How i keep my private keys safe without hardware wallet

[jessyj48]

This is how i keep my private keys safe since i can't afford to buy a hardware wallet.
1. A complete new harddisk
I bought a new harddisk and install window 7 on it and copy all my private keys in there, i don't bother to leave this harddisk in the pc, after the copy is completed i remove the harddisk and keep it.

2.My Recording book
I have a long hard shelled book that i use for keeping records of all the airdrops and bounties i promoted because sometimes i used to forget easily so i write down my recovery seeds in this book as well

3. Flash Drive
I have a good 8gig flash drive as well that i use to copy software and files from one pc to another so i format this flash drive and copy my private keys and recovery seeds in it.

At first no one knew i am into crypto stuffs and secondly i don't share my room with anyone cos i am living alone, those who have people around them with face problems like friends going behind your back checking through your stuffs or even stealing your things, hardware wallet is still the best though.

[Dr.Osh]

pretty good information, but some people have their own way to store private keys without hard wallets. I myself currently use a flash disk to store it. besides that, I also store it in a WinRAR with password, and it is stored in some online storage. Well, I'm sure it's very difficult to realize that these are private keys.

[TheUltraElite]

The best way to do this is to store private keys in a Linux distro like Mint or ArchLinux on an Airgapped device that has never connected to the internet. Using windows the security risk is higher. Do not waste a full had disk on that though.

Keeping soft copies of your private keys on separate locations is again risky of theft from one location which has least security. That you need to assess. Written private keys are at risk of being lost or destroyed by water or fire and being stolen.

Compared to this hassle, a hardware wallet is definitely going to be better.

[Ghenjer]

the way I store private keys
1. I use a web wallet (Myetherwallet)
2. Bookmark the web wallet site to avoid phishing attacks
3. copy on white paper, PC, MOBILE and flashdisk
4. I will not tell anyone and only I personally know about this.

[Kvalentine]

You will be fine if you are not connecting to the internet since you've load windows7 setup on the harddisk already, its a very good move and since you are living alone and no one knows you have something valuable in keep they your private keys will be safe from preying eyes but still hardware wallet is hassle free

[Ailmand]

The information provided is very helpful. I've experienced being hacked before. So, I started making sure that what I am accessing the correct web wallet. I bookmark the website. I also never click on any link. I also make sure that my computer is properly maintained, free from any virus and malware. I keep a hardcopy of my privatekey. Wallet security is a must, a lot of people are losing their money because of being careless.

[Mighty_crypt]

the way I store private keys
1. I use a web wallet (Myetherwallet)
2. Bookmark the web wallet site to avoid phishing attacks
3. copy on white paper, PC, MOBILE and flashdisk
4. I will not tell anyone and only I personally know about this.

If you are using web wallet then your private keys is not safe, if you are thinking its safe you are wrong, unless you don't give full details, web wallets are wallets that still requires for login to access the wallet even if they use private keys,this is why its risky cos anybody can get access to your login details, why not use standalone wallets? the app version on myetherwallet is even better

[developer99]

Thank you this is very important and valuable information. I keep my private keys on paper and in my safe. Perhaps banks with their safe-Deposit vaults will be needed for this in the future (thoughts) 

[Mysteryla]

This is how i keep my private keys safe since i can't afford to buy a hardware wallet.
1. A complete new harddisk
I bought a new harddisk and install window 7 on it and copy all my private keys in there, i don't bother to leave this harddisk in the pc, after the copy is completed i remove the harddisk and keep it.

2.My Recording book
I have a long hard shelled book that i use for keeping records of all the airdrops and bounties i promoted because sometimes i used to forget easily so i write down my recovery seeds in this book as well

3. Flash Drive
I have a good 8gig flash drive as well that i use to copy software and files from one pc to another so i format this flash drive and copy my private keys and recovery seeds in it.

At first no one knew i am into crypto stuffs and secondly i don't share my room with anyone cos i am living alone, those who have people around them with face problems like friends going behind your back checking through your stuffs or even stealing your things, hardware wallet is still the best though.

Good to see that this works for you. However, of might not work for everyone. It is also good you admitted that hardware wallet is the best.
Also, if you can afford to buy another hard disk coupled with a good flash drive, you should be able to purchase a Trezor wallet, because it is not so expensive.
It is much safer to use a hardware wallet, because your external hard disk and flash drive can be corrupted with malware, which might lead to loss of information.

[X-ray]

Store it down to the HDD and encrypt it is my way to go. However, a hardware wallet is preferable if you have a huge sum of money stored into your address otherwise not really worth it. There are even some people who write down their privkey to a steel plate and then store into somewhere else they think safe.

But in my opinion, just save it in your drive is just fine (make sure that your HDD or flashdrive didn't have bad sector) , especially if you live alone like what you described above no one is going to barge into your house searching a HDD even better if it's encrypted aswell. A paper wallet can do too, but is easily burned, lost or torn apart.

[tenakha]

This is how i keep my private keys safe since i can't afford to buy a hardware wallet.
1. A complete new harddisk
I bought a new harddisk and install window 7 on it and copy all my private keys in there, i don't bother to leave this harddisk in the pc, after the copy is completed i remove the harddisk and keep it.

