Is this blatant copy/pasting?

[dkbit98]

Please check out this post and tell me if this is the case of 'blatantly copy/pasting stuff' 'from github etc.'  ?

Building your own hardware wallet is not for everyone, but it can be fun, anyone can do it and learn more about bitcoin during this process.

All code used for making Bowser hardware wallet is open source and anyone can check and verify it on github.

You can use any 32-bit microcontroller board (M5Stack, TTGO, stm32, Adafruit) but in this case we are using M5Stack.

Shopping list:

 - M5Stack ESP32 ~ $30 (order it online or buy at your local shop)
 - SD card ~ $5 (16gb is fine)

Code libraries used:

 - uBitcoin (Arduino library created by Stepan Snigirev)
 - M5Stack Library
 - lvgl GUI for Arduino

For Installing Arduino IDE and ESP32:
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage
https://github.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/blob/master/docs/arduino-ide/boards_manager.md

I would recommend buying only M5Stack ESP32 basic version without Wifi.

What I like in this example is that hardware wallet is hidden under Tetris game and it can be used as a nice mask.



You can see full Video tutorial HERE and on Github all credits go to original creators.


Note:
DIY hardware wallets  are maybe not as secure as regular hardware wallets because there is no secure element but you can make them unique and add your own custom layer of protection.
Code is not fully production ready so don't use them for keeping large amounts of coins, and always backup your seed words in safe place.

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[AB de Royse777]

As long as you have the reference link, I will say you are safe. However, if anyone reports and mod fails to see your reference then they may think it was indeed a copy/paste to take the credit of the contents.

So, my suggestion is to give the reference link at the beginning and maybe at the bottom too so that the reference can't be missing by any means.

[suchmoon]

Wouldn't it be easier if you just told us if you copied it?

I searched some phrases that would indicate incorrectly claiming authorship if you copied that text, e.g. "in this case we are using M5Stack" and "I would recommend buying only M5Stack" and I didn't get any hits so I assume that it's your original text based on the sources that you listed. Can't see any "blatant copy/pasting". Seems like a properly referenced post.

[dkbit98]

Wouldn't it be easier if you just told us if you copied it?

I searched some phrases that would indicate incorrectly claiming authorship if you copied that text, e.g. "in this case we are using M5Stack" and "I would recommend buying only M5Stack" and I didn't get any hits so I assume that it's your original text based on the sources that you listed. Can't see any "blatant copy/pasting". Seems like a properly referenced post.

I was accused by spongebob in this post, and I am also expecting from him to create new definition for hardware wallets... because hardware is not hardware, it's something else for him.

This is not a hardware wallet.

It does not contain any hardware based security mechanisms, no secure element, cryptographic co-processor, nothing.

Please stop copy/pasting posts from github etc. claiming it is a DIY hardware wallet, which it clearly is not. You are confusing newbies who might think this is as secure as a hardware wallet.

This is "just" a mini computer held offline.


Instead of blatantly copy/pasting stuff, at least read and think about it.

[suchmoon]

I was accused by spongebob in this post, and I am also expecting from him to create new definition for hardware wallets... because hardware is not hardware, it's something else for him.

I understand Bob's argument about hardware. This is just a general-purpose computer running wallet software, so aside from being small it's about as much of a hardware wallet as e.g. a laptop running Bitcoin Core. But I don't understand the blatant copy/pasting accusation, and it's a serious thing on this forum so I would assume evidence or apology is forthcoming.

[bob123]

The most irritating (and stupid) copy/paste is claiming it is a hardware wallet. Basically just because it runs on hardware (just like every other software too).
A piece of hardware with no hardware security mechanisms is not a hardware wallet.


Further, in this thread:

As alternative for hardware wallets I found one script called YetCold, that installs bitcoin core and then helps user with steps to create cold storage for holding Bitcoins.
They recommend it for storing BTC worth 50k or more with 3 of 7 HD multisig setup with private keys never exposed to device connected on internet.
You would need to have:

 - Two laptops with webcam, Ubuntu OS and Bitcoin Core.
 - 8 small USB drives.
 - Printer and paper.

Software is still beta but it is working fine and it has several Advantages:

 - Private keys are never on any device exposed to internet
 - 3 of 7 multisig addresses is used, and this allows losing up to 4 keys without losing bitcoin, and it requires 3 locations to be compromised for losing bitcoins.
 - HD Multisig is used so that you can send funds to 1,000 addresses, but recover all funds using only 3 seed phrases
 - Using Generic computing hardware.
 - Minimal software used mostly for enabling multisig for Bitcoin core software.
 - Open source and easily audited.
 - Usable for most non-technical users with following steps.
 - Private, uses Tor and never transmits your IP address.
 - Bitcoin private keys are stored on paper in multiple geographic locations with professionals that do not know they are storing bitcoin private keys.
 - Private keys are written down using the NATO phonetic alphabet where every fifth word is a checksum to reduce the possibility that a private key will be unreadable when needed.
 - Instructions for recovering the bitcoin are included with every copy of the private keys to reduce the likelihood of loss.

