About Bitcoin Privacy

[Ale88]

What will I do?
1. Always try to use a new address to receive payments
2. Try not to publish your bitcoin address to the public.

Regarding the first point, it depends who is sending you the bitcoins: if it's always the same person/company I don't see why keep changing the address, I see more problems than advantages in that case because it could create some kind of confusion.
And the second point, you can even have a specific wallet just for that use case, so there is no direct connection with the main wallet you use and then use a mixer or a no-KYC exchange as bridge before sending the BTC to the main wallet.

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[AprilioMP]

Thank you for all the responses that help straighten out and complete the shortcomings I posted in the op.
I do not deny that what I will do will not fully meet the requirements for obtaining full privacy as long as I am still using Windows on a computer device or still using a smartphone to access Bitcoin.

My aim in this post is not to advise other people, but the four points I mentioned are an effort that I will try to make to protect my privacy from my negligence as a user who still relies on articles sourced from other people that I consider useful for my learning process.

Yes. According to my reading sources, Tor is better which I didn't mention there.

[coupable]

4. Avoid using closed source wallets for storing bitcoins.

This is the most important point, in my opinion, and I would like to clarify the details related to the use of crypto service platforms in general and trading platforms in particular, given the increasing use of these platforms and the great demand for them. Everyone must be aware that it is very dangerous to use these platforms as wallets for long-term storage or to use them in large amounts because this puts privacy at risk, in addition to the request for identity data imposed by these platforms as verification measures. It will always be better to encourage people to get used to using decentralized platforms.

[dothebeats]

Although it is always good to have reminders regarding privacy and how to strengthen it, it's been discussed and posted so many times already that all points, suggestions, and reminders are redundant at this point. No matter how many reminders we provide to individuals if they are all too stubborn to follow then these will result to nothing.

Additionally, a VPN isn't as safe as people believe it to be, use Tor instead.

[Hamza2424]

Privacy does matter whether it's your or about your coins, so while buying Bitcoin be sure about the source that it must of authentic if you really want fully anonymous payments, better to avoid the centralized platform buyings and direct bank transaction, You need to come up with the P2P option and if you had already realved your identity while buying and now you do care about your privacy better to mix your coins. Alot of mixing services are here, but the first priority should be to use a P2P option where you dont need to prove your identity.

The Tips Op you've provided can be really helpful for the beeginers but couple of enhancement and other techniques are required to ensuet he maximum privacy, by just using the VPN and new receiving address you really cant avoid the privacy breaches a better management is required for that task.

[icalical]

My background makes this because very few discussions around the importance of privacy are focused and let the topic of discussion sink to the bottom. Most people focus too much on how to make a profit through Bitcoin, which gives the impression that Bitcoin is a tool for gaining wealth and not the greatest network in the history of currency transactions.

What will I do?
1. Always try to use a new address to receive payments
2. Try not to publish your bitcoin address to the public.
3. Try to keep IP addresses undetectable by using tools like VPN.
4. Avoid using closed source wallets for storing bitcoins.

Yeah, not really, there are a tons of thread about Bitcoin privacy, I think some of the most popular topic about Bitcoin is the Price Speculation, Adoption and Privacy. And also the Dos and donts on how to keep privacy while transacting Bitcoin is not a new topic either. Something like 'Use new address for every transaction' and 'use opensource wallet' is something that I have been heard for many times.

I don't mind that there are similar discussion happen again and again, I mean there are many new members and they might didn't read the previous thread and didn't join a discussion. But saying that you are different than others because you think you talk about a very important topic that might be rarely discussed by other members seems like youare fishing for merit, while in reality the topic of privacy is just the same with other topics it has been discussed many times.

[Fundamentals Of]

The reason why topics which are directly focused on privacy are not anymore common is that this has been discussed for many years already.

Come on, seriously. I think everyone can acknowledge that several topics are being recycled over and over, but is the privacy one really repeated? Because I mainly observe everything around price, government concerns, satoshi, and countries banning it / adopting it.

The price changes all the time. The price outlook changes all the time. There are so many factors that affect the price that would come and go: institutions buying or adopting, world economy, inflation, economic crisis, war in Ukraine, etc. Halvings happen every once in a while. Developments on regulations, on adoption, on Bitcoin spot ETF applications, etc are discussions that touch the price. Various chart and price patterns are seen every now and then. They're all about the price.