2.My Recording book
I have a long hard shelled book that i use for keeping records of all the airdrops and bounties i promoted because sometimes i used to forget easily so i write down my recovery seeds in this book as well

3. Flash Drive
I have a good 8gig flash drive as well that i use to copy software and files from one pc to another so i format this flash drive and copy my private keys and recovery seeds in it.

At first no one knew i am into crypto stuffs and secondly i don't share my room with anyone cos i am living alone, those who have people around them with face problems like friends going behind your back checking through your stuffs or even stealing your things, hardware wallet is still the best though.

Everyone protects the private key in its own way and this is yours. Even I have read here that someone created signs to keep his private key. There is a sign for every letter and number that he uses that way.  The more reliable, the better, but I am going easy way, maybe if I have enough BTC to scare, then I will find my own way of protection.

[Doranile432]

Its bad news for all investors who are using online web wallets, why not use pc wallet or mobile wallet? any wallet that ask for email and password to login is very dangerous either you are given recovery seed or not someone can have access to your email one day or if your email got hacked you will lost your coins

[jossiel]

You might also upgrade your Windows 7 into 10. If you didn't know, Microsoft has already announced to cut their support to Windows 7 by January 2020. (https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/windows-7-support-ends-year/)

Go upgrade to Windows 10.

What you do is good and I think most are doing that kind of protection and backup. Right several backups just to be sure although you have been living alone.

[NathanJB]

This is how i keep my private keys safe since i can't afford to buy a hardware wallet.
1. A complete new harddisk
I bought a new harddisk and install window 7 on it and copy all my private keys in there, i don't bother to leave this harddisk in the pc, after the copy is completed i remove the harddisk and keep it.

2.My Recording book
I have a long hard shelled book that i use for keeping records of all the airdrops and bounties i promoted because sometimes i used to forget easily so i write down my recovery seeds in this book as well

3. Flash Drive
I have a good 8gig flash drive as well that i use to copy software and files from one pc to another so i format this flash drive and copy my private keys and recovery seeds in it.

At first no one knew i am into crypto stuffs and secondly i don't share my room with anyone cos i am living alone, those who have people around them with face problems like friends going behind your back checking through your stuffs or even stealing your things, hardware wallet is still the best though.

Even if you have a hardware wallet, you will still find ways to keep your private keys safe. A hardware wallet is not for saving private keys; it is for saving coins.

Anyway, that is great of you to find alternatives for keeping your private keys safe. But if you think that a hardware wallet is really expensive, think twice. A Ledger Nano S is only worth less than $70. That is not too expensive especially if you have a portfolio which is worth much more than that. And what is $70 if that means you really own them in the safest possible way?

[hahahafr]

That's some good strategy in keeping your private keys safe mate. I got hacked recently and i don't really know where the security breach was but it seems someone had a remote access to my pc and i had saved my private keys on my pc. A friend adviced me never to save my keys on the same pc which i use for activities in the cryptosphere. I have now written down all my keys and deleted them from my pc. Hopefully, this asshole would stay off my assets.
i have formatted my drive and also get a new OS. A friend also suggests to use linux operating system as this is safer than Windows. What do you guys think?

[ansi]

Believe it or not, better use the Wallet Paper safety or just write them down (print them if you feel better).
Make many copies of it in the safest place you feel comfortable with.
Flash Drive is a great choice, anything that is not connected to internet is the safest you can get , that's for sure.

[Metall303]

why you can't buy a hardware wallet? its cost is about 50 dollars. the actions you did are much more complicated than just buying a wallet

[omone1]

I presently write all my private keys and password offline on my diary and have a duplicate diary should one of the two not immediately reachable. I know hardware wallet remains the best when storing huge fund, keeping the wallet offline without any interaction with the internet remains safest.

[tranduong123]

I use wallets with local passwords like metamask, but this wallet will not require entering the Private key regularly. The remaining is to keep the Private key safe by printing it on paper and keeping it safe, and finally, Security for my computer.

[taufik123]

This is how i keep my private keys safe since i can't afford to buy a hardware wallet.
1. A complete new harddisk
I bought a new harddisk and install window 7 on it and copy all my private keys in there, i don't bother to leave this harddisk in the pc, after the copy is completed i remove the harddisk and keep it.

2.My Recording book
I have a long hard shelled book that i use for keeping records of all the airdrops and bounties i promoted because sometimes i used to forget easily so i write down my recovery seeds in this book as well

3. Flash Drive
I have a good 8gig flash drive as well that i use to copy software and files from one pc to another so i format this flash drive and copy my private keys and recovery seeds in it.

At first no one knew i am into crypto stuffs and secondly i don't share my room with anyone cos i am living alone, those who have people around them with face problems like friends going behind your back checking through your stuffs or even stealing your things, hardware wallet is still the best though.

having lots of backups and airdrop and bounty notes is very useful, but protection must also be extra. If you use a flash drive and a special hard drive, you need to provide more protection for the Private Key by pressing it and then give a password, it will be safer if there is malware that suddenly attacks your device. Make sure Antivirus remains updated.

I use wallets with local passwords like metamask, but this wallet will not require entering the Private key regularly. The remaining is to keep the Private key safe by printing it on paper and keeping it safe, and finally, Security for my computer.

Metamask is also very good, I use it for transactions in decentralized exchange to be more secure without the need to enter the Private Key again. But be careful about fake metamask too, be sure to download the original extension on the official website. or check again before downloading.