Is OS really important

[billotronic]

Makes lots of sense. What if my offline device gets broken, or burnt, or w/e? Is there a super safe way to store bitcoins? I'm getting to the idea there is no 100% safe way to do it. My online wallet could get hacked and my offline USB/HD could crack...

OS does matter to be honest . Using Linux would be better then using Windows because most of viruses out there are written for Windows.
So you could increase your safety by using Linux .

I would suggest you to use Electrum as a wallet , because It gives you a 12 words seed when you setup the wallet for the first time , and you can recover your Bitcoins & wallet with those words in a case of a computer failure or device get burnt as you said etc ... So just keep those words in a vault in a piece of paper or whatever . and you should be fine

~ Madness

The flip side to this is that some basement dweller scanin ips is going to make a note of ones running linux.

[ChuckBuck]

Sorta related to this thread is the following bit of news that "Tails" OS now has a Bitcoin wallet option:

http://cointelegraph.com/news/113562/the-worlds-most-secure-operating-system-adds-a-bitcoin-wallet

Never used Tails, but from what I gather, it's the most secure operating system out there, even over Linux.  Them embracing Bitcoin readily, bodes as a great sign of things.

[m0repadX]

As long you add great security, every OS is secure for bitcoin wallet
Tails OS is one of most secure OS now, but you can't install it

[Slark]

As long you add great security, every OS is secure for bitcoin wallet
Tails OS is one of most secure OS now, but you can't install it

Here it is. Totally free and ready for you to download and install it:

https://tails.boum.org/

But I am afraid normal people would not want to use this type of OS...

[MrBungle]

Is this Tails a Linux distro? How come it is so safe? I might be finally doing the switch to GNU/Linux anyway, with Ubuntu in mind...

Edit: Yeap its built on Debian and it forces you to surf the net via Tor.

[foxkyu]

What would be a good way to store an online backup for my wallet then? Maybe uploading it to Google Drive, or MEGA?

better not doing this
online is very risky, i would sugest you using VM
your vm is only use to store your wallet, nothing else

[ranochigo]

So if you guys were to take any antivirus as your own, concerning your bitcoins security, which one would you chose? A free one like avast! is cool?

Also,

You should start using GNU/linux not only because it's safer and better but because it's the right thing to do.

Damn, straight to my heart... 

Antviruses aren't safe enough. Viruses can still sneak pass the detection. the best way is to never download any suspicious program or even better, wipe your PC before making a paper wallet.

You could potentially messed up someone due to the lack of knowledge in Linux. Linux isn't as user friendly as Windows in my opinion. As long as you install updates on Windows, a freshly wiped computer running Windows shouldn't pose any threat to your wallet.

I suggest OP to use a paper wallet and laminate it. It would pretty much prevents most damages. For safety purposes, make copies of tjemand put them at different geographical locations.

[maku]

Is this Tails a Linux distro? How come it is so safe? I might be finally doing the switch to GNU/Linux anyway, with Ubuntu in mind...

Edit: Yeap its built on Debian and it forces you to surf the net via Tor.

Nothing is forcing you. It is system designed for extreme uses. If you want ultimate privacy build in TOR requirements this is for you. I doubt that bitcoin users need that. Basic windows is more useful for mainstream bitcoin usage.

[jjacob]

So I'm thinking about getting into bitcoin trading and stuff, and I plan to begin storing my first bitcoins soon. I've read for this sense it is much safer to have Linux than for example Windows (as it is for a lot of other aspects aswell). Do you think is this really a thing to consider? Do I need to have tons of bitcoins before I get concerned about their safety? Should I consider switching to Linux if I'm storing just a few of them, or is it stupid?

Thanks erry'one in advance.

Linux is considered better in terms of security.
I would suggest going for cold storage once you accumulate some bitcoins. This matters more than the kind of OS you have.

[alamanjani]

I would suggest you to use Electrum as a wallet , because It gives you a 12 words seed when you setup the wallet for the first time , and you can recover your Bitcoins & wallet with those words in a case of a computer failure or device get burnt as you said etc ...

Yes Electrum! You can have !the same! wallet on different computers, on different operating systems.
And linux distribution for anonymous web surfing Tails have pre-installed Electrum wallet...

"New features: Electrum is an easy-to-use Bitcoin wallet, you can use the Bitcoin client persistence feature to store your Electrum configuration and wallet; the Tor Browser has additional operating system and data security"

http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=08824

Edit:
Ups, sorry I see tails was already mentioned...

