How to Protect Your Crypto Wallet if Someone Searches Your Phone?

[Mahanton]

I think such scenario is rampart with countries in Africa or such that are governed by tyrants and dictators. In a sane society, such arbitrariness isn't tolerated except where national security is threatened. However, the OP can find a way of putting pin lock or password to apps he has on phone. For instance, the Bitcoin blockchain  for BTC has a provision for pin code. Blockfolio has too. Imtoken has also, and so many other apps do have them.

I have experience several harassment on numerous occasions concerning searching of my mobile by the so called law enforcement agencies and in cases when I refuse them access I get force to or my device get seized. The pin/password isn't that perfect since you can still be force to unlock the apps by imputing your password or finger print.

With the recent brands of Android phones, you can easier hide very sensitive apps without anyone having an idea you have such apps on your device. That's the trick I used, and I found it to be very effective. Before now, I downloaded apps that I could hide my apps in but discovered the disadvantage of those app. The moment you mistakenly delete them, the rest of the information stored in the app gets deleted with it.

For sure when they are already on your doorstep and do ask out such thing then most likely you would able to give it due to panic or even too afraid.

There are really some certain apps which can really be hidden but as you said there were advantages and disadvantages on this one thats why you should really be careful.
You should know on how to remember things so that accident or loss of coins wont happen.

This is actually a concern of privacy but when govt asked this one then you wont have any choice.

[Kemarit]

It's either not to used your mobile phone, or get a hardware wallet, or used a different phone for your crypto dealing separate from your personal phone. So in any case, you could have at least a line of defense for this kind of scenario in the future.

^ It's a good idea and that is what I am doing now. I used another mobile phone aside from my personal use that I hand carry almost every day. And besides, then that never save personal information on your mobile phone just like keeping private keys or passwords. Save it on the flash drive and keep it into a safe place that no one knows. When a scenario comes like this and if someone confiscated your phone or even when it is snatched you dont need to worry about.

That would be hassle to carry on my side if I do that since for me I prefer one phone only to minimize the hassle, but I make sure that I always activate my 2fa and email verification for my mobile wallet so people who  browse my phone without my permission cannot get an access to my personal wallet and also I don't save any important details especially wallet private keys or anything for security purposes.

I guess to each his own. I always carry two wallets with me, and I don't see it as a hassle. Most of the time I have my wife carry my other phone. Of course we always need to activate 2fa and email verification for our mobile but I just prefer it that way.

So one for my daily and personal used and even though no one can touch it except my wife or my kids, still I practice two phones for my security.

[ChrisPop]

Delete it, format it, destroy it, throw it away if you hold a significant amount and you don't want anyone to "peek" into your wallet. But be sure you have a paper or hardware backup somewhere else. That's why Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies inspire freedom - because no one can access your wallet if you take good care of it.

There are more sophisticated ways out there like app-level or phone-level encryption, but I suggest you to do a little bit of online research on that.

[Kupid002]

-snip-

Ill do the same things i am always have backup two phone one is  always at home and the other one  i take it any where i go . Its for security not only for wallet but for the other important application and even email. So if i lost my phone or someone stole it from me  i have all the back up needed to recover anything in places.

[Moshaid]

The only way I go about this without the authorities getting to go through some sensitive information such as my holdings in my phone is by hiding all my cryptocurrency apps also I have this xiaomi device I use where I have two operating systems on a device, so i get to store my wallets in the other operating system and the main operating system is what I open to them when such request is being made.

[justdimin]

-snip-

Ill do the same things i am always have backup two phone one is  always at home and the other one  i take it any where i go . Its for security not only for wallet but for the other important application and even email. So if i lost my phone or someone stole it from me  i have all the back up needed to recover anything in places.

I do the same but I do not use spare phone instead I store each and every backup onto my laptop.

My laptop is always home and it is most secure as no one can access it without knowing the password and I have never shared the password for my laptop with anyone. Usually I store limited information in my mobile device as it might even be wrecked anytime which might make us loose our private credentials including private keys, etc.

