Electrum Wallet and BitAddress Paper Wallet Creation for Newbies

[bitcoiners98]

Hi all,

Can anyone please tell me if my procedure is correct and enough.
I've always heard and read that I must disconnect from the internet when creating Electrum Wallets, to keep away from hacks, viruses, malware or having my bitcoins stolen.

I have created electrum wallets and bitaddress paper wallets yesterday. Though I dont know much about its technicalities, I just followed simple procedures I've read online.

1. downloaded electrum exe installer and bitaddress (from github)
2. save them in my usb
3. disconnected my laptop from the internet
4. uninstall and reinstall Windows 10 (I have windows installation files too, in my usb)
5. created Electrum wallet, write the seed in a paper. save the wallet file in my usb.
6. created bitaddress paper wallet, write the Public Key and Private Key in a paper (not print). have checked the spellings, capitalizations multiple times.
7. uninstall and reinstall windows 10 again, scanned my usb, then connect again to the internet.

Thanks for any advice / clarifications,
Elena

[BrewMaster]

it is not about disconnecting from the internet, it is about going to a safe environment that you can be sure doesn't have any malware.

4. uninstall and reinstall Windows 10 (I have windows installation files too, in my usb)

this step is extreme.
the better alternative is to use a live Linux from a DVD. all you have to do is to cut of the internet connection and then boot from that DVD. then follow to the next steps

6. created bitaddress paper wallet, write the Public Key and Private Key in a paper (not print). have checked the spellings, capitalizations multiple times.

i don't see why you want to take this step. Electrum already creates a wallet for you that has a seed phrase that you can write down and use to recover your funds in the future.
it is best to write the seed down but if you wanted a single key you can still right click any address and get its private key (in your Address tab).

[Soonandwaite]

hello ! in which BTC explorer can I see when a btc address has been created. that is surely possible. does anyone have a tip? thank you. and where is the fastest way to create a segwig address. offline or online does not matter ! is electrum ok ?

[NeuroticFish]

Electrum already creates a wallet for you that has a seed phrase that you can write down and use to recover your funds in the future.
it is best to write the seed down but if you wanted a single key you can still right click any address and get its private key (in your Address tab).

Just keep in mind that Electrum seed works only in Electrum.
If you want to create a seed that works everywhere, I'd suggest Ian Coleman's tool ( https://github.com/iancoleman/bip39 )

For just private key Electrum is fine.

[yhiaali3]

You did a good job but I think you initially had to do a verify Electrum signature. You can view the method here:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5130429.0
Also, the Internet cannot be permanently disconnected from the wallet because you need to connect to the Internet in order to synchronize and be able to send and receive bitcoins. All you have to do is protect your computer from viruses well.

[NeuroticFish]

OP, if you really need only address+private key, (see my previous post about seed) a simple and effective way can be with a Tails OS USB stick.
The OS loads into memory, nothing is persistent (on default settings) and it has an Electrum on it.
If you stay offline from before booting from USB until shutdown, you have your safe environment. Safer than reinstall windows.

[hosseinimr93]

Also, the Internet cannot be permanently disconnected from the wallet because you need to connect to the Internet in order to synchronize and be able to send and receive bitcoins. All you have to do is protect your computer from viruses well.

You can send your coins without any need to connect your wallet to internet.
You only need to create a watch-only wallet in another computer, make an unsigned transaction and use the offline computer for signing the transaction. Then you can broadcast the signed transaction in any other computer.

[Kakmakr]

There are more secure ways to do this, but I think you will be fine with your method. I bought a old second hand computer and printer for a few dollars and I used that to create my Paper wallets and then I physically destroyed it. (Satisfying to crush a computer & printer)

Tip : Always make duplicate copies of your Paper wallets and laminate it and then store it in several different locations. I have heard horror stories where people stored one copy of their Seed and paper wallets in one location and then a fire destroyed the house and they lost loads of coins. ( or any other natural disaster )

[yhiaali3]

You can send your coins without any need to connect your wallet to internet.
You only need to create a watch-only wallet in another computer, make an unsigned transaction and use the offline computer for signing the transaction. Then you can broadcast the signed transaction in any other computer.

Thank you for this clarification, in fact although I use the Electrium Wallet I used to think that it is necessary for the wallet to be online to conduct transactions but through this method transactions can be performed more safely.

