Altcoins Talks - Cryptocurrency Forum
Crypto Discussion Forum => Cryptocurrency discussions => Technical Discussion => Topic started by: ABCbits on October 16, 2024, 12:40:25 PM
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I don't see new topic created on Technical Discussion board, so i decide to create one. On thread What operating system do you use for crypto? (https://www.altcoinstalks.com/index.php?topic=324805.0), many user use either Windows or Linux for cryptocurrency purpose. But i wonder which desktop OS would you recommend to non-technical cryptocurrency users?
Mac OS device is rather expensive (unless you buy used or old ones), but some people perceive it more secure than Windows. Some laptop and computer comes with pre-installed Linux (usually Ubuntu), so user could avoid installation and first-time configuration which could be challenging. ChromeOS also gaining popularity, since it's available on cheap device and created by so many company. In addition, Google also advertise ChromeOS Flex to give "live" on older PC and Macs. Although wallet option on ChromeOS is very limited and usually you ended up install browser wallet.
References:
https://www.wired.com/story/best-linux-laptops/ (https://www.wired.com/story/best-linux-laptops/)
https://chromeos.google/products/chromeos-flex/ (https://chromeos.google/products/chromeos-flex/)
https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-chromebooks (https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-chromebooks)
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I don't see new topic created on Technical Discussion board, so i decide to create one. On thread What operating system do you use for crypto? (https://www.altcoinstalks.com/index.php?topic=324805.0), many user use either Windows or Linux for cryptocurrency purpose. But i wonder which desktop OS would you recommend to non-technical cryptocurrency users?
Mac OS device is rather expensive (unless you buy used or old ones), but some people perceive it more secure than Windows. Some laptop and computer comes with pre-installed Linux (usually Ubuntu), so user could avoid installation and first-time configuration which could be challenging.
Well the kind of Operating system you choose to make use of depends on your demand (like what you make use of the pc for) other things include how technical what you wish to do is and also how fancy your budget is. Firstly let's answer the question for a non technical person well if the person does more of designs and has a fancy budget he'll likely go for a Mac because of graphics likely if not he will go for windows.
From my experience so far windows is very common compared to open source softwares like tails and the different Linux variants especially for persons that really don't do any technical stuff on their PC. I've come across a couple of programmers who have both Linux and windows installed and alternate between them depending on the demand at hand.
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I will never use apple products because I like to be able to customize my setup and have more flexibility over my softwares.
I wouldn't use any chrome book or chrome os neither, mainly for privacy reasons and customization freedom
I like to use windows. I love windows 11.
Windows subsystem Linux (wsl) is just amazing imo. You can have an Ubuntu just under your windows. I am very happy with it. It fills all my needs.
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I vote for Windows simply because too many products in my area are powered by Windows by default. I'm not sure if non-technical users would like to spend time getting familiar with other OS. Most schools run Windows too afaik, not sure if anything changed. If they want to learn more then I'd probably suggest Linux.
Btw, a family member of mine tried to open Electrum in the past and he found it a bit complicated to use. It takes some time for him to learn and confidently use it to store his crypto. I don't think he has enough patience to learn another OS even if he knows that security etc is important unless he becomes the victim himself.
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For non-technical cryptocurrency holder like me who is not really good with these things and can easily be confused with complicated matters, the choice is quite obvious: Windows! I understand that there can be some security concerns with Windows maybe compared to other type of OS but for me it is definitely so far so good. However, I am so willing to shift or use at the same time some good OS that can suit with my non-tech background...am hoping there can be one soon.
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Booting from a USB flash drive using Tails or Ubuntu does not require much technical knowledge, you can use wallets like electrum and with simple steps you will have enhanced the security of your coins with the possibility of using watchonly wallet on any operating system you prefer. If you do not have enough experience to do this, buying a phone dedicated to cryptocurrencies will not be expensive, especially since the prices of some phones are less than $ 100.
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Most schools run Windows too afaik, not sure if anything changed.
I also think most school still use Windows. Although i notice trends of few school who switch to ChromeOS since you can run it on cheaper device.
For non-technical cryptocurrency holder like me who is not really good with these things and can easily be confused with complicated matters, the choice is quite obvious: Windows! I understand that there can be some security concerns with Windows maybe compared to other type of OS but for me it is definitely so far so good. However, I am so willing to shift or use at the same time some good OS that can suit with my non-tech background...am hoping there can be one soon.
Your choice is expected. But what do you think about Mac OS? Would you find using it too challenging?
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Your choice is expected. But what do you think about Mac OS? Would you find using it too challenging?
Do you want to buy a Mac OS for security reasons?
I don't think it is worth it... I think just using a HW is enough, and windows is secure enough if you have healthy online habits. Just keep away from darknet, cracked software, porn, etc...
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Your choice is expected. But what do you think about Mac OS? Would you find using it too challenging?
Personally, my main 'issue' with using Mac is getting familiar with the shortcut plus the lack of a feature to snap or resize windows automatically with a mouse gesture (I fix it by installing an app, not sure if the latest update supports this by default). I don't think running an app, installing, etc is a huge problem even if your knowledge about OS is minimal. My sister who is not really a tech enthusiast bought a Mac a few months ago and she doesn't find many issues with it either, granted she's not trying to store crypto on it.