I have already experienced this as my previous mobile device was turned into pieces after I drop it from my pocket while riding bike and a car almost trashed my device. That made me loose some private keys which I used to store some tokens and it gave me a huge lesson. From that date, I always switch such important information from my mobile to laptop.

[redsun114]

The only way I go about this without the authorities getting to go through some sensitive information such as my holdings in my phone is by hiding all my cryptocurrency apps also I have this xiaomi device I use where I have two operating systems on a device, so i get to store my wallets in the other operating system and the main operating system is what I open to them when such request is being made.

Do you mean dual space? Because it is not possible to have two operating systems in a single device. Redmi offers dual space feature which makes it easy to manage such apps onto another space and also it keeps us secure even if anyone searches our phone. At the first stage, there needs to be some legal permission letter from the supreme court in order to search your property and it can only be done if they have major doubt on you about money laundering or any such case.

In usual case, we do not need to worry even if any legal entity finds any crypto related app on our device as it entirely depends on our willingness which app we want to use.

[Soldierswitlittlefaith]

Ofcourse, i think #govt and #authorities have all the tool's on earth to access your mobile phone remotely without the need of your permission or coming to you physical if, there is need for such.

Thanks
Soldierwitlittlefaith

[carlisle1]

We all keep a lot of personal information on our phones and obviously don’t want to share our correspondence, cryptocurrency wallets, or contacts to become a part of the public domain. Nonetheless, in some cases, authorities can ask you to provide full access to your device.

Is this even legal? Can you refuse to give your phone to law enforcement? How can you protect your cryptocurrency wallet?

https://forklog.media/how-to-protect-your-crypto-wallet-during-phone-search/

Our wallets has a private keys,so I don’t see what are your problem with this?and also authority will only ask for your mobile or gadget if you are a suspected criminal and not just by random checking (not unless in your country there is something in law like that) but in my country?we have the rights to refuse giving our personal things .
I think this is still depend in which country or region you are living.

[rigden]

We all keep a lot of personal information on our phones and obviously don’t want to share our correspondence, cryptocurrency wallets, or contacts to become a part of the public domain. Nonetheless, in some cases, authorities can ask you to provide full access to your device.

Is this even legal? Can you refuse to give your phone to law enforcement? How can you protect your cryptocurrency wallet?

https://forklog.media/how-to-protect-your-crypto-wallet-during-phone-search/

Authorities have the right to seize your phone with full access to your information in order to find what they are looking for if they want. If you have not broken any laws, then you can not worry. However, if you did, for example, something illegal, using your crypto wallet or something else, then the authorities will find this on your phone in any case, since they have the most advanced knowledge about it. I don't think that there is any more effective way to protect yourself than not to commit illegal actions.

[btc_angela]

We all keep a lot of personal information on our phones and obviously don’t want to share our correspondence, cryptocurrency wallets, or contacts to become a part of the public domain. Nonetheless, in some cases, authorities can ask you to provide full access to your device.

Is this even legal? Can you refuse to give your phone to law enforcement? How can you protect your cryptocurrency wallet?

https://forklog.media/how-to-protect-your-crypto-wallet-during-phone-search/

Authorities have the right to seize your phone with full access to your information in order to find what they are looking for if they want. If you have not broken any laws, then you can not worry. However, if you did, for example, something illegal, using your crypto wallet or something else, then the authorities will find this on your phone in any case, since they have the most advanced knowledge about it. I don't think that there is any more effective way to protect yourself than not to commit illegal actions.

Well for most of us here, we are good abiding citizen and that is the whole premise of this discussions.

Of course if you're a criminal you will hide everything, but if authorities seize your phone just because they have suspected you of something then it's not right. That's why we don't advise to put or used our mobile phone to store our crypto, at least for me.

[gantez]

When you are already aware on possible phone search then think up wisely.Use an alternative one and in case you get caught in the act then they cant find anything.

