Bitcoin light wallet with encrypted CONNECTION to the network

[lopatcoin]

Hi, which light bitcoin wallets use encrypted connection to the network? I am on a public network and do not want the ISP to see what bitcoin addresses I look at. I do not have the space required to run a full nod so I need a light wallet (windows or android).

So far I have found this (please confirm if true):

- Android Mycelium NOT encrypted connection to their servers
- Android Electrum has encrypted connection to their servers but some connections are unencrypted (not sure what that means)

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[Bitcoin_Arena]

Mycelium has an option that help you obfuscate your private data which is the Tor Network. Tap on the menu button and then head over to settings. You should be able to activate Tor Network. Make sure you have orbot installed and active



As for electrum, the wallet connects to a number of servers some maybe be unencrypted but if it's your IP address you are trying to hide. You can use a good VPN service before connecting to electrum

[PrimeNumber7]

If you have an encrypted connection to a server, your ISP will still be able to see which port you are connecting to. ISPs that want to block bitcoin traffic will block port 8333. Similarly, an ISP that sees you using port 8333 will assume you are using bitcoin, regardless of the servers you are connecting to with this port.

The best way to maintain privacy from a spying ISP is a VPN.

[Charles-Tim]

- Android Electrum has encrypted connection to their servers but some connections are unencrypted (not sure what that means)

https://roll.urown.net/server/bitcoin/electrum-server.html
Electrum Server listens on TCP ports 50001 and 50002 for incoming connections. Port 50001 is for plain unencrypted connections and port 50002 is TLS encrypted. We allow only secured connections on IPv4 and IPv6.

But, with what I have noticed, server used to query history are of port 50002 , which is encrypted, although, it is based on what I have noticed on electrum wallet. You can also set the server not to change automatically.

I am on a public network and do not want the ISP to see what bitcoin addresses I look at

You have well been answered, using VPN will be the best option, to make it safe, paid VPN like ExpressVPN are better, using free VPN can create more risks than you can possibly think. 

[lopatcoin]

using VPN will be the best option, to make it safe, paid VPN like ExpressVPN are better,

This is a little bit overkill for me. I only want to watch (not mine) bitcoin addresses on a public wifi (when bored) and I do not want the guy behind the wifi router to see what addressess I am looking at.

But your link lead to a link and that lead to a link and that lead to this source code

Code:

   private static final ArrayList<BlockExplorer> prodnetExplorerClearEndpoints = new ArrayList<BlockExplorer>() {{
      add(new BlockExplorer("BCI", "blockchain.info", "https://blockchain.info/address/", "https://blockchain.info/tx/", "https://blockchainbdgpzk.onion/address/", "https://blockchainbdgpzk.onion/tx/"));
      add(new BlockExplorer("SBT", "smartbit", "https://www.smartbit.com.au/address/", "https://www.smartbit.com.au/tx/", null, null));
      add(new BlockExplorer("BTL", "blockTrail", "https://www.blocktrail.com/BTC/address/", "https://www.blocktrail.com/BTC/tx/", null, null));
      add(new BlockExplorer("BPY", "BitPay", "https://insight.bitpay.com/address/", "https://insight.bitpay.com/tx/", null, null));
      add(new BlockExplorer("BEX", "blockExplorer", "http://blockexplorer.com/address/", "http://blockexplorer.com/tx/", null, null));
      add(new BlockExplorer("BAC", "bitAccess", "https://search.bitaccess.ca/address/", "https://search.bitaccess.ca/tx/", null, null));
      add(new BlockExplorer("BCY", "blockCypher", "https://live.blockcypher.com/btc/address/", "https://live.blockcypher.com/btc/tx/", null, null));
      add(new BlockExplorer("BES", "bitEasy", "https://www.biteasy.com/blockchain/addresses/", "https://www.biteasy.com/blockchain/transactions/", null, null));
      add(new BlockExplorer("CPM", "coinprism", "https://www.coinprism.info/address/", "https://www.coinprism.info/tx/", null, null));
      add(new BlockExplorer("TBC", "TradeBlock", "https://tradeblock.com/blockchain/address/", "https://tradeblock.com/blockchain/tx/", null, null));
      add(new BlockExplorer("BLC", "blockonomics.co", "https://www.blockonomics.co/#/search?q=", "https://www.blockonomics.co/api/tx?txid=", null, null));
   }};

It seems that blockexplorer uses HTTP only, other block explorers use HTTPS. This is probably that "some encrypted some unencrypted" thing about the Electrum wallet and I suppose that this would be the case for all the programs unless they avoid blockeplorer what they definitely should.

using free VPN can create more risks than you can possibly think.

But a free VPN and a pain VPN from the same company is about the same risk, is not it?

[pakhitheboss]

There are a few mobile wallets that can provide you such service one of them is Mycelium wallet where you can use TOR network to disguise your transaction. It is available for both Android and iOS. The next one is Samourai wallet which is avaiy only for Android devices and its primary focus is privacy and security. Then we have Wasabi desktop wallet. It is also primarily focused on privacy and security. The only benefit of using this wallet is that it is available only for desktop devices.

[Jet Cash]

If you just want to look at Bitcoin addresses, why not use a Tor window in the Brave browser.

[SquirrelJulietGarden]

If you just want to look at Bitcoin addresses, why not use a Tor window in the Brave browser.

Brave browser is not a good browser. Use Tor on Brave browser does not give you protection.

Other browsers that are better than Brave browser:
- Firefox browser: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
- Tor browser: https://www.torproject.org/download/
If you need Tor for mobile, Orbot can help you: https://guardianproject.info/apps/org.torproject.android/

[Husna QA]

Hi, which light bitcoin wallets use encrypted connection to the network? I am on a public network and do not want the ISP to see what bitcoin addresses I look at. I do not have the space required to run a full nod so I need a light wallet (windows or android).
-snip-

Maybe you can try using the Samourai Wallet.
To be more anonymous, you can enable Tor Routing on the connection.

 

You can also use Samourai Wallet with OpenVPN for Android (Settings-Networking-VPN)
You can see some of its features at the following link:
https://samouraiwallet.com/features

[ABCbits]

- Android Electrum has encrypted connection to their servers but some connections are unencrypted (not sure what that means)

https://roll.urown.net/server/bitcoin/electrum-server.html
Electrum Server listens on TCP ports 50001 and 50002 for incoming connections. Port 50001 is for plain unencrypted connections and port 50002 is TLS encrypted. We allow only secured connections on IPv4 and IPv6.

But, with what I have noticed, server used to query history are of port 50002 , which is encrypted, although, it is based on what I have noticed on electrum wallet. You can also set the server not to change automatically.

For reference, Electrum allows you connect to specific server, so OP could find a server that uses port 50002 or uses HTTPS, which is easier than setting VPN/Tor.

[lopatcoin]

If you just want to look at Bitcoin addresses, why not use a Tor window in the Brave browser.

I dont want to install tor on my phone for security reasons.
I didn't find a tor program for android that I believe so much to install it on my phone (open source with deep history).

[libert19]

You can try Green wallet, it allows you to use Tor.