Good bitcoin security starts with strong PC and mobile device security

[headingnorth]

When it comes to securing your bitcoin don't forget about having good basic security practices on your laptop, desktop and mobile devices.

That means always using a VPN whenever connecting to the internet, with a good antivirus and anti-malware software, preferably connecting through your own hardware router.
These viruses and malware can be programmed to steal your personal information including crypto. Of course you never want to connect to any public Wifi connection without a VPN.

I use Malwarebytes browserguard extension for many years that prevents you from visiting suspicious or unsecure websites, known phishing websites, etc.
This browser extension is free for many browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Apple Safari, etc. You can also get it free for your mobile device.

For antivirus I use Windows Defender and the paid version of Malwarebytes which is very cheap if you get it from Newegg.com.
Windows Defender and MB have real time protection but its a good idea to run a manual scan at least once a week.

I'm not very familiar with Mac or iPhone but I believe they have pretty good built-in defense against virus and malware. They should considering what Apple charges you haha.

Besides that I would advise to stay away from any and all altcoins because they are complete garbage when it comes to security.
Not a day goes by when you don't read about some stupid altcoin project getting drained of tens of millions or hundreds of millions of dollars.

When will people ever learn??


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For more advanced users you can choose to connect to free third party DNS like Google DNS or OpenDNS. Also disable WebRTC and IPv6 on your web browser.
Also good practice to disable third party cookies.

Also a good idea to disable Remote Access that can allow someone to take control of your computer. Remote Access is meant for allowing a legit tech support person
to take control of your PC for troubleshooting purposes but this feature can certainly be abused by bad actors to steal your personal information.

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[mk4]

Malwarebytes was good when I was still using Windows, but yea all the default stuff installed on most devices is good enough. You just need to not be dumb and install random pirated software.

Also, don't forget hardware wallets. It should pretty much be mandatory for 99% of people.

[Despairo]

When you want to talk about "strong PC" it means you're need avoid to use bad OS like Windows or Mac, start to use Linux. It's the first thing you need to do, using wrong OS make the further steps wrong too.

VPN isn't good choice if you want to protect privacy, use Tor.

Google DNS is bad too, didn't you forget if Google is the company that combat against privacy?

[NeuroticFish]

When it comes to securing your bitcoin don't forget about having good basic security practices on your laptop, desktop and mobile devices.

Actually no.
If you want proper security for your coins you have to start with a setup where the seed or private key(s) never get into the online world.
This means hardware wallet, or an offline computer or signing device, but also means the seed backups are done and stored properly (offline, pen and paper, ..)

Imho the second step is a good practice, eg double check all the characters of an address when you send coins or when you paste "your" address anywhere.

Of course, some local security is welcome on the computer or smartphone the watch wallet is on, but, as you see, it's not the first in the list.


I see people were talking also about privacy.
Imho the talks about proper privacy of the wallet should start with a local Bitcoin Core. Else, if one uses a public server for his light wallet, his addresses can be linked and his privacy may be gone even if he uses Tor, just because at some point in the past he may have been using a CEX.

[Maus0728]

For the people that still installs other security apps on their computers, it would never make any difference because hackers have a way of bypassing them no matter how secure it is, most of the time they're not enough, probably the only thing that you can do is to prevent because once you've been hacked, it's already too late and if you're not a tech savvy yourself, it's futile to race against them anyway. Definitely helpful to have a strong computer and security in the first place, maybe not clicking on suspicious links would help you even more because you're preventing them any chances of entry.

[headingnorth]

Malwarebytes was good when I was still using Windows, but yea all the default stuff installed on most devices is good enough. You just need to not be dumb and install random pirated software.

Also, don't forget hardware wallets. It should pretty much be mandatory for 99% of people.

Of course but I am focusing on basic computer security in this thread.  One can have the best hardware wallet but if you neglect basic PC security
you are leaving yourself exposed to other types of attacks.

When you want to talk about "strong PC" it means you're need avoid to use bad OS like Windows or Mac, start to use Linux. It's the first thing you need to do, using wrong OS make the further steps wrong too.

VPN isn't good choice if you want to protect privacy, use Tor.

Google DNS is bad too, didn't you forget if Google is the company that combat against privacy?

Linux may be better for security than Mac or Windows but learning to use it is not feasible for the average person which is 99% of the population.

[Odohu]

You are not entirely correct because the most important thing is your habit and how you use your devices. To protect your Bitcoin, good practice requires that you use wallets you are in control of the private keys, then never save your private keys and every other secret information on the computer or mobile phone irrespective of how strong they may be. This step is more important than having laptops and phones with strong computing power.