 

[ranochigo]

Is this Tails a Linux distro? How come it is so safe? I might be finally doing the switch to GNU/Linux anyway, with Ubuntu in mind...

Edit: Yeap its built on Debian and it forces you to surf the net via Tor.

Nothing is forcing you. It is system designed for extreme uses. If you want ultimate privacy build in TOR requirements this is for you. I doubt that bitcoin users need that. Basic windows is more useful for mainstream bitcoin usage.

It's worth noting that by using Tor, you are risking the possibility of a 0 day exploit on https. People have been hacked like this. Unless you really want tor, try private internet access or don't even use VPN.

[okthen]

Well I have both mac and windows, and I asked someone with Linux to set up my main wallet. Less likely to get keyloggers there.

[najzenmajsen]

What would be a good way to store an online backup for my wallet then? Maybe uploading it to Google Drive, or MEGA?

This will only make things worst . Keeping your wallet Online is the worst idea you can get mate .
Hacker don't need to hack your PC , he should simply hack your Gmail or MEGA Account (not even hacking probably simple Brute force cracking) and he is in .
I suggest keeping them in Offline device .
~ Madness

its far from the worst idea , the worst idea would be to post your private key on an forum ; )

[AtheistAKASaneBrain]

Is this Tails a Linux distro? How come it is so safe? I might be finally doing the switch to GNU/Linux anyway, with Ubuntu in mind...

Edit: Yeap its built on Debian and it forces you to surf the net via Tor.

Tails is not very convenient for everyday use imo. Unless you are paranoid you are ok with any normal Linux distro or even Win 7 + antivirus and firewall + common sense.

[Mountain Jew]

What is important is your security rather than operating system, but it is very easy to get a virus on windows and most are built for it. Using linux/ubuntu is much safer due to lack of viruses in my opinion but I'd just concentrate on making sure you have a safe and secure computer.

[pooya87]

So I'm thinking about getting into bitcoin trading and stuff, and I plan to begin storing my first bitcoins soon. I've read for this sense it is much safer to have Linux than for example Windows (as it is for a lot of other aspects aswell). Do you think is this really a thing to consider? Do I need to have tons of bitcoins before I get concerned about their safety? Should I consider switching to Linux if I'm storing just a few of them, or is it stupid?

Thanks erry'one in advance.

you don't need to switch to linux just because of bitcoin, there are other ways for securing your bitcoin like paper wallet or like this
but linux is more secure and if you are willing to migrate from "familiar" windows to a new environment then go for it, especially if the programs that you use day by day have also linux versions

[avatar_kiyoshi]

So I'm thinking about getting into bitcoin trading and stuff, and I plan to begin storing my first bitcoins soon. I've read for this sense it is much safer to have Linux than for example Windows (as it is for a lot of other aspects aswell). Do you think is this really a thing to consider? Do I need to have tons of bitcoins before I get concerned about their safety? Should I consider switching to Linux if I'm storing just a few of them, or is it stupid?

Thanks erry'one in advance.

That's your choice I think. If you to lazy to make your windows secure with high security switch to Linux but another choice is paper wallet

[jjacob]

Refer this thread for a good explanation
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=17240.0

note that Linux is in no way automagically completely secure

[MrBungle]

Refer this thread for a good explanation
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=17240.0

Awesome post, thanks man! Great idea from OP, gonna do just that.

[neurotypical]

So I'm thinking about getting into bitcoin trading and stuff, and I plan to begin storing my first bitcoins soon. I've read for this sense it is much safer to have Linux than for example Windows (as it is for a lot of other aspects aswell). Do you think is this really a thing to consider? Do I need to have tons of bitcoins before I get concerned about their safety? Should I consider switching to Linux if I'm storing just a few of them, or is it stupid?

Thanks erry'one in advance.

you don't need to switch to linux just because of bitcoin, there are other ways for securing your bitcoin like paper wallet or like this
but linux is more secure and if you are willing to migrate from "familiar" windows to a new environment then go for it, especially if the programs that you use day by day have also linux versions

The problem is if you like videogames. I do and I also tend to use audio programs for music making. So If I want to use Linux I have to shut down and boot under Linux. Going through Win to Linux just for Bitcoin isnt worth it for me.