I'm very new

[YolandaS]

A friend of mine told me about bitcoins back in March of this year. He showed me how to set up an account on coinbase. He also gave me a few websites on how to earn bitcoins. I went on several websites to earn satoshis every hour or every 30 minutes. Well I did this for several days to earn some bitcoins. Well, I wanted to check to see how much I've accumulated. I looked in my microwallet and found that 3 transactions have taken place. I didn't know you had to protect your bitcoins. The person that helped me set this up didn't tell me that I had to do that. I sent several screenshots to coinbase of what I saw. The rep told me that he couldn't open the documents from my email and I should send it in a png or a jpg. How do I send my account in one of those so that they can get to the bottom of this?

       Is it too late to set up a 2 authenticator on my account or do I need to start all over with a new account? I've been searching the internet and came across this.

Bitcoin Cold Storage
... using online Bitcoin wallets can be very dangerous ...
HACKING
Bitcoin websites receive tremendous attention from hackers because of the relative untraceability of Bitcoin. Some of the best, most talented, most aggressive hackers in the world have set their sights on Bitcoin services. Google 'Bitcoin website hacked' and you will find hundreds of horror stories of websites being hacked, wallets being stolen, and customer funds disappearing into a black hole. Even the largest Bitcoin exchange, Mt Gox, has been hacked numerous times, with millions of dollars stolen. Storing Bitcoin online can be very dangerous if you choose the wrong online wallet. Most Bitcoin exchanges and websites maintain what is known as a 'hot wallet' directly on the server. This enables you to deposit and withdraw almost instantly, but if the server is hacked, well, your money is gone!
THEFT
Another risk to Bitcoin holders is simple theft by the website owner. Bitcoin itself is decentralized, but an online wallet is centralized - the single point of failure is the owner of the website. The owner may simply run off with your money, and there is little you can do to recover your funds. Or the owner may be arrested, as in the case of Ross Ulbricht (aka the Dread Pirate Roberts), who was hauled off to jail for running Silk Road. Either way, you will lose your Bitcoin.
HOW WE KEEP YOUR BITCOIN SAFE
First, all BitPlastic funds are held in cold storage. Funds are sent immediately from the online hot wallet directly to an offline cold storage wallet when you deposit Bitcoin. Even if the server is hacked, or seized, your money is 100% safe. Deposits still credit within an hour, but withdrawals are processed manually, meaning they can take up to 12hrs (though usually much sooner). We also use 2FA (two-factor email authentication) and often send you a manual email confirmation for large withdrawals to ensure your account was not accessed without your knowledge.
As for the risk of BitPlastic simply disappearing with your money, that's not very likely! We make enough money on fees that it would be silly, and in fact downright stupid, to abscond with client funds. Furthermore, BitPlastic is owned by Dr. Michael Moriarty, who also owns a huge network of Bitcoin websites, such as BitLaunder.com, BitSweeps.com, BitListing.com, BitBing.com, TheBitcoinEscrow.com, BitArmored.com, and many more. Reputation is key in the Bitcoin world, and it would not be in Dr. Moriarty's economic interest to steal client funds.
If you have any questions about our security or privacy policies, feel free to email support@BitPlastic.com
It's a dangerous world out there. Stay safe.
BitPlastic.com
The StaffThe websites that I've been earning the satoshis on how would I know that those sites are legitimate? Should the first thing I do is set up the 2 authenticator, then look into something called electrum, armory, or multibit? Can any of you tell me what works best for you? There's so many options out there. Now when I get that all set up, once the bitcoins are in coinbase and I want to deposit it to my bank is that known as purchasing or selling bitcoins to my bank? What's the best debit card out there to withdraw funds from my bank? I found something on the web called Cryptex card. Does anyone owns this card and do you like it? Thank you all for your comments.

[Mikez]

The rep told me that he couldn't open the documents from my email and I should send it in a png or a jpg. How do I send my account in one of those so that they can get to the bottom of this?

Not sure if spammer or just a noob newbie, but sending it as a png or jpg means that you should take a screenshot and sending it.

[JohnFromWIT]

Hey Yolanda,
It's possible they were stolen, but it's more likely those faucets(free bitcoin websites) just haven't paid you any.
I haven't used them in a long time, but if they still work the same, you have to visit that site and request bitcoin.
After that you can't ask again for 30 minutes. After waiting you'll have to visit the site again and request more.
Many of these sites won't pay you anything until you've earned enough.

Just like an email or anything else you should not share you password with anyone else.
If your account is still working you can still activate 2 step authentication.

Because of the way bitcoins work, if your money goes missing, you can't hold coinbase responsible.
They won't refund your money, because they don't have it.

As for your friend, don't blame them for not telling youto protect your coins.
It is common sense really.

[Dajve]

You can still set up 2-factor but I don't know if you want to if your account might be compromised.