I also think most school still use Windows. Although i notice trends of few school who switch to ChromeOS since you can run it on cheaper device.
Really? I wonder if familiarity with Android is another factor since most students have an Android phone nowadays.
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Your choice is expected. But what do you think about Mac OS? Would you find using it too challenging?
Do you want to buy a Mac OS for security reasons?
I don't think it is worth it... I think just using a HW is enough, and windows is secure enough if you have healthy online habits. Just keep away from darknet, cracked software, porn, etc...
No, i simply wanted to ask opinions. Besides, i already use Linux for myself.
I also think most school still use Windows. Although i notice trends of few school who switch to ChromeOS since you can run it on cheaper device.
Really? I wonder if familiarity with Android is another factor since most students have an Android phone nowadays.
Really, it was especially during popular during COVID-19 pandemic since it's cheap and easy to obtain. And since most Android user use Google application/service, i agree it could be another factor behind Chromebook popularity.
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Really, it was especially during popular during COVID-19 pandemic since it's cheap and easy to obtain. And since most Android user use Google application/service, i agree it could be another factor behind Chromebook popularity.
That makes sense. Even in my school days, most schools don't want to spend a lot of money on IT devices, so they like to save budget here and there. No surprise they opt for the cheapest option for video call/online class. It's a shame since those devices tend to break easily, which will increase the budget in the end. CMIIW.
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Really, it was especially during popular during COVID-19 pandemic since it's cheap and easy to obtain. And since most Android user use Google application/service, i agree it could be another factor behind Chromebook popularity.
That makes sense. Even in my school days, most schools don't want to spend a lot of money on IT devices, so they like to save budget here and there. No surprise they opt for the cheapest option for video call/online class. It's a shame since those devices tend to break easily, which will increase the budget in the end. CMIIW.
It is also cheaper than other notebooks
A few months ago I was searching for the cheapest notebook in Amazon, and Chromebooks were the cheapest ones. I gave up buying, but those Chromebooks are indeed much cheaper and they look to be fast enough for daily use
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I don't think he has enough patience to learn another OS even if he knows that security etc is important unless he becomes the victim himself.
I feel pretty much same, although wouldn't like to become victim, of course. But, it's more due to not having enough patience to go through learning curve to use another OS. I am familiar with Windows and Android and I'd like to continue that way.
Using HW to store your crypto and being mindful of clipboard hijackers is safe enough I feel.
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Windows is the most user-friendly OS but it's also the one that hackers attacked still it can be the best for the particular not techy person as long as the software is genuine and bought from the official site not from third-party or pirated ones.
I have been using windows forever and it works just fine but for the safer side I don't keep my cryptos in it but I used to be when the funds were small amount and I was unaware of certain things so for starters they can use Windows.
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I don't see new topic created on Technical Discussion board, so i decide to create one. On thread What operating system do you use for crypto? (https://www.altcoinstalks.com/index.php?topic=324805.0), many user use either Windows or Linux for cryptocurrency purpose. But i wonder which desktop OS would you recommend to non-technical cryptocurrency users?
if you are not using it for crypto then what are you using it for?
when choosing a desktop os you need to consider the workload you are going to be using and whether will it be a good fit to your desktop for example is it for work where you do not use apps that need to be running for a long time and only used casually or are you interested in gaming? are you using it to study? maybe for creative uses?
each desktop os have their own strengths depending on where you will use it most of the time
Mac OS device is rather expensive (unless you buy used or old ones), but some people perceive it more secure than Windows.
yes maybe but it is not like windows is so much more vulnerable than the mac that it is at the point of threatening use like you said mac os is very expensive but i actually will not recommend it if you are going to have a heavy workload people who have heavy workload and can afford expensive os do not go with mac os either
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I don't see new topic created on Technical Discussion board, so i decide to create one. On thread What operating system do you use for crypto? (https://www.altcoinstalks.com/index.php?topic=324805.0), many user use either Windows or Linux for cryptocurrency purpose. But i wonder which desktop OS would you recommend to non-technical cryptocurrency users?
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I migrated from Windows OS and used MacOS for a few years before knowing Bitcoin/cryptocurrencies.
In terms of user experience, there is quite a difference in the durability of the OS security. I had a rather annoying experience when my work files were encrypted by malware when I was still using Windows OS.
In Cryptocurrency, the installation process of software such as Bitcoin Core, Electrum, and others tends to be easier and simpler on MacOS than on Windows OS or even Linux (which usually uses the command line). Meanwhile, the use of software is the same.
I've used all three OS types to try using several Bitcoin wallets.
So, regarding ease of use for non-technical cryptocurrency users, I prefer MacOS (although the price of the devices may be higher).
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Recently, there was a case on the Btt forum where a (more experienced) member complained that his Ledger wallet was empty. Although he accused Ledger of this, it turned out that he himself approved the transactions, thinking that they were actually claim airdrops.
I want to say that even the OS is not that important if someone is careless, not even the hardware wallet.
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Recently, there was a case on the Btt forum where a (more experienced) member complained that his Ledger wallet was empty. Although he accused Ledger of this, it turned out that he himself approved the transactions, thinking that they were actually claim airdrops.
