Why can't regular flash drives store Bitcoin

[Z-tight]

Hardware wallets, on the other hand, have built-in security that protects the digital assets stored in them safely and securely.

Hardware wallets are not safe in and of themselves, or because there is an in-built security feature that protects its users, hardware wallets are safe because they store the owners keys offline, and when the keys are offline it is impossible for an attacker to steal it. But a hardware wallet isn't just safe on its own, the owner must have great operational security, they must back up the seed phrase generated from the hardware wallet and ensure the physical device is also kept in a safe place and always encrypted with a PIN.

[tbct_mt2]

Hardware wallets are not safe in and of themselves, or because there is an in-built security feature that protects its users, hardware wallets are safe because they store the owners keys offline, and when the keys are offline it is impossible for an attacker to steal it.

With hardware wallets, your private keys will not be exposed to the Internet so that it will keep your coins safely from threats which can steal your coins. With hardware wallets, you can broadcast your transaction, sign it without leaking your private key.

But a hardware wallet isn't just safe on its own, the owner must have great operational security, they must back up the seed phrase generated from the hardware wallet and ensure the physical device is also kept in a safe place and always encrypted with a PIN.

This is about other things like wallet backups which are vital for you when you need to recover your wallets. It belongs to a hardware wallet user and his practice. If a user is careless, does not make wallet backups, and lose his coins because of unable to recover his wallets, it is not responsibility of that hardware wallet producer.

If you build up a good lock but the buyer who buys that lock for his house but leaves the key in front of thief eyes, it is not your responsibility if that house is invaded by a thief.

[Jet Cash]

I think there is an important consideration here which seems to be ignored. Bitcoin is a virtual asset, and you can't store it anywhere. The records of your holdings are published publicly on the blockchain. The only thing you need to record is a list of the coiuns you own, and the way you can release thgem in oirder to "spenbd" them. As has been mentioned, there are numerous ways to record addresses, keys and passwords, and the safestr and most effective ways will vary from persoin to person. For example, I could use paper hidden in the van for my records. That would be protected agaiunst theft, but would be usekless in the evenb of a file, and may also be lost in a damp atmosphere. You will also need a method to access thge blockchain if you wish to spend your coins, but not if you just want to receive them. My choice is to use Bitcoin core, but there are many other optiuons that can be used safely and securely.

[Lorence.xD]

Any software file can be saved or store in flash drives, however we all know that it can be prone to viruses or in short the security of your Bitcoin is not guaranteed. Most of my usb got viruses that the files in there will be impossible to recover. I think in Africa if they are used to flash drives and they could handle their funds in there then it would be justifiable. It's your own risk but it's still not recommendable you should always rely on the safety of your funds which is the software transactions.

[kryptqnick]

I wouldn't trust a regular flash drive because sometimes they get corrupted, you may accidentally overwrite it because of forgetting what it's being used for, you might lose it altogether, you might catch viruses on it if you plug it into an infected device.
I think Electrum wallet is reliable enough, to be honest, as long as precautions are taken regarding the storage of the passphrase and the device you're using to access your coins from. It's non-custodial, easy-to-use, no special hardware required.

[Alucard1]

All you need to do is to keep your private key or seed phrase in a safest ways you can, there are a lot of things you can do to protect it, there are some people who write down their seed phrase in a piece of paper and keep them in a secret place and there are also some people who place it underneatch their house.

Just remember not to store it in any social media platform you have or save it in your computer, that would be the riskiest thing you might do to your wallet, we are always vulnerable from attack when we are using any computer or technology so always keep away your secrets on it.

[KiaKia]

If I am going to use a flash drive to store my private keys it won't be the only one, because I have bought so many USB flash drive in my life and they always get damaged when not in use for a long period of time, the few that still works corrupts the file stored on them, imagine storing your Bitcoin wallet on such USB, some people said I need to buy the original USB flash as there are too many bad products out there but I did and there isn't much difference, I have been mean to ask if not using a USB flash for a long period of time can cause the flash drive to expire or get bad?

I prefer writing recovery seed instead of storing private keys because with private key you will need to copy paste, but with recovery seed you only need to write the words one after the other which seems safer to me.

[BlackHatCoiner]

I think we can give him precautionary measures if ever he can't afford hardware wallets and chose to use a flash disk as an alternative.

Flash drive is, first and foremost, not an alternative, because it ain't a wallet. Hardware wallets are not "flash drives" specified for Bitcoin. They do more than just storing files. They sign transactions, to be precise. They are considered safe, because you don't leave your private keys in plain sight to your Internet connected computer. Lastly, we shouldn't give him precautionary measures about flash drives, because it's a dumb manner to back up wallets in the first place.

