Saving your private key in your email is a lethal move

[Vision2020s]

it was my mistake 4 years ago when my email was hacked and hackers got what I saved in that email.
I lost my bitcoin because of that carelessness.
since then I still use the manual method to save by taking notes in a book.
this is the old-fashioned way but it's very safe for me.

And that's the most recommendable way to store your sensitive information but still we have countless amount if Investors storing their information online like email, cloud etc.

The information is out there, anyone doing exactly what they're advice not to do are only doing themselves harm because they'll be the ones to bare the consequences if their emails gets hacked and the sensitive information falls into the hands of hackers. They're just acting out of ignorance. They don't value the coins they have cause if they did, they would had safeguard it like it's a national treasure.

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[akirasendo17]

Putting your keys in your email address is a very risky move indeed, simply because of your email got hack, even if you have backup in your local with the keys, still they can't open your wallet, before you even know it, i suggest here is the way to secure your wallet keys even online check the link
https://bitcoin.org/en/secure-your-wallet#online

[noormcs5]

Putting your keys in your email address is a very risky move indeed, simply because of your email got hack, even if you have backup in your local with the keys, still they can't open your wallet, before you even know it, i suggest here is the way to secure your wallet keys even online check the link
https://bitcoin.org/en/secure-your-wallet#online

Most of us do this mistake, since we are in a hurry we just email the private key to our email or more worse take a picture of it from our mobile as we thinking it is time talking to write it down on a piece of paper. Saving these 5 minutes can cost you a lot of financial damage. Everyone should strictly follow this and never email or take snapshot of the private key.

[libert19]

When I created my first wallet (on blockchain wallet), I had private key saved on my email, stupid I know, but when you are new you don't know any better. And more often than not, you learn after that mistake costs.

[dvmmayowa]

Putting your keys in your email address is a very risky move indeed, simply because of your email got hack, even if you have backup in your local with the keys, still they can't open your wallet, before you even know it, i suggest here is the way to secure your wallet keys even online check the link
https://bitcoin.org/en/secure-your-wallet#online

This is more common with newbies, they find it difficult or stressful saving their keys offline, forgetting that prevention is better than cure.
Personally i have my pks printed on papers and stored safely, its the best way so far and its working for me.

[jerry0]

What about using encryption problem like axcrypt?  Wouldn't that be good enough though like if you want to open the email document, you need to put in the axcrypt password?  Or is that still not good enough?

[pooya87]

What about using encryption problem like axcrypt?  Wouldn't that be good enough though like if you want to open the email document, you need to put in the axcrypt password?  Or is that still not good enough?

i am not familiar with AxCrypt but google tells me that it is an open-source encryption software in which case it can be a good option for encrypting as long as you choose a very strong password (long, random and have mixed case and symbols) for your encryption and use a very strong encryption technique such as AES.

but remember that whenever you store your secrets in the cloud (whether it is a cloud server or email or anything like it) your secrets could potentially be accessed by hackers and who knows maybe they could some day break the encryption you used too. but storing them offline (like printed on paper) will always remain safer even if the encryption technique was broken someday.

[virasog]

it was my mistake 4 years ago when my email was hacked and hackers got what I saved in that email.
I lost my bitcoin because of that carelessness.
since then I still use the manual method to save by taking notes in a book.
this is the old-fashioned way but it's very safe for me.

And that's the most recommendable way to store your sensitive information but still we have countless amount if Investors storing their information online like email, cloud etc.

The information is out there, anyone doing exactly what they're advice not to do are only doing themselves harm because they'll be the ones to bare the consequences if their emails gets hacked and the sensitive information falls into the hands of hackers. They're just acting out of ignorance. They don't value the coins they have cause if they did, they would had safeguard it like it's a national treasure.

First of all, the private key should not be stored on the cloud or any email service. But even if you think of doing so, you should first secure your email with strong password and 2fa. Also you should keep your email and 2fa devices as secure as you will like to keep your exchange accounts secure.

[Little Mouse]

First of all, the private key should not be stored on the cloud or any email service. But even if you think of doing so, you should first secure your email with strong password and 2fa. Also you should keep your email and 2fa devices as secure as you will like to keep your exchange accounts secure.

It must be never, how much security you want to be, it's not possible as long as you are storing your private key or seed key in the device which has an online connection. You will be compromised although that depends on your holding value.

[akopjpuge]

I always believe that a forgotten private key or wallet is still the best so far as a definition of unhackable wallet 😁.

[Krislaw]

I always believe that a forgotten private key or wallet is still the best so far as a definition of unhackable wallet 😁.

Actually, that's the most unsafe wallet because you have no full control over it.
Imagine if an hack happens.

[o_e_l_e_o]

-snip-

As an addendum to this, if you are planning to encrypt your seed/private key/wallet before uploading it to your email or cloud storage, you should do so on a clean, live OS on an airgapped machine. Much like creating a paper wallet, it doesn't matter how secure the final product is if it was created in an insecure way. Obviously you will need to have your seed or private key in plain text on your computer prior to encrypting it. If you have malware, keyloggers, screen captures, or something else malicious on the computer you are using, it could very well steal your details prior to them being encrypted. Encrypt it on a clean, airgapped machine, transfer to a live machine via clean removable media, and upload to the cloud.

However I also wouldn't recommend this. Offline backups are safer.

But even if you think of doing so, you should first secure your email with strong password and 2fa.