On privacy, topics such as KYC, AML, CTR of FATF, anti-terrorism financing, etc are some of them. Topics such as CBDCs, centralized platforms, Bitcoin mixers, Taproot, Coinjoin, etc are also topics about privacy. And they've been discussion many times already.

[karabiber]

If you think that transactions made with Bitcoin will remain private and that the state and other focal points will not be able to track these transactions, you are wrong. This creates a false perception of privacy. Users have a false sense of security in Bitcoin and do not try to protect their privacy.
Even users on the TOR network can be identified. There are surveillance nodes and long term surveillance techniques. But Bitcoin is truly transparent. For example, in TOR hidden services, you are dealing with hidden vendors. But as soon as you buy a product with Bitcoin or exchange Bitcoin for dollars, you can be exposed. In short, privacy should not be confused with anonymity. For privacy, use each address only once. Use a new address for each transaction.
We know that Bitcoin addresses can be identified through transaction history and behavior analysis, such as the TOR network. This is a long process that takes time. You can use completely different addresses for transactions such as buying goods, services, receiving payments, and so on.
This makes it more difficult for them to identify you from transaction history. For example, people who send you money won't know who you send money to from your other addresses. This is the most important thing to keep in mind about privacy.

[Solosanz]

Yeah, not really, there are a tons of thread about Bitcoin privacy, I think some of the most popular topic about Bitcoin is the Price Speculation, Adoption and Privacy. And also the Dos and donts on how to keep privacy while transacting Bitcoin is not a new topic either. Something like 'Use new address for every transaction' and 'use opensource wallet' is something that I have been heard for many times.

I think the most popular discussions are talk about "Newbie read the forum rules", "I bought my first Bitcoin, let's cheer together", "Agriculture is the best investment", "I teach my friends about Bitcoin", "Bitcoin save my life, I work in Bitcoin" and many more non sense thread.

On privacy, topics such as KYC, AML, CTR of FATF, anti-terrorism financing, etc are some of them. Topics such as CBDCs, centralized platforms, Bitcoin mixers, Taproot, Coinjoin, etc are also topics about privacy. And they've been discussion many times already.

If you think like that, isn't most of your posts are repeating a same thing? why keep posting and not waiting or talk about new improvement about Bitcoin development?

[AprilioMP]

If you think that transactions made with Bitcoin will remain private and that the state and other focal points will not be able to track these transactions, you are wrong. This creates a false perception of privacy. Users have a false sense of security in Bitcoin and do not try to protect their privacy.
Even users on the TOR network can be identified.

Luckily I don't have any thoughts about bitcoin transactions not being known to the public because the bitcoin network is so transparent that every transaction can be known.
And as far as I know, the original node broadcasts all user transactions as written in the source I used in the OP's original post and uses tools like TOR only to prevent the IP address of the device the user is using from being identified.

In short, privacy should not be confused with anonymity.

Correct. But I know that. These two words do have differences even though these two words are often used to explain almost the same meaning.

For privacy, use each address only once. Use a new address for each transaction.
We know that Bitcoin addresses can be identified through transaction history and behavior analysis, such as the TOR network.

Using a different address in every transaction I will make to maintain privacy and since I participated in various great discussions about Bitcoin technicals I found out why mixing is good.

[Aanuoluwatofunmi]

Not about investment and trading but about the importance of maintaining and protecting privacy.

Privacy is very important in bitcoin but it's very common that we see many of the bitcoiners who appears not to be concerned about having this same privacy, if we are doing something, then it is important that we have a specific target concerning that with how we get exposed to the public, but in this regard, privacy is not the only most wanted decision we should go for alone, but together with the security of our coins, which depends on the wallet we use and how we safeguard our private keys from any third party influence.

[Casdinyard]

Just as what Nietzsche has said, be careful fighting your monsters, cause you may just be like them. Lol.

While we appreciate the informative content, i don’t think there’s anything here that you’ve said which we do not know. You’d be surprised at how much prudent people have become in this industry, and includes even the newbies as you said.As for those who are a little on the reckless side, I think there’s a method to their madness s well. For one, most of these people who have no care in their privacy within the bitcoin world are most of the time those who do not earn as much as they are hoping too, so instead of polisihing their security it’s as if they throw tantrums and forget about trheir security at al.