I want to say that even the OS is not that important if someone is careless, not even the hardware wallet.
No OS or security device can protect users from themselves.
Phising explore our greed and we often approve things in hurry.
I receive tons of fake phising tokens in my ledger as well... better just to ignore even if I left some bucks on the table.
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In Cryptocurrency, the installation process of software such as Bitcoin Core, Electrum, and others tends to be easier and simpler on MacOS than on Windows OS or even Linux (which usually uses the command line). Meanwhile, the use of software is the same.
I wouldn't be surprised if Linux is a bit harder, especially if people don't use appimage or something similar, but are you sure Windows installation is more complicated than MacOS? I never realized that. I know Electrum needs specific Windows updates on older Windows iirc, but based on my experience the difference between installing it on Windows or Mac is negligible.
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In Cryptocurrency, the installation process of software such as Bitcoin Core, Electrum, and others tends to be easier and simpler on MacOS than on Windows OS or even Linux (which usually uses the command line). Meanwhile, the use of software is the same.
I wouldn't be surprised if Linux is a bit harder, especially if people don't use appimage or something similar, but are you sure Windows installation is more complicated than MacOS? I never realized that. I know Electrum needs specific Windows updates on older Windows iirc, but based on my experience the difference between installing it on Windows or Mac is negligible.
Windows installation is pretty much straight forward. You don't even need to format your drive anymore, and you don't even need to uninstall previous windows versions. It is very simple to install or upgrade windows.
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In Cryptocurrency, the installation process of software such as Bitcoin Core, Electrum, and others tends to be easier and simpler on MacOS than on Windows OS or even Linux (which usually uses the command line). Meanwhile, the use of software is the same.
I wouldn't be surprised if Linux is a bit harder, especially if people don't use appimage or something similar, but are you sure Windows installation is more complicated than MacOS? I never realized that. I know Electrum needs specific Windows updates on older Windows iirc, but based on my experience the difference between installing it on Windows or Mac is negligible.
Each user may have a different perspective on which OS is considered easier to use for non-technical cryptocurrency users.
I installed several versions and used Windows OS from Windows 98 to Windows 10. (I even remember the Windows XP serial number, which I have used for quite some time).
I have also tried several Linux distros, including Mint, Ubuntu, and Kali Linux (formerly BackTrack). The last time I used MacOS was for cryptocurrency-related purposes.
In this case, my previous opinion above is based on my experience using various OSs from different platforms.
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~snip~
I like to use windows. I love windows 11.
Windows subsystem Linux (wsl) is just amazing imo. You can have an Ubuntu just under your windows. I am very happy with it. It fills all my needs.
Are there any major differences in W11 compared to W10? I haven't decided on that upgrade yet because everything works as it should with the old version.
I'm honestly hearing about WSL for the first time, is it something specific for W11 or?
+1
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~snip~
I like to use windows. I love windows 11.
Windows subsystem Linux (wsl) is just amazing imo. You can have an Ubuntu just under your windows. I am very happy with it. It fills all my needs.
Are there any major differences in W11 compared to W10? I haven't decided on that upgrade yet because everything works as it should with the old version.
I'm honestly hearing about WSL for the first time, is it something specific for W11 or?
+1
I also still have Windows 10 on my PC and on the laptop where I work
I've been advised to upgrade to Windows 11, but I haven't done it yet (I will)
I've had bad experiences with Windows Vista and when I have a perfectly working Windows, I usually take a long time to change it.
It took me a long time to get off Windows 7, I used it for a long time and I liked it a lot
In Windows 10 what gave me the most trouble (helping my friends and family) was the bug of the HD working 100% and slowing windows down
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~snip~
I like to use windows. I love windows 11.
Windows subsystem Linux (wsl) is just amazing imo. You can have an Ubuntu just under your windows. I am very happy with it. It fills all my needs.
Are there any major differences in W11 compared to W10? I haven't decided on that upgrade yet because everything works as it should with the old version.
I'm honestly hearing about WSL for the first time, is it something specific for W11 or?
+1
WSL is amazing. You will have both operation system in the same machine, and you can access files from Windows in Linux and vice versa.
It is very straight foward to install. Just go to command prompt and install it with this line:
wsl.exe --install
More info here
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/how-to-install-wsl2-on-windows-10
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@bitmover, thanks for the info, I really don't understand how I've never heard of this, and I can't remember anyone mentioning the WSL on BTT because I would definitely remember that. I'll definitely try how the whole thing works because I've been meaning to try Linux for a long time - although I've already had some experience before with a Linux version that I booted from a CD.
+1
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Are there any major differences in W11 compared to W10? I haven't decided on that upgrade yet because everything works as it should with the old version.
If everything still works, then IMO there's no strong move to W11. After all, it's still supported by Microsoft and almost all software. But expect some annoyance and possible unwanted feature such as,
1. Requirement to create or login to Microsoft account.
2. TPM requirement.
3. More application installed by default.
Although there are workaround for examples i mentioned.
@bitmover, thanks for the info, I really don't understand how I've never heard of this, and I can't remember anyone mentioning the WSL on BTT because I would definitely remember that. I'll definitely try how the whole thing works because I've been meaning to try Linux for a long time - although I've already had some experience before with a Linux version that I booted from a CD.
