Privacy tips people should know before teaching them bitcoin

[Alpha Marine]

About this time last year a friend of my lost everything in a wallet of his. He woke up and everything was gone. It was stolen, not by a stranger or hacker but by someone close to him, someone who had access to his phone. Someone who was also a trader like him (you have to have a certain level of knowledge about crypto to do what the person did.) Now, my friend took steps to make sure he’s safe from online hackers but not from his people close to him.
The operation was carried out at night while he was asleep, by the time he woke up it was too late.

I was reading an article related to this yesterday and that led me to remember that incident and all he went through. I won't wish that on my enemy. That is why I've decided to share this.

Common tips to keep your phone or laptop secure

1. Avoid giving out personal information
    That text message that looks to be from your bank may not be. If you get requests via email or text
    for account information from any business, contact the business directly to confirm the request. The
    same advice goes for tapping links in unsolicited emails or texts.

2. Use a pin, password or pattern to lock your phone
    However you choose, make sure people don’t have access to your device. Your passwords should be
    private and known only to you.

3. Download apps only from trusted stores
    If you’re browsing for a new game or something more productive, use places such as Google Play..
    Make sure you check ratings and reviews if they are available, and read the app’s privacy policy to
    see exactly what phone features it will have access to if you download.
 
4. Keep your operating system and apps updated
    There are typically periodic updates to both of these that not only add new features, but also offer
    tightened security.

5. Log out of sites after you make a payment
    If you bank or shop from your smartphone, log out of those sites once your transactions are
    complete. Other tips include not storing your usernames and passwords on your phone and avoiding
    transactions while you are on public Wi-Fi.

6. Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use
    You think of them as ways to connect to something, but thieves can use them to connect to your
    device and access files.

7. Protect your investment
    Protect your phone in a way that if it gets stolen or missing, nobody can access your personal details
    even if they gain access into the phone.
    You could place a password to apps you use for transactions and also protect sensitive details like
    transaction pins.

8. Only use apps you trust:
    Only grant trusted apps permission to parts of your phone like location, calendar, contacts, messages.
    I downloaded an app on my phone and it asked for permission for my keyboard. I became very
    skeptical of the app and decided to delete it to be safe. I can't let any random app have access to
    everything I type including my passwords.

9. Adhere to the security warnings of your phone or browser:
   Sometimes you're about to visit a site and your browser gives you the “site is not secure” warning but
   you refuse to listen and still go ahead. That's not safe for you and/or your device.

   Never input your personal information or any information at all in a website that uses HTTP (no S). If
   possible, avoid any website that is not HTTPS. An HTTP website means it's not secure so any
   information you put there can be accessed by a third party.

In an article made by Bitdefender, (What is Online Privacy? And Why is it Important?) they had this to say;
"We can look at our personal data as something hackers either directly exploit or use as soon as they get a hold of it. It’s also something they can trade with other cybercriminal organizations. So, personal data is commoditized. It has a price. Your medical data, your financial history, your credit card data, your online shopping preferences have a price."
Liviu Arsene (Senior E-Threat Analyst, Bitdefender)



https://www.verizon.com/articles/8-common-sense-tips-to-keep-your-smartphone-secure/

https://www.bitdefender.com/cyberpedia/what-is-online-privacy/

[Despairo]

Your subject title is about privacy, while the post you're discuss is about security.

Actually the reason why you get fake code message about your bank account is you're share your information to the banks! banking system has a lot flaws and poor security, when the hacker get your information, they will send you messages to your phone number.

If you to protect your privacy at 100% level, you need to avoid any centralized party.

[PrivacyG]

Things get very simple once someone gains access to your Seed or Private Key.  They have all the time in the world to do what ever they want with it.

If your friend held all their money on their phone, it is something they should have definitely NOT done.  Only hold in Hot Wallets amounts you would not mind that much losing.  Keep the rest in Cold Storage and keep that Seed or Private Key in a very safe place nobody would look at.

Drill a hole in the top side of a door and put the seed there.  Or if you have a wooden shelf, you can drill a hole in the side facing the wall and put it there.  Nobody is going to undo your furniture to look for a piece of paper.  Particularly if the shelf has a lot of objects on it.

By listening to these two advices, you will avoid most of the trouble and fear of having your Coins stolen.

-
Regards,
PrivacyG

[Alpha Marine]

Your subject title is about privacy, while the post you're discuss is about security.