[Natsuu]

What will I do?
1. Always try to use a new address to receive payments
2. Try not to publish your bitcoin address to the public.
3. Try to keep IP addresses undetectable by using tools like VPN.
4. Avoid using closed source wallets for storing bitcoins.

Hopefully this is a reminder for me personally and does not mean to advise others because I still have many limitations.

Reading source: https://bitcoin.org/en/protect-your-privacy

How exactly one can afford to always use a new address to receive payments? Won't it lead to even more problems with forgetfulness and inattention, which in your opinion are one of the reasons for disclosure of privacy? Moreover, you won't keep those bitcoins in your wallets forever. Sooner or later you will want to exchange them for fiat, and this is the link that most provokes the violation of anonymity. Therefore, your proposed steps will not help in this case.

Well it depends on what transactions you are making. Usually when you are having a transaction within a centralized exchange the company itself changes the addresses for each network of every users every month or every time the exchange have some updates. Also it does occurs when they have some changes in their terms and regulations, when there's a huge traffic on a network.

Me personally I don't trust VPNs either because you don't know either if the software is reliable either.

[Blitzboy]

Just as what Nietzsche has said, be careful fighting your monsters, cause you may just be like them. Lol.

While we appreciate the informative content, i don’t think there’s anything here that you’ve said which we do not know. You’d be surprised at how much prudent people have become in this industry, and includes even the newbies as you said.As for those who are a little on the reckless side, I think there’s a method to their madness s well. For one, most of these people who have no care in their privacy within the bitcoin world are most of the time those who do not earn as much as they are hoping too, so instead of polisihing their security it’s as if they throw tantrums and forget about trheir security at al.

Its interesting how you combine Nietzsche with Bitcoin. Always wonderful to have crypto philosophy.

Everyone knows knowledge is power, right? Your information suggests that everyone, even the "newbies" you describe, is knowledgeable. However, knowing and applying it wisely are different. Some of these people may comprehend Bitcoin's dangers and rewards, but are they all making informed decisions? Follow the crowd because its "in"?

Why do risky people exist if everyone is informed? Is it "method to their madness," or negligence? Sometimes its easy to say "It wont happen to me" until it does. My two cents? Continue sharing, continue educating. Even if one person rethinks their approach, its a win.

[Etranger]

Why do risky people exist if everyone is informed? Is it "method to their madness," or negligence? Sometimes its easy to say "It wont happen to me" until it does. My two cents? Continue sharing, continue educating. Even if one person rethinks their approach, its a win.

Because being risky and being educated are not the same things. Many people think that risk comes with ignorance, negligence. But in my opinion, risk is reinforced by knowledge, more to say, that kind of knowledge that others do not possess. Of course, if we are talking about a justified, rational risk. Not about self-righteousness and gambling.

[CarnagexD]

If you think that transactions made with Bitcoin will remain private and that the state and other focal points will not be able to track these transactions, you are wrong. This creates a false perception of privacy. Users have a false sense of security in Bitcoin and do not try to protect their privacy.
Even users on the TOR network can be identified. There are surveillance nodes and long term surveillance techniques. But Bitcoin is truly transparent. For example, in TOR hidden services, you are dealing with hidden vendors. But as soon as you buy a product with Bitcoin or exchange Bitcoin for dollars, you can be exposed. In short, privacy should not be confused with anonymity. For privacy, use each address only once. Use a new address for each transaction.
We know that Bitcoin addresses can be identified through transaction history and behavior analysis, such as the TOR network. This is a long process that takes time. You can use completely different addresses for transactions such as buying goods, services, receiving payments, and so on.
This makes it more difficult for them to identify you from transaction history. For example, people who send you money won't know who you send money to from your other addresses. This is the most important thing to keep in mind about privacy.

Right. It was only this year when I learned that using different addresses for different transactions helps break the link between transactions. If all transactions were made from the same address, anyone could analyze the blockchain and see a complete history of transactions associated with that address. By using multiple addresses, it becomes much more challenging for anyone to track a user's entire transaction history. We should be careful, anonymity in bitcoin does not mean privacy.

[tbct_mt2]

Right. It was only this year when I learned that using different addresses for different transactions helps break the link between transactions. If all transactions were made from the same address, anyone could analyze the blockchain and see a complete history of transactions associated with that address. By using multiple addresses, it becomes much more challenging for anyone to track a user's entire transaction history. We should be careful, anonymity in bitcoin does not mean privacy.