I think the fear of being searched for crypto related issues should be for jurisdictions that have placed ban on crypto or bitcoin, otherwise, there won't be any need to be vigilant about phone search for cryptocurrency.
In my country however, if you have illicit stuff in your phone, then you can be on guide but crypto isn't a crime.

[rodskee]

When you are already aware on possible phone search then think up wisely.Use an alternative one and in case you get caught in the act then they cant find anything.

When it comes to checking or inspection specially on your personal belongings then it do really need legal documentation and as a right you should
seek for that one because everything do comes on due process.

I think the thing here is instant searching mate and not that you can get ready in case police or any authority needs to make search things that i believe depends on what country and laws are being applied because in my region we have the rights to deny searches in our personal things not unless you are a pointed criminal so they can interfere even in our personals.
but giving that situation i think we must have more securities in our wallets to be more safer if ever things like this happens,2fa will do as well with another device verification in which not in your hand at the same time.

[carter34]

The only way I go about this without the authorities getting to go through some sensitive information such as my holdings in my phone is by hiding all my cryptocurrency apps also I have this xiaomi device I use where I have two operating systems on a device, so i get to store my wallets in the other operating system and the main operating system is what I open to them when such request is being made.

I think all these troubles depend on the country that has restriction on bitcoin. If I live in such country, I won't have to give myself all the trouble so that I don't eventually lose my coins. I would leave my phone simply. If I get back home, then I continue with it. Or , I would have an alternative phone that is smaller maybe.

[iv4n]

The only way I go about this without the authorities getting to go through some sensitive information such as my holdings in my phone is by hiding all my cryptocurrency apps also I have this xiaomi device I use where I have two operating systems on a device, so i get to store my wallets in the other operating system and the main operating system is what I open to them when such request is being made.

I think all these troubles depend on the country that has restriction on bitcoin. If I live in such country, I won't have to give myself all the trouble so that I don't eventually lose my coins. I would leave my phone simply. If I get back home, then I continue with it. Or , I would have an alternative phone that is smaller maybe.

Simply having the two phones is probably the best idea, and the easiest one. Why to trough all the trouble with two operating systems, why to have fake operating system like in the article, when you can have two phones and that is it.
For people who travel is enough to have private keys, when you have them you can restore your wallet when you arrive at your destination. You can store your private keys anywhere, all you need is connection!
Article is long and maybe some people will use it, but as I say there are an easier ways to stay off the grid and have nothing with you in case someone tries to search you and what you are carrying with yourself.

[Kurokonobasuke]

In my own opinion, when you installed an application expected that there are some information in your phone that you give them a full access by just confirming those pop-up message that would allowed you. When you start allowing them to access your phones, you can't stop them to see your personal information such as pictures, documents, accounts and other important information. To prevent it from getting all your information it is needed to provide an alternative gadget or any phones so that you may that only exclusive for cryptocurrency wallets. In case of being loss, it is useful to store other important information in cloud storage not in memory card, because whatever the password strong is, it can be opened by professional hackers.

[natefielding]

Why would someone even search your own phone? dont they even know the word privacy and security.

[chippy.hogan]

I have multiple security on my phone just in case it got lost or stolen.

[Rodeo02]

Why would someone even search your own phone? dont they even know the word privacy and security.

op asking if police asking to open it.

Then  it will be depend on the situation  if you make a crime they can have your phone to collect more evidence they need.

They will not ask you to open it for them they can open it without problem since they have thier own IT's working to them.

[ultrloa]

Why would someone even search your own phone? dont they even know the word privacy and security.

op asking if police asking to open it.

Then  it will be depend on the situation  if you make a crime they can have your phone to collect more evidence they need.

They will not ask you to open it for them they can open it without problem since they have thier own IT's working to them.

Yes they have authorities to open it but they should make sure to have a search warrant since its a violation on their side.

But in the case of security for other evader better to turn on all necessary measures in terms of security like binding your phone number,2fa and email since this one could make our wallet more safer.