This article gives a good alternative in storing BTC privatekey

This article must have been written by an amateur. You should not rely on a flash drive which has a very limited lifespan. You should back up seed phrase in paper, and in multiple places. That's enough.

[isaac_clarke22]

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I recall some good old myths before that technological devices do have their own set of time where they just don't work at all so that companies would be making you buy more from them. I still have some flash drive here in my stash that I usually just use to store some "low-priority" files that I do not mind losing. They ain't meant to be fool-proof even if you buy those reputated brands like SanDisk. I would never ever rely my access to my own Bitcoin to something that could fail at any time.

Hardware wallets is like another form of investment that I would be willing to risk my money into. Writing in seeds would be the cheapest but quite secured of a way to store my recovery seed just like yours, but floods are kinda ass sometimes. Maybe storing them in a safe in the attic would be the way?

[touseefahmad1999]

Yes, there are software wallets that can be used to store Bitcoin on a flash drive or other storage device. These wallets are often referred to as "cold wallets" or "offline wallets" because they are not connected to the internet, which provides an additional layer of security against potential hacks or cyber attacks.

One example of a software wallet that can be used to store Bitcoin on a flash drive is Electrum. Electrum is a popular Bitcoin wallet that can be downloaded onto a computer and used to store Bitcoin securely offline. The wallet generates a seed phrase that can be used to recover the wallet in case of loss or theft, and can be encrypted for additional security.

Another option is to use a paper wallet, which involves printing out the private key and Bitcoin address on a piece of paper and storing it in a secure location. However, it's important to note that paper wallets can be vulnerable to damage, loss, or theft, and should be used with caution.

It's important to remember that using any type of wallet, whether hardware or software, comes with its own set of risks and requires careful consideration of security measures. It's recommended that individuals do their research and seek out reputable wallet providers before storing any significant amount of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies

[kotajikikox]

In most part of Africa hardware wallets are not only difficult but expensive to get apart form using custodian wallets like trust wallet and metamask is there an alternative software that can help hodl Bitcoin in a flash drive. or otherwise

All you need is a text file containing your private key and you can store it on any medium.  Some people engrave their private keys onto metal slabs and hide them as a way to have an offline and fireproof solution.  Other people write down their private keys on pieces of paper and secure them underneath door hinges or other hiding spots in their house.  It all depends on your risk tolerance and what you're protecting from.  Anywhere you can store text (flash drive, paper, metal, etc.) would all work fine.  There is no need to have any sort of wallet so long as you have your private key.  That string of characters is all you need.

Very Well said mate, I have no complete idea of what you have said
but it is completely explained , and yes depend on our risk tolerance as I only managed to have hardware wallet.
but that Engraving got my attention and yes , I think one of my wallet will be created for that.


Thanks for this tips mate, surely I will use one if not 3 of all you advised here , cant wait to have this one and that door hinges thing lol.

[YUriy1991]

My opinion, If a hardware wallet is hard to come by, you can store Bitcoins using a software wallet on a flash drive. However, not all flash drives are secure enough to protect your private key. Bitcoin storage requires high security because the private key is a vital component and if Using an unsecured flash drive can compromise the private key, leading to loss of funds.

An encrypted flash drive with a secure software wallet can help. Nevertheless, it is important to research and check software wallets for safety before use. Traditional flash drives are cost-effective but may not provide the necessary security. My advice, Always prioritize security when storing cryptocurrency assets.

[Abiky]

In most part of Africa hardware wallets are not only difficult but expensive to get apart form using custodian wallets like trust wallet and metamask is there an alternative software that can help hodl Bitcoin in a flash drive. or otherwise

You can store the private key or seed on a flash drive, but I wouldn't recommend it because such storage mediums can be easily lost or stolen. If you're willing to encrypt your drive and make a copy of it on another drive, then I'd say go for it. I usually encrypt my drives with Veracrypt to store all of my crypto seeds and private keys. It's a cost-effective solution that's often better than a traditional hardware wallet. Printing the seed or private key is also an option, but you'd have to be very careful not to lose the paper or let someone else get access to it.

Someone on the forum (krogoth) has been doing some tests by submerging paper wallets on water, so I'd suggest you check that out if you're interested. The great thing about Bitcoin is that you can store millions of dollars in the smallest place you can imagine, making it an extremely-portable asset/commodity. Not like Gold or Fiat where they take up a lot of space (depending on how much of them you have). As long as you have a backup plan to protect your Bitcoin, you'll be able to pass on your wealth for future generations to enjoy. Hope this helps.

