Android phone as a cold storage isn't this unsafe?

[ColdLava40]

We all know the most critical part of the Bitcoin journey is knowing how to secure your seed phrase. Over the years, we’ve seen methods range from the classic pen and paper to indestructible metal backups. These are tested and trusted by many. But then, in an effort to find convenient or innovative ways to manage keys, some users are taking dangerous shortcuts like turning an old Android phone into a cold storage device..

I saw this  post where someone was said to have used a mobile device as a primary way to store keys. This doesn't make much sense because our mobile phones are exposed to high risks both offline and online. A mobile phone doesn't even need an active internet connection to be vulnerable.. we can connect to the web simply by linking to any Bluetooth device that has access. This alone is a massive risk.

we have to consider that all electronics have a limited lifespan. Many people think they can simply leave a mobile phone switched off for long periods, hoping the keys stay safe while offline. This doesn't make the keys safe one bit. Most electronic devices develop faults over time that can result in them never coming back to life.

Even hardware wallets might not be the absolute best for long term storage because they are also electronic devices that develop faults as time goes on. The hardware is just a tool, not the permanent home for your keys.

The best method to store your keys still remains a simple paper and pen backup. Don't try to play smart by creating new, unproven methods of storing keys. It just puts you in more danger. Stick to what is tested and trusted.

[Realwhot]

Many android phones are relying on Google services and because of this you will have to connect them to the Internet for Google to grant them permission to use those services. When you are setting a cold storage you have to make sure you don't connect to the Internet. And most phones will be somehow dormant till you use Internet to set them up.
The only way to avoid all these things is to root the phone.

[Charles-Tim]

If you want to make Android phone a cold storage, you can setup 2-of-2 multisig wallet instead, one on the cold storage, and the other on your other device like laptop.

A singlesig wallet on an Android device cold storage is not advisable, although it is still better than online Android that you will also be carrying about.

[9ja Amaka]

Android devices as cold storage is too risky. You must connect to the internet when using your phone for other purposes, and you can't use the cold storage when it is online.

The only way to use a mobile for such a purpose is for it to be air-gapped. No Wi-Fi connection, local connection. You also have to factory reset the phone for it to be new again.

[FirmWars]

Some people believe say them fit use phone to serve as their cold storage device, e no really a bad idea sha... But the thing be say, you will not use the phone for any other purposes except for just you wallet, and even if you are using the phone as your cold storage device, you go still need to backup your seed phrase offline, you should not back up your seed phrase on your phone because if the phone's motherboard gets damaged, you won't be able to recover your wallet. I pity person way say in San use in phone as a place to only back up their wallet key, them go hear whim... If that phone spoil bad bad.

[Stalker22]

I agree with your stance on using smartphones (whether Android or otherwise) as cold storage wallets.  It is not recommended since many people will not know how to properly prepare their devices for this task nor how to completely disable them from going online or connecting to other online devices.  But I would just like to add to this part:

~
Even hardware wallets might not be the absolute best for long term storage because they are also electronic devices that develop faults as time goes on. The hardware is just a tool, not the permanent home for your keys.

The best method to store your keys still remains a simple paper and pen backup. Don't try to play smart by creating new, unproven methods of storing keys. It just puts you in more danger. Stick to what is tested and trusted.

Yes, all hardware devices could fail at some point, including hardware wallets.  That is why users are expected, and in some cases required, to create a proper paper backup when creating a wallet.  I do not see any general disadvantage in using a good hardware wallet compared to a simple paper wallet.  Because even a paper backup is not recommended to have only one copy, since it can be damaged or lost as well.  Moreover, acting like paper is some invincible "God-tier" tech is a total joke.  Paper burns, gets wet, and ink fades...  even faster than an electronic circuit develops a "fault."

In the world of crypto, the seed is the soul, and the hardware is just the suit of armor.  You need both.  Use a hardware wallet for the high-IQ security features, but etch your recovery seed into stainless steel or store it in multiple high-security locations.

[Joy_learns_crypto]

If you want to make Android phone a cold storage, you can setup 2-of-2 multisig wallet instead, one on the cold storage, and the other on your other device like laptop.

A singlesig wallet on an Android device cold storage is not advisable, although it is still better than online Android that you will also be carrying about.

I have to Shout out to you. but am I correct to think that the unsafe conditions and what you don’t advise a single signature wallet on an android is losing entrance back to the wallet so you advice to setup a multi signature wallet where one is in the cold storage and the other else where but as for the safety of what is in the wallet the two which is single signature and multi signature are secure?