[The Cryptovator]

hello ! in which BTC explorer can I see when a btc address has been created. that is surely possible. does anyone have a tip?

You would use blockchair block explorer. Not only for bitcoin, you can use blockchair to search transaction details for 16 blockchain.

where is the fastest way to create a segwig address. offline or online does not matter ! is electrum ok ?

Do you mean segwig SegWit? If so then I believe Electrum is better option to create native SegWit (bech32) which is start with "bc1". If you don't know different between SegWit (P2SH) and Native SegWit (bech32) then suggested to read this article What’s the difference between SegWit and Native SegWit (Bech32)? Anyway be careful when you are browsing electrum website. Download software only from original source www.electrum.org and verify signature to assure you have downloaded original software. Don't forget to write your seed on multiple paper carefully and save it on multiple secure place. Do not save your seed on any online machine. But if you can afford to Buy hardware wallet then it's more better and secure. You will get both type of address SegWit (P2SH) and Native SegWit (bech32).

[Soonandwaite]

hello ! in which BTC explorer can I see when a btc address has been created. that is surely possible. does anyone have a tip?

You would use blockchair block explorer. Not only for bitcoin, you can use blockchair to search transaction details for 16 blockchain.

where is the fastest way to create a segwig address. offline or online does not matter ! is electrum ok ?

Do you mean segwig SegWit? If so then I believe Electrum is better option to create native SegWit (bech32) which is start with "bc1". If you don't know different between SegWit (P2SH) and Native SegWit (bech32) then suggested to read this article What’s the difference between SegWit and Native SegWit (Bech32)? Anyway be careful when you are browsing electrum website. Download software only from original source www.electrum.org and verify signature to assure you have downloaded original software. Don't forget to write your seed on multiple paper carefully and save it on multiple secure place. Do not save your seed on any online machine. But if you can afford to Buy hardware wallet then it's more better and secure. You will get both type of address SegWit (P2SH) and Native SegWit (bech32).

Thanks for the answer. But when the BTC wallet was created I cannot find there .or is it a bit hidden in the blockchair explorer on the page .
sorry,but  i did not find the creation date there  

[The Cryptovator]

Thanks for the answer. But when the BTC wallet was created I cannot find there .or is it a bit hidden in the blockchair explorer on the page .
sorry,but  i did not find the creation date there  

My bad! I misunderstood your question. I thought where you are looking for check details of a address on explorer when address has been created, I mean you are talking after created. I hadn't realized you are talking about creation "date".

Bitcoin address is a hash of public key and public key is a hash of private key. So technically you are unable to check creation date of private keys of others if you are not the creator (only you may know when you have created but date isn't recorded anywhere). And you will not able to check public key of any address if the address hasn't used to spent a unspent transaction. So it's quite impossible to find a creation date for bitcoin address with any block explorer. You are able to see details only which is already public like first transaction, sender, last transaction date, fees etc. Any private credential will not available on any block explorer.

[OcTradism]

I've always heard and read that I must disconnect from the internet when creating Electrum Wallets, to keep away from hacks, viruses, malware or having my bitcoins stolen.

Electrum: You must download Electrum wallet from official website, and must verify wallet. See the guides below to understand how importance it is to verify your wallet and how to do so.
[GUIDE] How to Safely Download and Verify Electrum [Guide]
Electrum wallet - Update safely and avoid phishing wallets?
Verify wallets before installing & using. You'll lose fund if you don't verify

5. created Electrum wallet, write the seed in a paper. save the wallet file in my usb.

No, you should not store your wallet in your USBs. Because you can lose your USB to someone else. It will be sucked if you don't set up a password for your wallet.

But even if you set up a password for your wallet, how strong it is, I don't know and people can crack your password.
[GUIDE] How to Create a Strong/Secure Password

How to Install Tails OS on USB flash drive for Wallet Purpose. You show interests in using USB so the guide is helpful for your needs.

If your demand temporarily is not to move your bitcoin, and your demand is only to observe your wallet balance, I advise you to more safely use Bitcoin block explorers and  use Watch only mode in Electrum wallet, like this:

How to do?

Import Bitcoin Addresses or Private keys. Choose to import your Bitcoin address to have the Watch Only mode. If you import your Private key, you will have a full wallet, not Watch Only one.