Using multiple addresses in a same wallet is not enough to secure your privacy because some free tools like https://walletexplorer.com/ can connect addresses in a same wallet.

Bitcoin block explorers like https://blockstream.info/ and https://blockchair.com/ have their algorithms and privacy scores for Bitcoin transactions. If you want to know, you can click on a random transaction and see their score, note on that transaction.

Don't copy your address there to check without Tor connection.

I picked one random transaction with two critical issues: Address reuse and round payment amount.
https://blockchair.com/bitcoin/transaction/e4354ca6994f91055877062184ab0401af4c2dea62b469c12e2ccae629ef12d7
https://blockchair.com/bitcoin/privacy-o-meter?q=e4354ca6994f91055877062184ab0401af4c2dea62b469c12e2ccae629ef12d7

https://blockstream.info/tx/e4354ca6994f91055877062184ab0401af4c2dea62b469c12e2ccae629ef12d7

[Kruw]

We can become lost in the Bitcoin forest and forget about privacy. General privacy apathy is the issue. People believe "Oh, its just an address," but they dont realise that addresses are like breadcrumbs that lead to the whole loaf! What happens when privacy tools like VPNs fail? You're taking steps, which is great, but how many consider this in the big picture? We must always be watchful and ready to adjustrivacy techniques in the never-ending struggle for privacy.

Congrats on focusing on Bitcoin balance and privacy, which is sometimes overlooked. Please dont lose sight of this important issue between earnings and losses.

You are exactly correct.  That's why you need to use privacy tools specifically built for the job of breaking the links between your Bitcoin transactions.  WabiSabi coinjoins remove the trail of breadcrumbs created by your transactions along with Tor protecting your IP instead of trusting it with a third party like a VPN.

[BVeyron]

Not about investment and trading but about the importance of maintaining and protecting privacy. Discussions about bitcoin investment and trading that appear on this forum are not only on the appropriate boards but on boards that shouldn't be, they are also presented by forum members with the possibility of meeting the quota or posting requirements.

My background makes this because very few discussions around the importance of privacy are focused and let the topic of discussion sink to the bottom. Most people focus too much on how to make a profit through Bitcoin, which gives the impression that Bitcoin is a tool for gaining wealth and not the greatest network in the history of currency transactions.

Privacy, which is often stated orally, is very important to maintain, is rarely taken seriously. Many bitcoin users know that bitcoin has quite good transparency and that other systems, including bank operating systems, do not have this. Bitcoin is famous for its anonymity, but various transaction flows can be tracked and seen by anyone and everything is recorded on the network.
Sending and receiving bitcoins can occur if the user has an address and with that address the public can know all transaction traffic.

It cannot be denied that humans have a forgetful nature, want to be known and acknowledged, etc., so they cannot properly maintain confidentiality, so they often take actions that could threaten privacy.
It's not how much bitcoin you have but how well you maintain the privacy of your bitcoin for the future.
Maintaining privacy is not trying to hide crimes but protecting oneself from crime.

What will I do?
1. Always try to use a new address to receive payments
2. Try not to publish your bitcoin address to the public.
3. Try to keep IP addresses undetectable by using tools like VPN.
4. Avoid using closed source wallets for storing bitcoins.

Hopefully this is a reminder for me personally and does not mean to advise others because I still have many limitations.

Reading source: https://bitcoin.org/en/protect-your-privacy

In general, bitcoin privacy is affected noy only by technical stuff, but also by legal restrictions, that's why it's often impossible to distinguish "private" and "public" actions, since cryptocurrency status as "property" can't be applied due to high level of anonymity in blockchain systems. It's a challenging trouble for crypto laws developers: not only legal restrictions matter, but also legal status as "property", since there are many court cases with crypto assets, that can't be solved easily just by "legalising".

[franky1]

bitcoin is a public ledger. so there is no bitcoin privacy..
bitcoin is declared a currency so governments have rules about their involvement of investigating currency
so bitcoin is not private

but it does not ask for users birth certified identity so its pseudonymous (semi anonymous)

although bitcoin does not ask for identifying marks of a user.. users themselves need to not publish their associations on public forums..

bitcoin can solve coded currency problems, but not human problems