I'm not disputing that good computers and mobile phones are not important neither do I challenge the fact that a secure computer and mobile device is bad, they are just one aspect that comes after good practice. If you repose so much confidence in the security of your computers and mobile devices, you might be tempted to save sensitive information there and that is dangerous.

[fuguebtc]

When you want to talk about "strong PC" it means you're need avoid to use bad OS like Windows or Mac, start to use Linux. It's the first thing you need to do, using wrong OS make the further steps wrong too.

VPN isn't good choice if you want to protect privacy, use Tor.

Google DNS is bad too, didn't you forget if Google is the company that combat against privacy?

As far as I know, Linux is an open source operating system but using them is quite complicated, unlike Windows or Mac. Aand I have been using Windows computers for over 10 years, and so far, I have never had any problems with bitcoins being hacked or any security related issues. So in my opinion, a strong PC is a computer you use properly, using genuine software...It's not true that if you use Linux you're safe, and anyone using Windows or Mac is at risk.

As an investor, normal user, I think VPN, or Google service is enough, unless you are a criminal or doing illegal work then you need high privacy protection and use tools like Tor.

[hd49728]

When it comes to securing your bitcoin don't forget about having good basic security practices on your laptop, desktop and mobile devices.

That means always using a VPN whenever connecting to the internet, with a good antivirus and anti-malware software, preferably connecting through your own hardware router.
These viruses and malware can be programmed to steal your personal information including crypto. Of course you never want to connect to any public Wifi connection without a VPN.

You don't need a strong PC and strong mobile device to have good security.

If it is a clean device, by your behavior, your device is safe, secured and you will not lose your bitcoin.

You can buy a PC like Core i7 and high RAM, other good things but if you have bad behavior when using Internet, it can be affected.

Don't put your security in technical support and protection from VPN, AntiVirus Software. They are not protect you 100%. Behavior is most important.

[ABCbits]

Since you aim to create this thread for beginner, i will just say that not all VPN offer same security or privacy. It's especially true for free VPN which usually collect and sell your personal data.

When you want to talk about "strong PC" it means you're need avoid to use bad OS like Windows or Mac, start to use Linux. It's the first thing you need to do, using wrong OS make the further steps wrong too.

VPN isn't good choice if you want to protect privacy, use Tor.

Google DNS is bad too, didn't you forget if Google is the company that combat against privacy?

Linux may be better for security than Mac or Windows but learning to use it is not feasible for the average person which is 99% of the population.

99%? What an exaggeration. Steam deck (which has built in Linux) prove you're wrong. There are some distro which could be used by some average person with just a bit of learning.

[lovesmayfamilis]

Linux may be better for security than Mac or Windows but learning to use it is not feasible for the average person which is 99% of the population.

I would also like to say that in favor of Linux, by talking about it, you OP only prove that you have never tried to watch a video on setting up Linux. There may be more than one, but several lessons would give you a good idea that for the purposes you are talking about now, basic knowledge about Linux is quite enough to use it. Besides, you are too calm when you say that you use Windows Defender; this “guy” already gave several holes in 2023, so you don’t need to trust him, just like all the extensions that monitor your every move. VPN can disconnect at the wrong moment with the slightest connection problem, which will reveal your real IP, but you will have due confidence that you are protected.

When will people ever learn??

 

https://truelist.co/blog/linux-statistics/

[Cryptomultiplier]

When it comes to securing your bitcoin don't forget about having good basic security practices on your laptop, desktop and mobile devices.

That means always using a VPN whenever connecting to the internet, with a good antivirus and anti-malware software, preferably connecting through your own hardware router.
These viruses and malware can be programmed to steal your personal information including crypto. Of course you never want to connect to any public Wifi connection without a VPN.

You don't need a strong PC and strong mobile device to have good security.

If it is a clean device, by your behavior, your device is safe, secured and you will not lose your bitcoin.

You can buy a PC like Core i7 and high RAM, other good things but if you have bad behavior when using Internet, it can be affected.

Don't put your security in technical support and protection from VPN, AntiVirus Software. They are not protect you 100%. Behavior is most important.

You are very correct about not minding all the serious talk of buying expensive gadgets or installing expensive antivirus softwares and VPN to have better security.
While it may offer a better chance of good security set up, even a low budget device or gadget like even perform better in the hands of the right user.