With the Watch Only mode: after import your bitcoin address you will get a pop-up box like that

This wallet is watching-only. This means you will not be able to spend Bitcoins with it. Make sure you own the seed phrase or the private keys, before you request Bitcoins to be sent to this wallet.

There are many explorers to choose from List of useful Bitcoin block explorers

[akram143]

I don't understand why we need to uninstall and install windows operating system just to install electrum wallet?

I am also having electrum in my desktop but I never done this, can someone explain what is the reason behind OPs action.

[OcTradism]

I don't understand why we need to uninstall and install windows operating system just to install electrum wallet?

I am also having electrum in my desktop but I never done this, can someone explain what is the reason behind OPs action.

It is for people who don't have a personal computer and have to use computers on Internet service store, and such computers are public ones and are used by so many people. There are risks of malwares, spywares, virus, trojans, etc. on such.

Therefore, using Tails OS on USB will help such people eliminate risks to lose their private keys or mnemonic seeds. If you have your own computers, you don't have to do this.

How to Install Tails OS on USB flash drive for Wallet Purpose

[Soonandwaite]

Bitcoin address is a hash of public key and public key is a hash of private key. So technically you are unable to check creation date of private keys of others if you are not the creator (only you may know when you have created but date isn't recorded anywhere). And you will not able to check public key of any address if the address hasn't used to spent a unspent transaction. So it's quite impossible to find a creation date for bitcoin address with any block explorer. You are able to see details only which is already public like first transaction, sender, last transaction date, fees etc. Any private credential will not available on any block explorer.

Ahh. Ok. thank you. I really thought i could see the creation date . a few days ago i also tried several block explorers and found nothing.
Okay. Thanks anyway for your help .now I don't have to do any more research  

[ranochigo]

Bitcoin address is a hash of public key and public key is a hash of private key.

Public key is not a hash of the private key. Public key is generated from the private key by multiplying it against the generator point.

Addresses already technically exist. You can't determine the creation date cause nothing is communicated when your client generates the address. Without someone keeping track of the address, you can't see the "creation" date of the address per se.

How to do?

Import Bitcoin Addresses or Private keys. Choose to import your Bitcoin address to have the Watch Only mode. If you import your Private key, you will have a full wallet, not Watch Only one.

As much as possible, you can try importing the xpub instead of individual addresses. That'll save you the hassle of tracking the individual addresses within the wallet itself.

[akram143]

I don't understand why we need to uninstall and install windows operating system just to install electrum wallet?

I am also having electrum in my desktop but I never done this, can someone explain what is the reason behind OPs action.

It is for people who don't have a personal computer and have to use computers on Internet service store, and such computers are public ones and are used by so many people. There are risks of malwares, spywares, virus, trojans, etc. on such.

If this is the case then its better to install electrum wallet on their smartphone itself so they can access their funds with convenience.And I do wonder computer in a public store is allowed to alter operating system on our own.

[OcTradism]

I don't understand why we need to uninstall and install windows operating system just to install electrum wallet?

I am also having electrum in my desktop but I never done this, can someone explain what is the reason behind OPs action.

It is for people who don't have a personal computer and have to use computers on Internet service store, and such computers are public ones and are used by so many people. There are risks of malwares, spywares, virus, trojans, etc. on such.

If this is the case then its better to install electrum wallet on their smartphone itself so they can access their funds with convenience.And I do wonder computer in a public store is allowed to alter operating system on our own.

No I won't. Smartphones should not be used for important storage, personal info, and our money. If I use smartphone for such goal, I will use it to store my few dollars, not more than $100, just to use if I am in a hurry and don't have connection to my computer.

On smartphones, you can more easier make typos, wrong enter, many more.

[witcher_sense]

No I won't. Smartphones should not be used for important storage, personal info, and our money. If I use smartphone for such goal, I will use it to store my few dollars, not more than $100, just to use if I am in a hurry and don't have connection to my computer.

On smartphones, you can more easier make typos, wrong enter, many more.

If I had to, I would rather use my smartphone to store critical information than computers with public access for such purposes. Smartphones are actually similar to hardware wallets in essence. They have information encrypted and contain a piece of hardware, a security chip, that is being used to decrypt sensitive data. No malware can withdraw keys from security chip meaning that private keys are kept relatively safe. While I agree that huge amounts of money shouldn't be stored on such devices, it is stiil significantly better than using compromised computers with the most vulnerable OS installed.