+1
And there's no reason to mention WSL, unless you're specifically asking how to run Linux while keep using Windows or trying to run certain cryptocurrency software which can't be run directly on Windows.
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Interesting question.
I have used
android
mac os
Mac ios on various ipads.
Linux
Windows
Never ran an iPhone or a chrompads.
I prefer Mac os. But over time Mac has become more and more expensive to get a good unit to run.
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But expect some annoyance and possible unwanted feature such as
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Recall is one of these. This is why they keep delaying it, probably to find a way to include this feature without breaking any laws even if the users hate it. I also found out that their scheduler is a bit of a mess for Intel's latest-gen (and AMDs before they patched it). If you're using your PC for things other than crypto such as playing games this is worth keeping in mind. I'm not sure if non-technical users will find the difference in performance though. CMIIW.
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--snip--
I prefer Mac os. But over time Mac has become more and more expensive to get a good unit to run.
The price is definitely expensive. Just recently Apple release new Mac device with M4 chip, where the cheapest one is their Mac Mini which costs starting from $599. Meanwhile you can find new chromebook or laptop for half of their new Mac Mini.
But expect some annoyance and possible unwanted feature such as
-snip-
Recall is one of these. This is why they keep delaying it, probably to find a way to include this feature without breaking any laws even if the users hate it. I also found out that their scheduler is a bit of a mess for Intel's latest-gen (and AMDs before they patched it). If you're using your PC for things other than crypto such as playing games this is worth keeping in mind. I'm not sure if non-technical users will find the difference in performance though. CMIIW.
I think there's no end if we also talk about canceled or delayed feature. Do you remember about ads on Windows explorer?
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We must start from the idea that the security of an operating system is proportional to the care and knowledge of the user who uses the device. so it doesn't matter if a user with little experience uses the latest version of Debian, for example. I have been using Linux and BSD for more than 20 years and I have always been able to verify that the user is responsible for the failure 99% of the time. Non-technical users will logically use some version of Windows, since it is the most widespread operating system, that is neither good nor bad, it just depends on the user's knowledge.
I will continue using the operating systems that I have used for years, they allow me flexibility, configuration and security that no other proprietary software can give me.
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Do you remember about ads on Windows explorer?
Yeah, such a weird feature to add. I know they were just testing and accidentally pushed it to live production, but it's wild that they even consider having one to begin with. Even for non-technical users that would be a turn-off even if they only use their Windows once in a while. I guess that's why people are trying to modify Windows and call it a new name such as Atlas OS.
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Not to open a separate topic similar to this discussion, what is the recommendation for a Linux distribution?
Necessary for regular online things, so that it does not require complicated file management and without too much need for the maintenance of the system itself.
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We must start from the idea that the security of an operating system is proportional to the care and knowledge of the user who uses the device. so it doesn't matter if a user with little experience uses the latest version of Debian, for example.
--snip--
I get your point, although decent OS could prevent or reduce damage from some of user mistake.
Not to open a separate topic similar to this discussion, what is the recommendation for a Linux distribution?
Necessary for regular online things, so that it does not require complicated file management and without too much need for the maintenance of the system itself.
The common suggestion are Linux Mint and Ubuntu. Both are popular, have been around for long time and comes with very common application. Although personally i would recommend Linux Mint.
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We must start from the idea that the security of an operating system is proportional to the care and knowledge of the user who uses the device. so it doesn't matter if a user with little experience uses the latest version of Debian, for example. I have been using Linux and BSD for more than 20 years and I have always been able to verify that the user is responsible for the failure 99% of the time. Non-technical users will logically use some version of Windows, since it is the most widespread operating system, that is neither good nor bad, it just depends on the user's knowledge.
I fully agree with this.
Most of the security problems today are related to phising. Health internet habits, such as looking at the URL in a link before clicking, or just trying to google about the website before doing anything serious, would prevent 99% of the scams security problems.,
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I get your point, although decent OS could prevent or reduce damage from some of user mistake.
There are several operating systems and distributions that make things as easy as possible, but unfortunately it is never enough.
I fully agree with this.
Most of the security problems today are related to phising. Health internet habits, such as looking at the URL in a link before clicking, or just trying to google about the website before doing anything serious, would prevent 99% of the scams security problems.,
Correct, as I said, there are systems that have many details to protect the information and the user, but these operating systems are a minority and the number of downloads and installations does not influence whether security covers large percentages. As long as security is not sought by the user (something that we know happens to a maximum of 7% of market users) things will remain the same regardless of the devices used.
As I always say (and will continue to say) without education and knowledge we will never achieve anything worthwhile. We can't expect developers to do everything for us.
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I will never use apple products because I like to be able to customize my setup and have more flexibility over my softwares.
I wouldn't use any chrome book or chrome os neither, mainly for privacy reasons and customization freedom
I like to use windows. I love windows 11.
Windows subsystem Linux (wsl) is just amazing imo. You can have an Ubuntu just under your windows. I am very happy with it. It fills all my needs.
I didn't know about this, but I've kind of heard about it.
Regarding the OP, most non-technical users will prefer to use their wallets in Windows environments for a few reasons: it's the most widespread system in the world, even though it's the least secure for crypto, and it's the one with the most support in terms of wallet development.