It's agreeably more about responsible behavior or irresponsible behavior while using the internet, because am very sure that anyone won't just be hacked if they never really left some crumbs of information carelessly on the internet or gave permission to apps without reading properly.

Also, using offline wallets should be a better security option for storing any kind of coins that is invested for long term or even short term.

[marlo1001]

Good bitcoin security starts from hardware wallet, that's the only option

[mindrust]

Linux may be better for security than Mac or Windows but learning to use it is not feasible for the average person which is 99% of the population.

This is where you are completely wrong. A well-known linux distribution like linux mint is almost the same thing as windows. People often think linux is an OS from Mars that only aliens use. If you give it a chance you’ll probably like it more than windows. Linux is fast, linux is secure. You can run games on it via wine, you can edit videos and do many other things which you do on your windows PC. There are only a few paid programs (often Adobe products) which are not available on linux but these programs are becoming cloud/browser apps slowly and that means they’ll be running on linux too.

Just give it a chance, linux is freedom.

[Dr.Bitcoin_Strange]

When it comes to securing your bitcoin don't forget about having good basic security practices on your laptop, desktop and mobile devices.

Actually no.
If you want proper security for your coins you have to start with a setup where the seed or private key(s) never get into the online world.
This means hardware wallet, or an offline computer or signing device, but also means the seed backups are done and stored properly (offline, pen and paper, ..)

Reading this comment defines everything I wanted to say as I read just the title of this thread.

But if I should say what I wanted to say in another manner, @OP, I would tell you that obtaining good Bitcoin security measures lies in the hands and knowledge of the Bitcoin investor. Come to think of it, it's possible to have strong PC and mobile device security like you have said, but would you agree with me that a Bitcoiner can still carelessly leak the security phrase of their wallet to the public? There are many ways a Bitcoiner can expose their security information without even realizing it, and it's a lack of proper knowledge and other mistakes that causes that. That's why, as I said above, to obtain an optimal level of security, it is in the hands of the Bitcoiner. 

Someone can have the best security device in the world, but once they mistakenly download any malware unknown to them, they are finished. Hackers have different ways to attack your device; it could be through emails, receiving any file, or even downloading an image. Keep your detail offline like @NeuroticFish have said, and you will be safe.

[Rruchi man]

~

Good bitcoin security starts with you and not your devices. Good bitcoin security starts with you developing your consciousness towards security. If you are not security conscious or have poor security consciousness, it will not matter the device you get because you will always be careless and your carelessness will put you at a vulnerable position to become a victim.

Good bitcoins security also involves using a good PC, OS or mobile device, but it is only about that.

[nakamura12]

It all depends on the person who is making his/her devices having strong securit and also how that person handle hsi/her security measures. There are pirated softwares that people can download but for having tight security using pirated softwares is not the best choice because the software could be modified by the person or a group of person who modified it. So it would be better if you have the softwares that you are going to install should be from the original site rather than downloading modified ones.

[yhiaali3]

After my experience, I see that any wallet located on a computer or mobile device connected to the Internet will not be 100% completely secure.

Windows Defender is not as efficient as you think. It is quite good, as it is integrated with the Windows system by default, but it is not as efficient as other paid programs such as Norton, Kaspersky, or Avira. It is better to have another program that is always up to date.

The best solution is not to store any wallet or private key on a device connected to the Internet.

[CryptSafe]

OP if you say "Good bitcoin security starts with strong PC and mobile device security," then what will you say about the security  apparatus or structure of the big exchanges that got hacked of huge amount and volumes of funds and assets? are they not using sophisticated devices? as far as I know, these exchanges uses the best security devices for saving and storing assets and funds but still, they suffer hack and have assets carted away by hacker who did that. What I am trying to say is that irrespective of the sophisticated devices you use, the safety of your assets and funds is right in your hands, and this is determined by the way you store your keys and where you store them.

So therefore, "Good bitcoin security starts with strong PC and mobile device security" does not necessarily mean one should get all these but it is still good if you have them but cultivate some safety acts that could help you  prevent attacks on your devices. This is what I think could help you secure your assets and funds pc and mobile devices are just added advantage.

[The Cryptovator]

Using your mobile or PC for small funds would be fine, but for large amounts of funds, we must practice a hardware wallet. Device would be compromised anytime, even though you have been using VPN or some other software to protect your device.. Hackers are able to break your system since they use the latest technologies. So it is always better to use a hardware wallet from which you need to sign a transaction. I am using a software wallet only for small funds. Large amount holding on to a hardware wallet.