Disadvantages:

- Time. To complete setup you will need to invest 2 hours spread over the course of a couple days.  You also need time to buy and setup clean OS on laptops.
 - Privacy. Using multisig is not very common and a 3 of 7 multisig is even less common. Someone could look at the blockchain and find out you are using yeti for cold storage.
 - More expensive than hardware wallets.

My opinion:

If you have some old laptops in your house maybe you can give them a new life with this YetiCold storage, but for most users this is to complicated to set up and it needs lot of time invested.
Maybe it is safer then regular wallets, but for most people this would be extreme and only used by most paranoid bitcoiners Smiley

Source:
https://github.com/JWWeatherman/yeticold

Procedure:
https://github.com/JWWeatherman/how_to_store_bitcoin

Website:
https://github.com/JWWeatherman/yeticold

The part marked in red is basically a copy/paste from the github readme.
In the meantime, it seems he acknowledged the fact that some quotes are appropriate and edited his post to include them.

Also, this never was about plagiarism since he included the reference.
My statements referred to the fact that either 1) the majority of the post is just copied from github or 2) a description like "hardware wallet" is simply copied without even thinking about it whether it indeed is a hardware wallet, misleading newbies.

[dkbit98]

...

1. Totally unrelated with the post you claimed is blatant copy/paste
2. Every post/topic is credited with original source link, and I added quote later to make you feel better on second post.
3. How do you call Ledger HW1 ?  Piece of shit USB or Hardware wallet? Ledger say it's hardware, and I think it's shit.


https://www.amazon.com/Ledger-HW-1-HW-1/dp/B015N9Z4DU

4. Creators of Bowser wallet are calling it diy hardware wallet so you can complain to them.


And more:

You might want to mark what you have copied from their github, which is roughly 90%+ of your post.
Why not simply using quotes?

This is simply wrong if you know the math and if you can count, but I doubt you can.
I added quotes for your satisfaction.

[Joel_Jantsen]

Please check out this post and tell me if this is the case of 'blatantly copy/pasting stuff' 'from github etc.'  ?

Is this is your original content? No. So I wouldn't say you are the author. You could have literally included the instructions from GitHub in a quote and have it referenced to the source. Anyway, not like you will be banned for copy-pasting this. I get where bob is coming from though. Have you used the hardware wallet yourself? Do you have your personal reviews after using it for a while that you could positively recommend other newbies to use it?

Or you could have a constructive discussion with Bob and prove why you think it is what it says it is. The discussion should be inclined towards the reliability of the wallet over the source of it's content.

[dkbit98]

Is this is your original content?

Yes it is my own written words after watching video tutorial and reading instructions.

Have you used the hardware wallet yourself?

No.

...recommend other newbies to use it?

This is hobby diy project, I never recommended anything to any newbies, and that is clearly stated:

Building your own hardware wallet is not for everyone

Note:
DIY hardware wallets  are maybe not as secure as regular hardware wallets because there is no secure element but you can make them unique and add your own custom layer of protection.
Code is not fully production ready so don't use them for keeping large amounts of coins, and always backup your seed words in safe place.

Reading helps.

[LoyceV]

2. Every post/topic is credited with original source link, and I added quote later to make you feel better on second post.

I've seen a similar case from Ratimov recently. I don't think it's plagiarism, and I don't think you'll get banned for it. But: you can easily improve on this and prevent all confusion (and accusations) by doing this:

You could have literally included the instructions from GitHub in a quote and have it referenced to the source.

Did you know you can quote like this?

Bitcoin private keys are stored on paper in multiple geographic locations

See the code:

Code:

[quote author="[url=https://github.com/JWWeatherman/yeticold][u]JWWeatherman / yeticold[/u] [i]on GitHub.com[/i][/url]"]
Bitcoin private keys are stored on paper in multiple geographic locations[/quote]

I don't like adding a link (or worse: a list of links) at the bottom of a post as a disclaimer. That makes it more difficult to verify the original source, while it doesn't really give the credits the source deserves.

[dkbit98]

But: you can easily improve on this and prevent all confusion

Sure I can.

Thanks for feedback and suggestions, and I am locking this topic now.