[tygeade]

All you need to do is to keep your private key or seed phrase in a safest ways you can, there are a lot of things you can do to protect it, there are some people who write down their seed phrase in a piece of paper and keep them in a secret place and there are also some people who place it underneatch their house.

Just remember not to store it in any social media platform you have or save it in your computer, that would be the riskiest thing you might do to your wallet, we are always vulnerable from attack when we are using any computer or technology so always keep away your secrets on it.

I think you do not really need it that badly or risk it that way. I mean sure write it down to some notebook you have at your house if you want to, that would be a good idea, but you do not have to keep that notebook at a safe location, just your drawer would be enough, no?

I mean where do you live that someone may look into your room, find the notebook, find the seed, and then cash it out? That seems unlikely, even a burglar wouldn't look at a notebook for Christ sake, it doesn't make sense, they would just steal valuables and leave, not your notebook. In the end we are talking about a bigger deal here and that should be more about how you could make a profit based on crypto, the safety stuff are being overthought and no need for it.

[MusaMohamed]

How to Install Tails OS on USB flash drive for Wallet Purpose
Using mobile phone as a full mobile wallet
Creating a cold storage wallet (Electrum)
Creating a multisig wallet (Electrum)

You can use Tail OS on your flash drives but you must have your wallet backups in other formats, other devices too. Flash drives have shorter lifespan and might have more technical problems than your HDD or SSD. You might sudden lose your flash drive and can not recover it by a serious technical problem.

I only use flash drive if I have other backups on my desktop, laptop and paper.

[monedauno]

To be considered as a smart person in are responsible for the file structure for your flash drive. In this article, a lot of flash drive are used.

What happens if you download your flash drive over the Internet with some other software? Then the file will be removed and in turn, you are asked to download some other file into it. You could do this via a web browser and then the file will be stored in the flash drive.

Why do i need to download a flash drive?

If I have already downloaded a flash drive then the software program that will work with the drive is also available. If you download the flash drive using a web browser, then the flash drive will be created in the browser. Or else you would like to have your file removed.

But the flash drive does not have to be installed with you. Also, if you want to start a flash drive without any internet connectivity then you can use a web browser.

If I have already installed a flash drive you would need to find out more about flash drive and download the software that you are already looking for. So if you are running Linux, then it would be good to do it in a non

[Aanuoluwatofunmi]

In most part of Africa hardware wallets are not only difficult but expensive to get apart form using custodian wallets like trust wallet and metamask is there an alternative software that can help hodl Bitcoin in a flash drive. or otherwise

You can also make it more simple if you can't afford to get a hardware wallet, why not try an electrum wallet, it a multisig bitcoin wallet but can hold your asset well in a safety manner if you can handle well the private keys it generates for you, also know that you could have access to your bitcoin at anytime and on any device only if you can always have your private keys privately secured with you against any third party influence or access.

[CarnagexD]

In most part of Africa hardware wallets are not only difficult but expensive to get apart form using custodian wallets like trust wallet and metamask is there an alternative software that can help hodl Bitcoin in a flash drive. or otherwise

If you want to invest your funds and coins, it is also a MUST to invest in a wallet that will secure it. Yes, you can use a written program with a custom key to keep your funds but there is no assurance that it is truly secured and be compatible with computer software and programs in the future. Take note that this is your fund and you are the one accountable for its probable loss. So whether you invest in expensive but secured hardware wallet, use custodian wallets, or rescript programs, just make always ensure the security of your own funds.

[nimogsm]

In most part of Africa hardware wallets are not only difficult but expensive to get apart form using custodian wallets like trust wallet and metamask is there an alternative software that can help hodl Bitcoin in a flash drive. or otherwise

you can use regular flash drive as storage why not? but how you encrypt the data there is up to you. And the second point that you did not take into account, make more than one copy of your private key or the information that you are going to store there, it is more likely that you will save what you need, otherwise, with the loss of the first flag, you lose absolutely everything, there should be more than one reserve .

[m2017]

In most part of Africa hardware wallets are not only difficult but expensive to get apart form using custodian wallets like trust wallet and metamask is there an alternative software that can help hodl Bitcoin in a flash drive. or otherwise

I will answer the title question: because it is extremely unreliable (due to the design features of the flash drive, which can suddenly fail and practically can't be recovered from lost data) and not safe (viruses can steal your data when connected to a PC).

What's stopping you from using a non-custodian wallet like Electrum? Install the full version or copy the portable version on a flash drive and get what you want - "hodl Bitcoin in a flash drive" (if can call it that). But be aware that this will not be the best solution.