I had to learn how to use Linux a little to use my wallets more securely, so I stepped out of my comfort zone a little to get more security.
As for macOS, I can't give an opinion, because I haven't had it yet.
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-snip-
-snip-
I had to learn how to use Linux a little to use my wallets more securely, so I stepped out of my comfort zone a little to get more security.
Linux can be more flexible, mainly since most distros can be run via a USB flash drive without needing to be fully installed on a PC if you are new to it and are still looking for a Linux distro that suits your needs.
One that is quite popular and, by default, supports Bitcoin wallets is Tails OS.
https://electrum.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tails.html
However, if it is used regularly, I tend to choose to install it on a PC because the device can be used more optimally.
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Your choice is expected. But what do you think about Mac OS? Would you find using it too challenging?
Do you want to buy a Mac OS for security reasons?
I don't think it is worth it... I think just using a HW is enough, and windows is secure enough if you have healthy online habits. Just keep away from darknet, cracked software, porn, etc...
Whenever someone asks a question, which wallet is the best, which software should we use, you guys (not you specifically but everyone) would suggest a good open source one. But when it comes to an operating software which is the the backbone of all, some of you prefer or suggest MacOS...but I can't understand why!
Btw, macOS is closed source (I assume you understood my sarcasm). I won't buy an Apple device nor I can buy one, since I'm poor lol..Also,I wouldn't entrust my everything to an closed source software especially when it's financially related. But if want productivity just go for any M variant MacBook. I prefer Linux based anything over everything, for the freedom they provide. :)
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Your choice is expected. But what do you think about Mac OS? Would you find using it too challenging?
Do you want to buy a Mac OS for security reasons?
I don't think it is worth it... I think just using a HW is enough, and windows is secure enough if you have healthy online habits. Just keep away from darknet, cracked software, porn, etc...
Whenever someone asks a question, which wallet is the best, which software should we use, you guys (not you specifically but everyone) would suggest a good open source one. But when it comes to an operating software which is the the backbone of all, some of you prefer or suggest MacOS...but I can't understand why!
Btw, macOS is closed source (I assume you understood my sarcasm). I won't buy an Apple device nor I can buy one, since I'm poor lol..Also,I wouldn't entrust my everything to an closed source software especially when it's financially related. But if want productivity just go for any M variant MacBook. I prefer Linux based anything over everything, for the freedom they provide. :)
I think open source software is an amazing practice.
But, there are many very secure software and hardware which aren't open source.
Mac and windows are closed source and they are pretty safe and efficient.
You don't have to use Linux to hold your coins safely.
Also, ledger is closed source and it is probably the most secure way to store crypto. It is closed source, but secure.
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Whenever someone asks a question, which wallet is the best, which software should we use, you guys (not you specifically but everyone) would suggest a good open source one. But when it comes to an operating software which is the the backbone of all, some of you prefer or suggest MacOS...but I can't understand why!
Btw, macOS is closed source (I assume you understood my sarcasm). I won't buy an Apple device nor I can buy one, since I'm poor lol..Also,I wouldn't entrust my everything to an closed source software especially when it's financially related. But if want productivity just go for any M variant MacBook. I prefer Linux based anything over everything, for the freedom they provide. :)
This thread specifically talks about OS for non-technical user, so it's not surprising some people mention/suggest closed-source OS. It just shows that Linux still seen as less user-friendly option. And it doesn't help that most device still comes with Windows.
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I find Windows operating system to be the most simple and user friendly. Because of which I always feel comfortable using windows for any task. I'm not a hacker and I don't practice hacking so I'm not interested in using Linux in that case. The Windows operating system performs well for all the tasks I do. So I think Windows is good enough for everything. Especially in terms of browsing, popular browsers like Chrome Mozilla Firefox can be run very well in Windows operating system. Also all types of applications are available for Windows and are easily available at low costing
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I'm not a hacker and I don't practice hacking so I'm not interested in using Linux in that case.
I'm not blaming or insulting you, but i'm sure it's not common reason to use Linux. Usually it's used to run server, heavy computation, scientific work, programming or playing video game (Steam Deck start this trend).
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I find Windows operating system to be the most simple and user friendly. Because of which I always feel comfortable using windows for any task. I'm not a hacker and I don't practice hacking so I'm not interested in using Linux in that case. The Windows operating system performs well for all the tasks I do. So I think Windows is good enough for everything. Especially in terms of browsing, popular browsers like Chrome Mozilla Firefox can be run very well in Windows operating system. Also all types of applications are available for Windows and are easily available at low costing
I use Windows, but I don't trust my bitcoin wallets to it unless I'm connected to a hardware wallet, because Windows, in addition to being the most targeted OS in the world, is the most susceptible to hacker attacks and Windows isn't open source.
I prefer to keep my funds in a Linux distro, as I've done for years. Other than that, 2indows is excellent and I really like it for basic computer functions, spreadsheets, internet access, etc.
However, when using Linux, it's necessary to have at least basic knowledge of web security and good security practices such as: checking software gpg signatures, if the purpose of the environment is more focused on bitcoin wallet operations, only install software related to it; avoid downloading unknown files from the internet, even though the chances of containing malware are lower than on Windows, we have to accept the fact that there are still possibilities of infection, even if they are minimal.
