Do not use Windows to store your crypto.

[Freemind]

The conclusion would be that in any case, at all costs, we should avoid pirated versions of the OS, but also cracked software - there simply cannot be any compromise if we are people who have anything to do with cryptocurrencies. As a Windows user, I'm not too worried about all the threats that are already known, but I'm much more worried about the possibility that some new dangerous threats will appear that will take advantage of some vulnerability in Windows and do us a lot of damage.

In the near future I plan to buy a new computer, and then I will certainly go in the direction of giving Linux a chance.

Not only the operating system is important (and knowing how to configure it correctly). User errors are always one of the worst points to take into account, download and run software that we don't know, click on the link without first looking where it can take us... These types of errors are very common. But that does not eliminate the operating system's ability to receive attacks, on top of that, Windows, historically speaking, since its inception, has never been the most secure.

Microsoft Vulnerabilities Hit a Record-High.

Microsoft Vulnerabilities Report 2024.

The end user is responsible for everything, as long as the tools at his disposal have sufficient capacity to guarantee the security of the systems.

[bitbit97]

--snip--

It is funny because these keys cost nothing and users can change them easily and cheap. With crypto, that key market only grew. Keys became more available and affordable. People prefer to have limited functions and annoying "active windows" warning message for years, than to spend 5-10 dollars and forget about it. That is a cost of 1 cup of coffee...

I get your point, although "cost of 1 cup of coffee" only applies on some country/place.

I am not a Windows huge fan, but I see that a lot of people are against it. This makes me wonder, when banks operate with huge money and most important other peoples money, why most of banking operators have Windows installed on their working PC. Mostly their software is for Windows. All those managers and those who work with customers, have windows based devices. We, cryptocurrency community, say that Windows is no good if we want to protect our money. But banks used Windows to operate with other peoples money, large amount of money. Dont you find it strange?

Aside from what @NotATether said, i expect their security expert manually configure those windows computer to be more secure. Usually it comes with trade-off, such as slower computer performance or you only can access certain server.

That is right, security experts taught, explained users what they can do on work device and what not, as well as manually configure and monitor everything. That points that the threat goes from users actions, not from attack from outside. It does not matter if they use Windows 7,11 or old XP, Pro-home-student or whatever version of OS they have. User makes first move towards problems.

A friend of mine works for large Scandinavian bank and uses windows laptop for remote work. He has bought it himself, gave it to IT and they installed VPN and some soft to it. That is it. No super protection or whatsoever.

I am just trying to say here, that many live with old experience of Windows, when there were viruses on CD of floppy disks. When people open everything they get from email and click next>next>next during any installation, the causes those awful bars to IE to install. Modern windows user or OS is not a colander or cavemen.

[Mr. Magkaisa]

I am not a Windows huge fan, but I see that a lot of people are against it. This makes me wonder, when banks operate with huge money and most important other peoples money, why most of banking operators have Windows installed on their working PC. Mostly their software is for Windows. All those managers and those who work with customers, have windows based devices. We, cryptocurrency community, say that Windows is no good if we want to protect our money. But banks used Windows to operate with other peoples money, large amount of money. Dont you find it strange?

          -    I know that there is a risk to keeping cryptocurrency on a Windows desktop or laptop because it can be corrupted or hacked. But what if a crypto community doesn't yet have the capability to buy a hardware wallet? And isn't that cautious when it comes to crypto software wallets?

Until now, I still consider myself a newbie because, until now, I'm still using software wallets, but I research them carefully before actually using them because I also don't want the assets I store in a wallet. And if I use a desktop, instead of hiding crypto on the desktop, I hide it on a flash drive or USB for awhile, not just on one USB but on several USBs.

[akeemqaz]

I find it funny when on crypto related forums people discuss pros and cons of unlicensed copies of Windows. I have looked on this forum, but on our neighbor forum we have windows key sellers. <$5 and your windows will be licensed. Add more $5 and you get a key for antivirus license. Nevertheless, licensed copy of Windows or not, it does not matter, as user himself makes security mistakes. Even after buying Mac, users isnt insured against copy/pasting his key on a phishing page.

Hmm... You made some valid points here. I think exposing the private key is the main thing that makes a wallet get compromised. Some also connect their wallets to different sites, and this can make their wallets get hacked or compromised as well. Whether you use a licensed Windows or not, not exposing your private keys or seed phrase matters a lot.

[bitbit97]

I am not a Windows huge fan, but I see that a lot of people are against it. This makes me wonder, when banks operate with huge money and most important other peoples money, why most of banking operators have Windows installed on their working PC. Mostly their software is for Windows. All those managers and those who work with customers, have windows based devices. We, cryptocurrency community, say that Windows is no good if we want to protect our money. But banks used Windows to operate with other peoples money, large amount of money. Dont you find it strange?

          -    I know that there is a risk to keeping cryptocurrency on a Windows desktop or laptop because it can be corrupted or hacked. But what if a crypto community doesn't yet have the capability to buy a hardware wallet? And isn't that cautious when it comes to crypto software wallets?

Until now, I still consider myself a newbie because, until now, I'm still using software wallets, but I research them carefully before actually using them because I also don't want the assets I store in a wallet. And if I use a desktop, instead of hiding crypto on the desktop, I hide it on a flash drive or USB for awhile, not just on one USB but on several USBs.

I would say, if you follow or safety measures, then you would be 99% safe even if you keep your password in a notepad document with name "My passwords" on a desktop. Until you dont connect your widget wallet to every single webpage, until you dont click on unknown links and run unknown files or open attachments from unknown emails - you are safe. You dont do anything stupid, and nobody knows that you have crypto on the wallets, you are free to use anything.

[bitterguy28]

Ever since I entered crypto never that I used Google or any operating system to save my assets instead I only have my exchange wallets or my decentralized wallets to store my coinsbecause this is what my mentor's tough me and strictly ask me to deny using .