[Yuki1988]

I looked in my microwallet and found that 3 transactions have taken place.

When your balance in microwallet reaches the withdrawal limit (5800 sat), it will be sent to your address.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=348060.0

[YolandaS]

Thank you all for your comments

[YolandaS]

Can anyone tell me if another online wallet work just as well as the 2-factor authenticator or is offline storage better? And what's the best debit card to withdraw funds from your bank?

[shorena]

Can anyone tell me if another online wallet work just as well as the 2-factor authenticator or is offline storage better?

If you just have some satoshi from faucets offline wallets is a security overkill.
Pick your wallet, here are the important ones listed: https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet
according to your needs. To start a slim wallet for your desktop (e.g. electrum or multibit) is fine and you can worry about high end security (offline, cold storrage, paper wallets, etc.) when you have more bitcoin.

And what's the best debit card to withdraw funds from your bank?

I dont understand what this has to do with bitcoin. Your wallet is your bank. You dont need a debit card you can pay directly with your wallet.

[notlist3d]

You can still set up 2-factor but I don't know if you want to if your account might be compromised.

2-factor authentication is always a good idea.  If it has been compromised I would switch btc address and wallets.    And faucets also could be a problem, not being paid is a very possible.

[Gimmelfarb]

often you have to accumulate many, many "micro" payments before being sent a "real" payment (that can be seen on the blockchain), when it comes to these little faucet sites. just my two cents.

[Sydboy]

are you suggesting an offline 2fa wallet ? how does that work ?

hmm that gives me an idea actually.. thanks! lol
oh and welcome to the forums,

by the way the exchange www.btc-e.com does 2fa and will let you withdraw to a visa card if that is what you meant in your posts above ?

[YolandaS]

Hi Shorena. You stated that "your wallet is your bank and you don't need a debit card". "You can  pay directly with your wallet". Well, I was trying to transfer the bitcoins to my bank, then withdraw it in the form of USD with my debit card that my bank gave me. Am I making sense? I hope I'm conveying this correctly. I don't understand what you meant by you can pay directly with your wallet?

[YolandaS]

Hi Sydboy. I was trying to say if I didn't activate the 2fa would an online wallet work better in its place? If yes, do you have an online wallet for security? Which one do you like?

[Justin00]

use your own offline wallet. I use bitcoin-qt.
the annoying part is just downloading the blockchain from the start.
You set a password on your wallet. for added protection you can encrypt it with PGP and then store that backup in multiple places.
Just do not lost the PGP password or the wallet password.

Alternativly just set a wallet password and back that up in a few places, not on your PC. If you got a virus/key logger then they mighjt be able to steal your wallet password. Pro's and cons with everything.

Read on the forums, so much information on what to do and best practice. but yeah 10000% you need to set wwallet password.

[shorena]

Hi Shorena. You stated that "your wallet is your bank and you don't need a debit card". "You can  pay directly with your wallet". Well, I was trying to transfer the bitcoins to my bank, then withdraw it in the form of USD with my debit card that my bank gave me. Am I making sense? I hope I'm conveying this correctly. I don't understand what you meant by you can pay directly with your wallet?

So you want to sell bitcoin for USD?

Open an account with any of the common exchanges*, transfer your BTC there ("deposit BTC") and withdraw to your bank account.
They usually want a proof of residence and charge a fee.

* bitstamp, btc-e, coinbase, kraken, vault of satoshi, etc.

Bitcoin however is a currency so you can pay directly with bitcoin. You can transfer bitcoin to someone else with your wallet, thus paying for something.

[DolanDuck]

use your own offline wallet. I use bitcoin-qt.
the annoying part is just downloading the blockchain from the start.

You can also use a "light" wallets like Multibit / Electrum / Armory, with these you don't need to download the blockchain.

[Harley997]

I went on several websites to earn satoshis every hour or every 30 minutes. Well I did this for several days to earn some bitcoins. Well, I wanted to check to see how much I've accumulated. I looked in my microwallet and found that 3 transactions have taken place. I didn't know you had to protect your bitcoins.

It sounds like you are using faucets, these are a good way to help you understand how Bitcoin works, but you should understand that using faucets is not a good way to earn BTC as you will be getting much less then minimum wage.

Is it too late to set up a 2 authenticator on my account or do I need to start all over with a new account? I've been searching the internet and came across this.

I don't think Coinbase suports (google) authenticator. I know they do have 2fa (two factor authentication) for SMS. I would highly recommend using this as coinbase is linked to your bank account.

[Kprawn]

How much do you have in that account?

Use this currency converter to determine, how much you have in USD.

http://coinmill.com/BTC_calculator.html#BTC=0.01

The amount in your wallet, may not even be enough to cover the transaction fee.

Well see for yourself.