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I'm not a hacker and I don't practice hacking so I'm not interested in using Linux in that case.
I'm not blaming or insulting you, but i'm sure it's not common reason to use Linux. Usually it's used to run server, heavy computation, scientific work, programming or playing video game (Steam Deck start this trend).
Yes, it was initially designed to be run by server. But I think it's not for everyone that's why we have Windows OS. I used them, actually I have switch from Windows to Mac from time to time.
But currently, I'm into Windows as my Macbook is broken already and the new one that I bought, I gifted it to my daughter. So I guess for non technical person Windows might be a good start. Although you really need to be at least know the basics, like AV and how to practice safety hygiene so that you will not be affected by malwares.
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Yes, it was initially designed to be run by server. But I think it's not for everyone that's why we have Windows OS. I used them, actually I have switch from Windows to Mac from time to time.
But currently, I'm into Windows as my Macbook is broken already and the new one that I bought, I gifted it to my daughter. So I guess for non technical person Windows might be a good start. Although you really need to be at least know the basics, like AV and how to practice safety hygiene so that you will not be affected by malwares.
I start from the principle that antivirus doesn’t help much. Most trojans go unnoticed by paid AVs, and the ones they do detect are often false positives, unnecessarily putting the user on high alert. I've been using Windows without an antivirus for almost 6 years. Just Microsoft Defender, which is enabled by default and works very well.
If you follow good security habits, as I mentioned in my previous post, you don’t even need to pay an AV.
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Yes, it was initially designed to be run by server. But I think it's not for everyone that's why we have Windows OS. I used them, actually I have switch from Windows to Mac from time to time.
But currently, I'm into Windows as my Macbook is broken already and the new one that I bought, I gifted it to my daughter. So I guess for non technical person Windows might be a good start. Although you really need to be at least know the basics, like AV and how to practice safety hygiene so that you will not be affected by malwares.
I start from the principle that antivirus doesn’t help much. Most trojans go unnoticed by paid AVs, and the ones they do detect are often false positives, unnecessarily putting the user on high alert. I've been using Windows without an antivirus for almost 6 years. Just Microsoft Defender, which is enabled by default and works very well.
If you follow good security habits, as I mentioned in my previous post, you don’t even need to pay an AV.
I agree, Microsoft Defender usually is good enough. Besides, some anti-virus/anti-malware have shady reputation or even caught stealing and selling user data. For example, Avast and AVG collect and sell your browsing history: What you need to know (https://www.tomsguide.com/news/avast-avg-data-collection).
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I'm not a hacker and I don't practice hacking so I'm not interested in using Linux in that case.
I'm not blaming or insulting you, but i'm sure it's not common reason to use Linux. Usually it's used to run server, heavy computation, scientific work, programming or playing video game (Steam Deck start this trend).
I use Linux a lot for programming
It is much more complicated in windows, and I just gave up programming in windows ..
I have an Ubuntu in the same machine which I use to run all works
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playing video game (Steam Deck start this trend).
I'm really interested in buying one as a portable computer. Sadly, some of my games don't support Proton/Linux and will activate the anti-cheat based on the latest updates. It's not really a big deal since I'm not planning to manage crypto with it, but it would be awesome if I could ditch Windows completely and run all my devices in one ecosystem. I guess I can try to dual-boot Windows on it, but it feels like a hassle. Hopefully, it will get even more widespread adoption in the future, so there will be no need for that.
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playing video game (Steam Deck start this trend).
I'm really interested in buying one as a portable computer. Sadly, some of my games don't support Proton/Linux and will activate the anti-cheat based on the latest updates. It's not really a big deal since I'm not planning to manage crypto with it, but it would be awesome if I could ditch Windows completely and run all my devices in one ecosystem. I guess I can try to dual-boot Windows on it, but it feels like a hassle. Hopefully, it will get even more widespread adoption in the future, so there will be no need for that.
Arent those anti-cheat very invasive, since it have full access to your computer with serious privacy and security implication? Anyone who take privacy and security seriously should avoid such game anyway.
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Nowadays, I don't trust installing a wallet like Bitcoin Core, Electrum, Sparrow, etc. with a reasonable amount of funds on a Windows device, unless I'm using a hardware wallet where the keys are isolated on the device. I don't like the idea of having a wallet on a system that constantly collects user metadata (https://www.techradar.com/news/is-windows-11-spying-on-you-new-report-details-eye-opening-levels-of-telemetry), even if the Windows system is good for all other tasks.
In the end, Linux is a good environment for holding reasonable amounts of BTC, as there is still a risk of malware or human error. The ideal environment to keep BTC is in a hardware wallet with an air-gapped approach or an offline computer for this purpose only.
Since I don't install games on my PC, nor pirated software, the risk is even lower, I usually only play on the console.
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Nowadays, I don't trust installing a wallet like Bitcoin Core, Electrum, Sparrow, etc. with a reasonable amount of funds on a Windows device, unless I'm using a hardware wallet where the keys are isolated on the device. I don't like the idea of having a wallet on a system that constantly collects user metadata (https://www.techradar.com/news/is-windows-11-spying-on-you-new-report-details-eye-opening-levels-of-telemetry), even if the Windows system is good for all other tasks.
