Faraday Cage / Cold Storage

[the founder]

Dumb Question,  we store all the bitcoins sent to cold storage in a vault that is a faraday cage shielded to protect against something like this.

My question is due to us getting bombarded every 2 days now with CME's coming from the sun,  the next one scheduled to hit earth tomorrow is that something I could be using for promotional stuff?   

In case you don't know what I am talking about,  as you're reading this planes are being diverted due to the electromagnetic storm.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/01/23/planes-rerouted-fearing-strongest-radiation-storm-in-7-years/


Like your bitcoins would be safe even in the event of a larger one such as a Carrington Event if they are sent to flexcoin's cold storage option.

[1715229127]

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[punningclan]

Dumb Question,  we store all the bitcoins sent to cold storage in a vault that is a faraday cage shielded to protect against something like this.

My question is due to us getting bombarded every 2 days now with CME's coming from the sun,  the next one scheduled to hit earth tomorrow is that something I could be using for promotional stuff?   

In case you don't know what I am talking about,  as you're reading this planes are being diverted due to the electromagnetic storm.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/01/23/planes-rerouted-fearing-strongest-radiation-storm-in-7-years/


Like your bitcoins would be safe even in the event of a larger one such as a Carrington Event if they are sent to flexcoin's cold storage option.

It's probably a really good idea to get the word out!
+1

[grue]

lol fox news

[notme]

Why not print a private key with QR code on paper.  That should be safe from solar flares if you put it in a fireproof box.  Don't forget, the wiring in your house isn't too different from the telegraph lines that burst into flames in 1859.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

[paraipan]

hehe we already have private cold storage EMP proof... CD discs and paper wallets or even stone 

[Littleshop]

private keys punched or engraved into steel plates in a good sized safe would be pretty safe.  Fireproof to 1500+ degrees. 

[LoupGaroux]

Wrap your media and your paper backups in copper mesh, place in a waterproof enclosure and keep in your freezer- the poor man's fireproof Faraday cold storage.

[BurtW]

I think a bigger problem is the possible "I lost everyone's bitcoins due to the solar flare, sorry, so long and thanks for all the fish" scams.

[notme]

I think a bigger problem is the possible "I lost everyone's bitcoins due to the solar flare, sorry, so long and thanks for all the fish" scams.

But we can see if they move.

[casascius]

A paper wallet is a million times easier.  They work really well.

[paraipan]

A paper wallet is a million times easier.  They work really well.

but so fragile at the same time 

[casascius]

A paper wallet is a million times easier.  They work really well.

but so fragile at the same time  

Make a photocopy and keep it in two places.

Create it from passphrase and then it's also in your head.

[paraipan]

A paper wallet is a million times easier.  They work really well.

but so fragile at the same time  

Make a photocopy and keep it in two places.

Create it from passphrase and then it's also in your head.

or maybe laminate some sheets too. Talking about deterministic wallets, where i can find a tool for that ?

[casascius]

or maybe laminate some sheets too. Talking about deterministic wallets, where i can find a tool for that ?

Look for Casascius Bitcoin Utility on github.

[paraipan]

or maybe laminate some sheets too. Talking about deterministic wallets, where i can find a tool for that ?

Look for Casascius Bitcoin Utility on github.

thanks

[westkybitcoins]

Dumb Question,  we store all the bitcoins sent to cold storage in a vault that is a faraday cage shielded to protect against something like this.

My question is due to us getting bombarded every 2 days now with CME's coming from the sun,  the next one scheduled to hit earth tomorrow is that something I could be using for promotional stuff?   

In case you don't know what I am talking about,  as you're reading this planes are being diverted due to the electromagnetic storm.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/01/23/planes-rerouted-fearing-strongest-radiation-storm-in-7-years/


Like your bitcoins would be safe even in the event of a larger one such as a Carrington Event if they are sent to flexcoin's cold storage option.

Well, it might not be that big of a deal, but if it's what you're doing, I wouldn't think it would *hurt* to advertise that fact. There would definitely be people who choose your service over others just for that.

[brendio]

Wrap your media and your paper backups in copper mesh, place in a waterproof enclosure and keep in your freezer- the poor man's fireproof Faraday cold storage.

Or you could put them in liquid nitrogen for even colder storage. 

[casascius]

Dumb Question,  we store all the bitcoins sent to cold storage in a vault that is a faraday cage shielded to protect against something like this.

Well, it might not be that big of a deal, but if it's what you're doing, I wouldn't think it would *hurt* to advertise that fact. There would definitely be people who choose your service over others just for that.

On a single piece of media that could spontaneously fail for any reason?

I would be more comfortable hearing that the private keys were kept in two places and were maintained in such a way that, for example, an unexpected death of the custodian of those coins wouldn't result in their loss, while meanwhile ensuring that they're adequately protected from theft.

[westkybitcoins]

Dumb Question,  we store all the bitcoins sent to cold storage in a vault that is a faraday cage shielded to protect against something like this.

Well, it might not be that big of a deal, but if it's what you're doing, I wouldn't think it would *hurt* to advertise that fact. There would definitely be people who choose your service over others just for that.

On a single piece of media that could spontaneously fail for any reason?

I would be more comfortable hearing that the private keys were kept in two places and were maintained in such a way that, for example, an unexpected death of the custodian of those coins wouldn't result in their loss, while meanwhile ensuring that they're adequately protected from theft.

I don't know that they don't have multiple copies, or what the data is stored on.

I'm just pointing out that there are people who will hear about the solar flares due this year, think, "Holy crap! My computers might not be safe!", and then sometime down the road see the "Solar-Flare Safe!" line on their webpage and jump right on it.

I have no comment as to the usefulness of it. Just that it shouldn't *hurt* sales to put it up on their website, and might actually gain a few.

[niko]

My somewhat limited understanding is that present-day computer memory (RAM, ROM, but also flash) is susceptible to failures due to high-energy particles (aka cosmic rays), solar flares, and also background radioactive decay of the very materials electronic components are built from. Solar flares also disturb the magnetic field of the Earth, thereby occasionally weakening the shielding against cosmic rays. Whenever you fly on an airplane, the rate of failure of cells in your USB drive is significantly higher than on the ground. There are error-correcting mechanism in place that help to some extent.

Magnetic storage, as most of us know, is even less reliable (albeit with a different set of modes of failure) unless we keep redundant copies.

Having said all this, I conclude that most of responses in this thread so far are quite reasonable: one of the many beauties of Bitcoin is that private keys can be represented in a simple, physical form factor which is much more robust than present day electronics. Sheets of metal or even paper sound much more appropriate than having to worry about Faraday cages, radiation hardening, HDD failure, and such.