2FA on all your accounts is a good idea, but it should not be relied on. Depending on the type of 2FA you use, it is possible for an attacker to transfer or clone your 2FA method to a device they own, and it is also possible to disable it altogether.

[Saint-loup]

First of all, the private key should not be stored on the cloud or any email service. But even if you think of doing so, you should first secure your email with strong password and 2fa. Also you should keep your email and 2fa devices as secure as you will like to keep your exchange accounts secure.

It must be never, how much security you want to be, it's not possible as long as you are storing your private key or seed key in the device which has an online connection. You will be compromised although that depends on your holding value.

But when you're not at home how do you use your seed if you haven't store it online?
Moreover people often complain about losing the sheet of paper where they've written their seed. And it can also be stolen by people accessing your home.

[o_e_l_e_o]

But when you're not at home how do you use your seed if you haven't store it online?

Why should you need to? You should only need your seed to recover access to a wallet you have otherwise lost. You don't need it day to day to use bitcoin. If I was going to be away from home for a significant period of time, I might take my seeds with me on an encrypted USB drive, but otherwise they stay firmly on paper only.

Moreover people often complain about losing the sheet of paper where they've written their seed. And it can also be stolen by people accessing your home.

Then back it up multiple times, or use a 3-of-5 (or similar) Shamir Secret Share. I'd also much rather that somebody needs to break in my to my house than needs to break in to my email account.

[ScamViruS]

Putting your keys in your email address is a very risky move indeed, simply because of your email got hack, even if you have backup in your local with the keys, still they can't open your wallet, before you even know it, i suggest here is the way to secure your wallet keys even online check the link
https://bitcoin.org/en/secure-your-wallet#online

Most of us do this mistake, since we are in a hurry we just email the private key to our email or more worse take a picture of it from our mobile as we thinking it is time talking to write it down on a piece of paper. Saving these 5 minutes can cost you a lot of financial damage. Everyone should strictly follow this and never email or take snapshot of the private key.

Yes. I also saved it in my email. But I learned from being a hack victim. My email was hacked once and the hacker got my seed. As a result I lost some of my funds. So you should never save your seed in email. Someone else may get your seed because of your carelessness.

[Subbir]

Putting your keys in your email address is a very risky move indeed, simply because of your email got hack, even if you have backup in your local with the keys, still they can't open your wallet, before you even know it, i suggest here is the way to secure your wallet keys even online check the link
https://bitcoin.org/en/secure-your-wallet#online

This is more common with newbies, they find it difficult or stressful saving their keys offline, forgetting that prevention is better than cure.
Personally i have my pks printed on papers and stored safely, its the best way so far and its working for me.

You are right that this is often more risky for beginners At first I didn't know anything about it i used to be putting my personal keys in an email and every one my information was hacked. But now i feel the USB flash is that the safest to stop. there's no fear of being hacked and no-one are going to be ready to log in to your ID easily.

[vapourminer]

but remember that whenever you store your secrets in the cloud (whether it is a cloud server or email or anything like it) your secrets could potentially be accessed by hackers and who knows maybe they could some day break the encryption you used too. but storing them offline (like printed on paper) will always remain safer even if the encryption technique was broken someday.

this is my thought as well. once its in the cloud you have no control, and it WILL NOT be deleted everywhere, no matter what they say. so, sooner or later, that super dooper encryption wont be enough. out go your secrets.

this is why my backups are local (well near local i guess).

[Saint-loup]

Putting your keys in your email address is a very risky move indeed, simply because of your email got hack, even if you have backup in your local with the keys, still they can't open your wallet, before you even know it, i suggest here is the way to secure your wallet keys even online check the link
https://bitcoin.org/en/secure-your-wallet#online

Most of us do this mistake, since we are in a hurry we just email the private key to our email or more worse take a picture of it from our mobile as we thinking it is time talking to write it down on a piece of paper. Saving these 5 minutes can cost you a lot of financial damage. Everyone should strictly follow this and never email or take snapshot of the private key.

Yes. I also saved it in my email. But I learned from being a hack victim. My email was hacked once and the hacker got my seed. As a result I lost some of my funds. So you should never save your seed in email. Someone else may get your seed because of your carelessness.

If you use a passphrase for your seed there are really few chances to be hacked. In reality I think they are fewer than losing your sheet of paper or being stolen by someone accessing your home.

[vapourminer]

If you use a passphrase for your seed there are really few chances to be hacked. In reality I think they are fewer than losing your sheet of paper or being stolen by someone accessing your home.

sure, IF your passphrase is something like 36 truly random characters. but even then if a seed is compromised  i would still create a new wallet (with a new seed) and move the coins over.

the passphrase will slow them down, perhaps for a long time, but would you leave your coin there knowing that? considering youll probably never know someone has accessed your email/seed till its too late?

i wouldnt.

[Saint-loup]

If you use a passphrase for your seed there are really few chances to be hacked. In reality I think they are fewer than losing your sheet of paper or being stolen by someone accessing your home.

sure, IF your passphrase is something like 36 truly random characters. but even then if a seed is compromised  i would still create a new wallet (with a new seed) and move the coins over.

the passphrase will slow them down, perhaps for a long time, but would you leave your coin there knowing that? considering youll probably never know someone has accessed your email/seed till its too late?

i wouldnt.

It depends on the amount you store in your seed but if it's not millions of $ it's very unlikely to happen.
The hackers will try to evaluate the amount of your funds first and they will compare it to the cost for them to try to break your passphrase... and it's huge!