In the end, Linux is a good environment for holding reasonable amounts of BTC, as there is still a risk of malware or human error. The ideal environment to keep BTC is in a hardware wallet with an air-gapped approach or an offline computer for this purpose only.
Since I don't install games on my PC, nor pirated software, the risk is even lower, I usually only play on the console.
A few years ago I used to install a lot of things on my PC, I loved trying out new software, I always had a lot of games, media converters, download managers etc, but after I got to know cryptos I became paranoid about it
Nowadays I'm very selective when it comes to installing something, I do a lot of research to see if it's safe or not, I test any installable software on virustotal.com and even anti-virus software that I didn't use, I started using a paid one
You can't be too careful
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A few years ago I used to install a lot of things on my PC, I loved trying out new software, I always had a lot of games, media converters, download managers etc, but after I got to know cryptos I became paranoid about it
Nowadays I'm very selective when it comes to installing something, I do a lot of research to see if it's safe or not, I test any installable software on virustotal.com and even anti-virus software that I didn't use, I started using a paid one
You can't be too careful
To achieve this, it is best to use separate computers, and most importantly, to do so on separate networks, otherwise we would only temporarily avoid a potential catastrophe. I only have two machines at home now, and I've had Linux installed on both for several years (I don't have time for Quake or Doom anymore :-\), but they're on the same network. It's safer not to have different operating systems on the same network.
I understand what you're saying about paranoia when it comes to security, but even if we become paranoid, we can make a mistake at any time that could cost us dearly.
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A few years ago I used to install a lot of things on my PC, I loved trying out new software, I always had a lot of games, media converters, download managers etc, but after I got to know cryptos I became paranoid about it
Nowadays I'm very selective when it comes to installing something, I do a lot of research to see if it's safe or not, I test any installable software on virustotal.com and even anti-virus software that I didn't use, I started using a paid one
You can't be too careful
To achieve this, it is best to use separate computers, and most importantly, to do so on separate networks, otherwise we would only temporarily avoid a potential catastrophe. I only have two machines at home now, and I've had Linux installed on both for several years (I don't have time for Quake or Doom anymore :-\), but they're on the same network. It's safer not to have different operating systems on the same network.
I understand what you're saying about paranoia when it comes to security, but even if we become paranoid, we can make a mistake at any time that could cost us dearly.
I have two PCs, and the ideal would be to have one with nothing related to crypto, and the other just to deal with crypto, but I can't be that organized and besides I still use a lot of protocols, DeFi etc, so on the 2 PCs I have something related to crypto, wallets etc.
The idea of having 2 networks would also be more secure, but I can't at the moment, there are few people who have 2 networks at home
Just having a hardwallet is much more safe, at least your wallet is safe, as long as you didn't interact with malicious contract
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A few years ago I used to install a lot of things on my PC, I loved trying out new software, I always had a lot of games, media converters, download managers etc, but after I got to know cryptos I became paranoid about it
Nowadays I'm very selective when it comes to installing something, I do a lot of research to see if it's safe or not, I test any installable software on virustotal.com and even anti-virus software that I didn't use, I started using a paid one
You can't be too careful
I also used to be fanatic about softwares and games back in the day, if something goes haywire you just format the pc, but I don't have same passion anymore. I also purchase apps/videos games these days which I would have found absurd back in the day.
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I have two PCs, and the ideal would be to have one with nothing related to crypto, and the other just to deal with crypto, but I can't be that organized and besides I still use a lot of protocols, DeFi etc, so on the 2 PCs I have something related to crypto, wallets etc.
The idea of having 2 networks would also be more secure, but I can't at the moment, there are few people who have 2 networks at home
Just having a hardwallet is much more safe, at least your wallet is safe, as long as you didn't interact with malicious contract
Well, having two networks isn't that complicated either, although it depends a lot on the internet provider. But it's ideal for keeping everything separate and avoiding the risk of sniffers and hacking attempts on routers.
Regarding what you said about hardware wallets, I partially agree. What can happen if we connect our hardware wallet to a device?. The consequences could be disastrous, which is why I say that differentiating traffic between different networks can help us improve security a little more.
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Well, having two networks isn't that complicated either, although it depends a lot on the internet provider. But it's ideal for keeping everything separate and avoiding the risk of sniffers and hacking attempts on routers.
Regarding what you said about hardware wallets, I partially agree. What can happen if we connect our hardware wallet to a device?. The consequences could be disastrous, which is why I say that differentiating traffic between different networks can help us improve security a little more.
This is the best feature of hardwallets
Even if you connect it to an infected device, seed and private key will not be compromised, because it will be offline, without the device or the virus being able to access it
That's why having a hardwallet is so recommended
But you still have to be careful because there are viruses that make you copy an address from a wallet, and when you paste it, the hacker's address appears
Or you could sign a malicious contract that could drain your funds.
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In the end, Linux is a good environment for holding reasonable amounts of BTC, as there is still a risk of malware or human error. The ideal environment to keep BTC is in a hardware wallet with an air-gapped approach or an offline computer for this purpose only.
I understand that this makes sense theoretically.
But there are so many attacks targeting crypto nowadays... I just wouldn't feel safe holding my coins in a computer.