Actually the reason why you get fake code message about your bank account is you're share your information to the banks! banking system has a lot flaws and poor security, when the hacker get your information, they will send you messages to your phone number.

If you to protect your privacy at 100% level, you need to avoid any centralized party.

Is it possible to stay clear of any centralized party 100%.

[_act_]

Never input your personal information or any information at all in a website that uses HTTP (no S). If
   possible, avoid any website that is not HTTPS. An HTTP website means it's not secure so any
   information you put there can be accessed by a third party.

This is true, http sites have no secure connection, but do not think that sites that are https that have secure connection can not be used by scammers, all the sites that I have seen scammers using all have secure connection as they are https sites. Know that your connection can be secure, but scammers can be the owner of a site, any information you enter on that site can be known to the scammers and be used against you.

[Upgrade00]

Is it possible to stay clear of any centralized party 100%.

It is very possible to avoid using centralized platforms 100% if you actually intend to.

• Use a non custodian wallet service provider like Electrum or bitcoincore,
• For trades, use a P2P, decentralized platform to sell or buy bitcoins and transfer them to your non custodian wallet,
• For extra privacy, you can use a mixer or coinjoining service (N.B, coins that have been previously mixed are often rejected by centralized exchanges).

P.S, double posting (consecutively) is against forum rules. You should instead edit your new reply into your previous one.

[lovesmayfamilis]

I didn't see anything about antivirus. Although, if it is a phone, then the security of the phone will be based on the programs that the owner uses. I never turn off Wi-Fi on my phone. I do not have public access to my network, and the Wi-Fi is protected by a good password. Maybe you meant using public Wi-Fi? This is very dangerous and not recommended. In addition, it is better not to install wallets on devices that you regularly use. Buying a hardware wallet will save you a lot of headaches.

[hugeblack]

How will you protect these measures from physical attacks, especially from relatives who may have access to your phone for several hours while you are sleeping, in the gym, or, for example, in a match.

Such attacks require many precautions, such as not telling anyone how to unlock your phone, not leaving a copy of your wallet with the ROM or RAM, keeping the seeds in hidden areas that only you know, trying to divide the master if you are afraid that someone will know The places where you store it.

Do not copy articles by Bitdefender or any other company, they are not a source of information and some of their information may be misleading for commercial purposes.

[Findingnemo]

Nowadays I don't think anyone will be sharing their PIN, passwords or other credentials to no one no matter how much closer friend, even with family member but maybe with life partner in some cases.

So either your friend trusted someone too much and got backstabbed which can be avoided in future by not repeating the same mistake.

[AakZaki]

Nowadays I don't think anyone will be sharing their PIN, passwords or other credentials to no one no matter how much closer friend, even with family member but maybe with life partner in some cases.

So either your friend trusted someone too much and got backstabbed which can be avoided in future by not repeating the same mistake.

there is and it has even happened to some friends I know well. he provides the password, pin and everything needed to open the account on his device.
But until now it is still safe and nothing has happened, as long as we find people who can be trusted, crimes such as asset theft etc. will not happen. But it's better to keep everything private and only you know.

and for some untrusted apps or foreign apps, usually there is some embedded malware. For current smartphone devices there will be a warning about the application to be installed if there is anything suspicious about the application.

[CryptoHeadlineNews]

In addition to your security measures, I will say that for those who can afford it, buying a separate smartphone which will be used only for wallet and storing of crypto assets will be a nice idea, placed in a secure location where only you and you alone knows it's password, to avoid stories that touch lives. Because we have got people who spend huge funds only to buy "Trezor cold wallet" for advanced security, so this will be a good suggestion

[un_rank]

In addition to your security measures, I will say that for those who can afford it, buying a separate smartphone which will be used only for wallet and storing of crypto assets will be a nice idea,

A hardware wallet costs cheaper than majority of smartphones and are more suited for cold storage. If one has a spare device, with a good security software, using it as an air gapped device is a good idea, but if you are going to make a purchase go for a good piece of hardware.

Because we have got people who spend huge funds only to buy "Trezor cold wallet" for advanced security, so this will be a good suggestion

It is one of the more expensive ones but does not cost 'huge funds', compared to how much would be stored in it.

- Jay -

[PrivacyG]

It is one of the more expensive ones but does not cost 'huge funds', compared to how much would be stored in it.

Trezor T, maybe.  Trezor One, not really.  Both are still doing the job very well.

