What kind of cold storage do you use?

[btcton]

So, I am kind of at a loss of what cold storage method to use. I've noticed each one has its own pros and cons. For example, a paper wallet requires no memorizing and works completely offline, but if somebody finds it or if you lose it, you're screwed. With brain wallets, if you forget it, you're screwed. USBs and SD cards are essentially the same as paper wallets except electronic. I would like to know what are some good cold storage methods people have come up with and why they work better than other alternatives.

[jimhsu]

Two-factor (BIP38) paper wallets. Simple(ish) passphrase.
The point is that we're pretty good at physical security (because it's what we had for thousands of years), and the likely attack vectors to nab your paper wallet and your passphrase are most likely very different.

[Baitty]

Paper wallets. The best god dam cold storage there is.

[Mitchell]

I use my Wallet Card (from Bit-Card) as my Cold Storage Wallet.

[Newar]

Paper wallets can be password protected. As mentioned BIP38.

They also can be cut in parts and stored in different locations. Or generate a split wallet (bitaddress,org) to begin with. Also, paper wallets don't need to be printed, they can be stored as PDFs. You also can store your keys on several USB media and store in several locations. Plenty of options. The "best" solution depends on your situation and circumstances.

Think outside the box, but also think about how your family would get access to your coins in case you get hit by a bus.

[aeternum.in]

Paper wallets can be password protected. As mentioned BIP38.

They also can be cut in parts and stored in different locations. Or generate a split wallet (bitaddress,org) to begin with. Also, paper wallets don't need to be printed, they can be stored as PDFs. You also can store your keys on several USB media and store in several locations. Plenty of options. The "best" solution depends on your situation and circumstances.

Think outside the box, but also think about how your family would get access to your coins in case you get hit by a bus.

With that in mind, I've been designing this:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=566626.msg6173252#msg6173252

NFC enabled, secure, easy to recover your data from, and multi-sig (multiple devices) meaning you can plan for loss, destruction, theft, etc... We are on the 6th and hopefully final prototype. It's designed to work with Hardware wallets, Armory, etc...

https://i.imgur.com/0Hz6QIn.jpg

[jonald_fyookball]

Electrum.  Simple and secure. Works for me.

[Quibbler28]

Does a online wallet count as cold storage??

[Unpopped]

I use good ol' blockchain.info

[jonald_fyookball]

Does a online wallet count as cold storage??

No!

Cold storage means on a system that is not online.  (Offline computer, brain wallet, or paper wallet).
Blockchain.info definitely doesn't count.

[eid]

I use good ol' blockchain.info

Hmm... I'm not sure that qualifies..


I use Armory offline. Just wish I had the BTC to make the hassle worthwhile.

[odolvlobo]

Your poll is broken. There is no such thing as "Online Wallet (Electrum, Armory...)" cold storage because storage is "cold" when it is offline, by definition.

I guess you could consider using hosted cold storage as cold storage, but I don't like it because it is held by someone else.

[Meuh6879]

1) 1x usb key
2) 1x usb key
3) email backup
4) usb hard drive
5) phone backup

  a life of economy ...

[zimmah]

offline wallet (armory)

[DolanDuck]

Paper wallet secured in a safe place + offline wallets stored in usb flashcards and external hard disks

[Light]

Separate air gapped computer running Electrum so that I can sign txs offline and simply watch my address on my online computer. Have a couple of BIP38 encrypted versions of those addresses stored on paper wallets in various locations should anything happen to my computer.

[Ron~Popeil]

Multiple SD cards. One in each of three states I frequent.

[beetcoin]

i use cold storage/electrum, though i could just delete it since i remember my code.. should probably delete some one of my two copies.

[Beliathon]

I don't like it because it is held by someone else.

You are right not to like it. If you are not the sole holder of your private key, you don't own any bitcoin.

[aeternum.in]

Multiple SD cards. One in each of three states I frequent.

The problem with this though, which I'm trying to solve is that you can't tell if someone has accessed your SD cards without your knowledge. Sure they could be well hidden, but then if you need to get your BTC in the event of some accident, where you're in a coma it's going to be hard to communicate to someone else where they are.

Maybe this isn't your situation, but I was storing mine on USB sticks till I got paranoid over the idea that I can't really tell if a bank employe has been in my vault or if someone has popped the USB stick into their computer to make a copy and then slowly pulled a long con on me to gradually figure out what the decryption code might be.