And hardware wallets are so cheap nowadays
Not having one is not worth the risk
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But there are so many attacks targeting crypto nowadays... I just wouldn't feel safe holding my coins in a computer.
And hardware wallets are so cheap nowadays
Not having one is not worth the risk
True, no matter how careful we are with our desktop OS environment, there will always be that doubt, wondering if there was some carelessness. My biggest fear is having spyware on my computer.
A hardware wallet mitigates this. The only thing that could leak is the public keys, but attackers won't be able to get anything from that, except perhaps associating it with our IP and targeting more personalized attacks. However, the private key will always remain isolated inside the signing device.
But you still have to be careful because there are viruses that make you copy an address from a wallet, and when you paste it, the hacker's address appears
Or you could sign a malicious contract that could drain your funds.
That's true, I was forgetting this very important detail, even if malware can't access the private keys/seed from a hardware wallet, it still has access to the clipboard and can change the destination address, resulting in losses. The victim doesn’t even notice. That's why it's important to at least double-check the first and last 4 characters of a crypto address.
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But you still have to be careful because there are viruses that make you copy an address from a wallet, and when you paste it, the hacker's address appears
Or you could sign a malicious contract that could drain your funds.
That's true, I was forgetting this very important detail, even if malware can't access the private keys/seed from a hardware wallet, it still has access to the clipboard and can change the destination address, resulting in losses. The victim doesn’t even notice. That's why it's important to at least double-check the first and last 4 characters of a crypto address.
Yeah, but it is possible to protect yourself in such situations just by double checking the address in your ledger/trezor device before confirming.
Sadly, this kind of attack was the one responsible for stealing billions of ETH from bybit hack. More details here
https://www.certik.com/resources/blog/3wI26AFKF1UtSDjJEXNEDM-bybit-incident-technical-analysis
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Answering based on the topic created anyone who is non-technically inclined in cryptocurrency will want to use an operating system that is completely user friendly (that is not also technical). I haven't used other operating system much, because it is not too valuable in my area, though, in field of specialization is quite okay to get hands into other OS, so that one will not be a novice when other OS are called upon. For my crypto related activities, I make use of Windows OS, while when it comes to trading, buying and selling, I make use of my mobile device, as it is handy and it has been my mostly used in the crypto community.
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But you still have to be careful because there are viruses that make you copy an address from a wallet, and when you paste it, the hacker's address appears
Or you could sign a malicious contract that could drain your funds.
That's true, I was forgetting this very important detail, even if malware can't access the private keys/seed from a hardware wallet, it still has access to the clipboard and can change the destination address, resulting in losses. The victim doesn’t even notice. That's why it's important to at least double-check the first and last 4 characters of a crypto address.
I don't remember where I saw it, the news is a bit old, but there was a “hack”, where the hackers had a lot of wallet addresses, and there was a good chance that you would copy and paste and the fake address would look a bit like yours
For example, yours starts with 0x12345
The hacker's could be something like 0x12435
Anyway, he could get the beginning or the end to be similar and it could be easier to confuse the user
I'm paranoid and I end up checking the whole address when I do some higher-value tx.
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I don't remember where I saw it, the news is a bit old, but there was a “hack”, where the hackers had a lot of wallet addresses, and there was a good chance that you would copy and paste and the fake address would look a bit like yours
Are you referring to an address poisoning attack? I'm sure people still do that nowadays. I don't think choosing an OS would help that much to avoid them, though, since they target any address with some balances instead, CMIIW.
Btw, anyone familiar with Win 11 debloat script like this one[1]? I'm not sure if it has been mentioned before, but I'm wondering if running that can help a newbie use Windows to manage their crypto slightly better.
[1] https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat
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I don't remember where I saw it, the news is a bit old, but there was a “hack”, where the hackers had a lot of wallet addresses, and there was a good chance that you would copy and paste and the fake address would look a bit like yours
Are you referring to an address poisoning attack? I'm sure people still do that nowadays. I don't think choosing an OS would help that much to avoid them, though, since they target any address with some balances instead, CMIIW.
You're right. Choosing wallet and block explorer which shows full Bitcoin address (not just first few and last character) are more effective option, assuming you check what you copy-paste.
Btw, anyone familiar with Win 11 debloat script like this one[1]? I'm not sure if it has been mentioned before, but I'm wondering if running that can help a newbie use Windows to manage their crypto slightly better.
[1] https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat
I never use it, but there are some script or software aims to harden windows such as this one https://github.com/HotCakeX/Harden-Windows-Security (https://github.com/HotCakeX/Harden-Windows-Security).
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I see, I tried to use it on one of my devices, and it works fine so far. Reading reviews on social media, I noticed that the reception is generally mixed for scripts like that. Then again, most newbies probably don't want to run a script like that to begin with. I'll try and use it to see if it breaks Windows whenever it receives an update or something.
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Then again, most newbies probably don't want to run a script like that to begin with. I'll try and use it to see if it breaks Windows whenever it receives an update or something.
Newbies shouldn't even run scripts of any kind, because they can make great damage to your system.
Unless the person understand at least very basic coding, nobody should run scripts at all. You need to read the script and have a small understanding about it before running anything,