[Charles-Tim]

I have to Shout out to you. but am I correct to think that the unsafe conditions and what you don’t advise a single signature wallet on an android is losing entrance back to the wallet so you advice to setup a multi signature wallet where one is in the cold storage and the other else where but as for the safety of what is in the wallet the two which is single signature and multi signature are secure?

I do not understand the question, but let me try and give some information that might probably answer your question if I get it right. Anyone that wants to compromised the multisig wallet will have to compromise both the devices. If only one of the two devices is compromised, it is not enough to compromise the multisig wallet.

[promise444c5]

I saw this  post where someone was said to have used a mobile device as a primary way to store keys.

You are misunderstanding the whole point of the post itself..
The OP actually mentioned usage of mobile phone as storage for bitcoin, more like using the software on a phone to store bitcoins  but needs to get the phone clean and ready for it. It’s not even about cold storage..
But I get the whole point and try phone shouldn’t be used for storing a significant amount of bitcoin nor used as cold storage either.

[ColdLava40]

You are misunderstanding the whole point of the post itself..
The OP actually mentioned usage of mobile phone as storage for bitcoin, more like using the software on a phone to store bitcoins  but needs to get the phone clean and ready for it. It’s not even about cold storage..
But I get the whole point and try phone shouldn’t be used for storing a significant amount of bitcoin nor used as cold storage either.

Really? Doesn't seem you've read the post properly. The op was asking for a way to wipe the mobile phone, since he told his friend about the danger of using mobile as a way to store his seed. He's friend agreed and now is looking for a way to completely be sure to wipe the device without leaving any single data.

[EluguHcman]

The best method to store your keys still remains a simple paper and pen backup. Don't try to play smart by creating new, unproven methods of storing keys. It just puts you in more danger. Stick to what is tested and trusted.

The ideal of Off-line seed phrase storage aside the electronic devices is totally understandable the safest method to keep your private keys secured.
As you said, storing your keys on electronic may be very convenient because you can walk around with the device and get access to your seed phrases with just an access to the device, could be offline or online but it prons may be in the aspect of the device responding to it destructive nature based on lifetime or malfunctioning on operation liability of the device components to develop faults.
So by the time you don't have access or the device gets stuck, you will be locked out and unreachable to your keys.

Other threats is online maliciousness and interconnection between paired devices.
So how matter how those Blockchain professionals may tend to prove the essence of seed phrase storage system, the physical engrave on paper or metal will always serve best secured if we must prioritize on security our privacies.

[Nathrixxx]

The use of Android phones for a cold storage may not be totally advisable because of how we often connect our device to the Internet and this may be a security risk upon the use of a non custodial wallet on our android phones, we mostly prefer to have it on air gapped device, because such is not connected to the Internet and this makes it more difficult for our wallet to be compromised by its security measures.

[sokani]

The op was asking for a way to wipe the mobile phone, since he told his friend about the danger of using mobile as a way to store his seed. He's friend agreed and now is looking for a way to completely be sure to wipe the device without leaving any single data.

Wipe the phone... Do you mean to factory reset it? Nah, it won't work.

To create a cold storage, you need to remove the bluetooth and Wi-Fi chips so the device does not communicate to the outside world. These components are integrated into main processor, which makes it very risky to remove. You can damage the processor during removal.

[promise444c5]

You are misunderstanding the whole point of the post itself..
The OP actually mentioned usage of mobile phone as storage for bitcoin, more like using the software on a phone to store bitcoins  but needs to get the phone clean and ready for it. It’s not even about cold storage..
But I get the whole point and try phone shouldn’t be used for storing a significant amount of bitcoin nor used as cold storage either.

Really? Doesn't seem you've read the post properly. The op was asking for a way to wipe the mobile phone, since he told his friend about the danger of using mobile as a way to store his seed. He's friend agreed and now is looking for a way to completely be sure to wipe the device without leaving any single data.

Okay…

Now check my post again.. it was just a summary of what the op said in the post and then I was replying to what you said here :

I saw this  post where someone was said to have used a mobile device as a primary way to store keys.

~

The post wasn’t about “storage for keys” neither is it about “cold storage”, it was just about keeping the phone storage completely empty  and clean(after:: usage wasn’t mentioned by the OP ).. But your point stands about using phone as cold storage anyways.