm interested in having the highest level of anonymity as our privacy apparently only keeps fading away. The best and only way I know about is by using the Tor network, but I only know how to use the Tor browser. Is there a way I can use Tor for everything on my PC, just like a VPN?

Tor is the easiest solution. But you can go a step further. Use tor when using a public WLAN, or a prepaid sim-card, if you can buy those anonymically in your country, then even if someone cracks your tor connection all they would get is the public WLAN or prepaid phone location, and maybe your computers wlan-chip serial number.

If you use tails-linux booted from a USB stick, all your internet traffic goes through tor. Tails is good, but sometimes it has programs that are not completely up to date.

Even tor is not 100% secure. SIlk-road boss was caught even though he used tor, that happened because he was too big a criminal. Enough resources were made available to track him and they succeeded. He was not careful enough.

If your goal is not to let people trace you and find what you're doing with your bitcoins then you could simply use mixers (ChipMixer) or privacy-focused wallets like Wasabi.

The solution in that case is to buy ProtonVPN and connect to servers that use the Tor network

Mixers are not completely anonymous any longer. sometimes coins can be tracked even through mixers.
I don't know about ProtonVPN, but some VPN services save trafic-data and give it to authorities if required. It safer to use VPN+tor rather than just VPN.

[buwaytress]

If your goal is not to let people trace you and find what you're doing with your bitcoins then you could simply use mixers (ChipMixer) or privacy-focused wallets like Wasabi.

On your phone, you could use Orbit which should encrypt everything you do and not just your browser traffic. I think It's not an option for the computer because not all apps you use let you configure them to connect through the Tor network.

The solution in that case is to buy ProtonVPN and connect to servers that use the Tor network or... Install Bluestacks (Android emulator), Install Orbit there and do whatever you want in that emulator.

Great pointers. I second Wasabi - of all the privacy feature Bitcoin wallets, that seems to be the most stable, in fact its recent release caught me by surprise. I would also recommend using Bitcoin upgrades as soon as possible, when they're stable. I wager using Lightning properly, along with all those steps of mixing (and Chipmixer adds much more randomness and unpredictability than most other mixers) and coinjoining would also complicate any tracking efforts (since LN will be off chain).

There are also very basic habits to follow. Single-use Bitcoin addresses, for example. And selling/buying p2p. Most major exchanges have addresses easily tracked to them. Trading often p2p puts a lot of things into the mix (but that's my opinion, not really founded on much!).

[20kevin20]

If your goal is not to let people trace you and find what you're doing with your bitcoins then you could simply use mixers (ChipMixer) or privacy-focused wallets like Wasabi.

On your phone, you could use Orbit which should encrypt everything you do and not just your browser traffic. I think It's not an option for the computer because not all apps you use let you configure them to connect through the Tor network.

The solution in that case is to buy ProtonVPN and connect to servers that use the Tor network or... Install Bluestacks (Android emulator), Install Orbit there and do whatever you want in that emulator.

Thank you, OmegaStarScream! My goal is to just keep my privacy level high.

I've never used a mixer before, and I'm afraid I might lose my funds by using them. Does ChipMixer provide "chips" as private keys or do they have control over the addresses they give us? I mean, would I be able to use the addresses even if the website goes down?

I've already got Bluestacks but I honestly never thought about using it for privacy reasons. Thanks

[20kevin20]

Mixers are not completely anonymous any longer. sometimes coins can be tracked even through mixers.
I don't know about ProtonVPN, but some VPN services save trafic-data and give it to authorities if required. It safer to use VPN+tor rather than just VPN.

I see. I guess nothing is completely anonymous. I'll look into some VPN services to use with the Tor browser and a Tor-enabled wallet.

Great pointers. I second Wasabi - of all the privacy feature Bitcoin wallets, that seems to be the most stable, in fact its recent release caught me by surprise. I would also recommend using Bitcoin upgrades as soon as possible, when they're stable. I wager using Lightning properly, along with all those steps of mixing (and Chipmixer adds much more randomness and unpredictability than most other mixers) and coinjoining would also complicate any tracking efforts (since LN will be off chain).

There are also very basic habits to follow. Single-use Bitcoin addresses, for example. And selling/buying p2p. Most major exchanges have addresses easily tracked to them. Trading often p2p puts a lot of things into the mix (but that's my opinion, not really founded on much!).

I haven't used a centralized exchange in a long time. I'm only going for p2p transactions, and I'd rather go for them although one transaction takes a while rather than instantly selling or buying but having to share personal data.

[20kevin20]

Aside from other member suggestion, there are few things you should do (even though i think you already know/do it) :
1. Never use Windows OS, especially Windows 10. Move to linux and consider choose security/privacy-based distro such as Qubes OS if you have serious privacy concern
2. Never re-use bitcoin address and add label/information to all transaction/address, so you won't leak your identity by accident
3. Don't use single browser for all activity/usage as cookies and browser fingerprint can be used to track users easily

Suggestions noted. I'm using another machine for transactions though, and I never browse on it (except for wallet downloads for different coins), so I think I'm doing fine on that part.

You could use Linux distro such as Tails, Whonix and ParrotSec (i only tried Tails). Alternatively, you could check guide such as https://askubuntu.com/questions/324685/how-to-route-all-internet-traffic-through-tor-the-onion-router
But beware that not all application works on Tor connection and it's very slow.

I have one question: isn't running a Tor connection kinda risky while using cryptocurrency wallets? Doesn't it involve any risks?

Alternatively, you could use decentralized exchange such as https://bisq.network/. I tried it once and it works well, even though there are many requirement such as security deposit and first-time configuration isn't convenient.

I love Bisq. Yes, it isn't very convenient for the first uses but as soon as you get the hang of it, you'll love it

[Rath_]

I'm using another machine for transactions though, and I never browse on it (except for wallet downloads for different coins), so I think I'm doing fine on that part.

It would be even better if that machine was completely offline. You could sign transactions on it and then broadcast them on a different computer.

I have one question: isn't running a Tor connection kinda risky while using cryptocurrency wallets? Doesn't it involve any risks?

I don't think if there are any major risks. Don't forget that your ISP will know that you are using Tor.

[20kevin20]

It would be even better if that machine was completely offline. You could sign transactions on it and then broadcast them on a different computer.

I'm also using hardware wallets like Trezor & Ledger for some coins, so I don't think going offline is an option for me

[Rath_]

I'm also using hardware wallets like Trezor & Ledger for some coins, so I don't think going offline is an option for me

Oh, that's a different matter then. You can use Electrum with the most popular wallets and I would recommend you to try it out. Both Trezor and Ledger let you create separate accounts but you can't spend from specific address. Electrum allows you to spend funds from specific addresses and coins received at specific block height. This helps to preserve anonymity. Here you can learn more about it. I forgot to describe Freeze option which prevents user from spending specific coins accidentally.

[20kevin20]

Oh, that's a different matter then. You can use Electrum with the most popular wallets and I would recommend you to try it out. Both Trezor and Ledger let you create separate accounts but you can't spend from specific address. Electrum allows you to spend funds from specific addresses and coins received at specific block height. This helps to preserve anonymity. Here you can learn more about it. I forgot to describe Freeze option which prevents user from spending specific coins accidentally.

Thanks. I bookmarked the link and will check it out later. Didn't think about the separate accounts part, to be honest.