If you want to store Bitcoin on a phone, purchasing a new one means spending at least $100.  And what do you get for $100?  A phone that may or may not work in a matter of five years.  If you want to use it as a Bitcoin Cold Wallet, you can not carry it around with you and spend the Bitcoin.  Trezor lets you do this and model One costs under $100.

-
Regards,
PrivacyG

[passwordnow]

The tips may look easy and basic but when someone isn't aware of how they're being infiltrated by hackers, they're the easiest targets of it.
If you've got some spare budget, buy a dedicated laptop or smartphone that you'll only use for specific activities. It's like a special use only like for accessing financial accounts, crypto wallets, etc. In that case, if you're not too conservative and sensitive with keeping yourself safe, at least having that move will only make you remember to access only what you have to access through that specific device.

[Davidvictorson]

~snip~

Great advice. They are really helpful to me. From personal experience, I have a laptop that I almost never use but that has actually been set aside for anything to do with my cold wallet. Therefore, I transfer any cryptocurrency I have in a centralized exchange into it at the end of each month after I have recharged the battery and made relevant software updates. I go through this process again at each month's conclusion. It's been working really well for me thus far.

[Findingnemo]

Nowadays I don't think anyone will be sharing their PIN, passwords or other credentials to no one no matter how much closer friend, even with family member but maybe with life partner in some cases.

So either your friend trusted someone too much and got backstabbed which can be avoided in future by not repeating the same mistake.

there is and it has even happened to some friends I know well. he provides the password, pin and everything needed to open the account on his device.
But until now it is still safe and nothing has happened, as long as we find people who can be trusted, crimes such as asset theft etc. will not happen. But it's better to keep everything private and only you know.

and for some untrusted apps or foreign apps, usually there is some embedded malware. For current smartphone devices there will be a warning about the application to be installed if there is anything suspicious about the application.

Yes, there was a time like in our schooling days we share lot of things with our friends but as sn adult one who involved in business or profession or a job supposed not to share the sensitive details of us to friends but still if we trust them completely then its upto the individual but the individual who trust someone becomes vulnerable.

Usually the apps we install from playstore or app store are almost safe and its important to enable Google protect like feature which keep scanning the installed apps and stop them if there is any shady behaviour. While we install from third party websites we have to be careful with what are the permissions it asks while installation.

[AakZaki]

Yes, there was a time like in our schooling days we share lot of things with our friends but as sn adult one who involved in business or profession or a job supposed not to share the sensitive details of us to friends but still if we trust them completely then its upto the individual but the individual who trust someone becomes vulnerable.

Usually the apps we install from playstore or app store are almost safe and its important to enable Google protect like feature which keep scanning the installed apps and stop them if there is any shady behaviour. While we install from third party websites we have to be careful with what are the permissions it asks while installation.

yup, google protect is an important part for smartphones to avoid dangerous applications. Applications that are not installed via Google Playstore tend to be more dangerous because there are some that embed malware in them.

And quiet further privacy, not everything has to be published and told to friends or even family, we can't trust them completely. but there are times when we should give up our privacy to those we do trust.

[harapan]

Your subject title is about privacy, while the post you're discuss is about security.

Actually the reason why you get fake code message about your bank account is you're share your information to the banks! banking system has a lot flaws and poor security, when the hacker get your information, they will send you messages to your phone number.

If you to protect your privacy at 100% level, you need to avoid any centralized party.

Is it possible to stay clear of any centralized party 100%.

You can be 80% decentralized but not hundred percent decentralized for your information.

Some good ways to being decentralized is taking your coins of exchange
Being your own Bank and taking full custody of your coins.

But then some reasons why you can't be hundred percent decentralized is that you have credit cards and they are all centralized and if you check your usage of fiat this week it means you didn't go decentralized all round.

[Rruchi man]

2. Use a pin, password or pattern to lock your phone
    However you choose, make sure people don’t have access to your device. Your passwords should be
    private and known only to you.

Most mobile phones now and laptops have the option of creating two users, a function to create another space in the phone or computer for another user. If you let people have access to your phone and computers, this function will be good to be taken advantage of, Separate your important and private applications and information from the other regular and normal applications that can be used by anyone. If you also use the function, It will also be wise to not let people know that you have a private space on your device, so if it happens they have bad intentions, you will not be giving them a head start where to look to gain access to. Stay private.

[tech30338]

I think the best advice would be never trust even your friend for your devices and passwords and most important is your wallet keys , with your example its not a hacker but a friend, so that advice is best for that situation, and the rest of your suggestion is for securing your wallet and information, which is some of the best practice that are being done by those who are in crypto.