Can I hide the seed phrase from monitor during BTC wallet installat? TempestSDR

[user201726]

Hello everyone, I am afraid that someone can intercept the monitor image over the air using TempestSDR (PEMIN) or a possible screen recording by intruders using trojans. Can I hide the seed Bitcoin phrase from monitor when I am installing BTC wallet?

So, I assume when installing a Bitcoin Core, Electrum wallet, or an online BitGo wallet that shows the seed phrase during the installation process on the PC, that the seed phrase will be intercepted and material values ​​will be stolen in the future.  Is it possible to do this, for example, print a seed phrase right away so that it does not show on the screen?

[1715203684]

1715203684

[1715203684]

1715203684

[BitHodler]

As far as I am aware of, it's not possible, and if it is possible anyway, who knows how much help that actually provides. If you're really paranoid the best and easiest way is to generate a seedphrase through a hardware wallet.

That being said, Bitcoin Core doesn't ask you to write a seedphrase. It only shows you the private key when you actually use the 'dumpprivkey' command in combination with an address.

[nc50lc]

[1] Bring your laptop in the middle of a forest/dessert then create your wallet.
It's silly, but you get the idea: move to a place where there's no structure within a few meter radius around you.

[2] Not sure if this will work (theoretical):
Buy another HDMI cable, do not use VGA/DVI,
lay it down in a different direction of your currently installed cable, do not connect it yet.
When you're ready to create the wallet, change the position/location of your PC & monitor and switch the cables.
(This way, the hacker might lose the signal, if not, might become too fuzzy and will take a few sec to re-calibrate)
Then copy you SEED and create the wallet as fast as possible.
For trojan, aside from Antivirus.
just create the wallet in an air-gap machine and transfer the already created wallet file to your online machine.

Is it possible to do this, for example, print a seed phrase right away so that it does not show on the screen?

Electrum and other wallets (except Core):
You will have to re-enter the SEED in the wallet creation wizard for verification which will defeat its purpose.
Besides, printer's signal or your keyboard strokes can be hacked over the air too.

[The Cryptovator]

To be honest this is unrealistic question. You need to write your seed phrase during installation, so if it is not visible then how will you write it? Because you must have reentered your seed phrase in order to complete wallet installation. If you are wondering to print directly without visibility then is hacker will not able to print it if really your device has been kacked? So if you can't prevent hacker then you will not able to save by hiding seed phrase. When you are using that kind of wallet you should protect your device strongly. Otherwise there is many way to hack your device.

[bob123]

Did you already develop a security concept which secures you in other (probable) events ?

Securing your mnemonic code against emanations from cables used to carry the video signal is something very advanced.

If you indeed already have a concept which secures you against any other events of a compromised seed, you should be able to generate it without being displayed on your screen.
Why even displaying it at all ? Just use the command line and some simple script to generate a seed and convert it into a mnemonic code without even displaying them. Just save them or do whatever you want to do.
You don't have to use electrum or any other desktop wallet.


If i were you, i'd rather focus on more possible events. Is your computer clean ? Fresh installed or bootable OS without internet access and without manipulated hardware ?
What about physical security ? How are you going to secure your seed ? How are you going to access it ?

All of those questions should be answered first before thinking about emanations from video cables.

But to answer your questions.. just use the command line and plug out your screen. Voilà.