Do not use Windows to store your crypto.

[bitbit97]

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.

[Freemind]

I remember i saw this distro long time ago, but it seems it haven't release new version on very long time. So IMO we shouldn't mention it to beginner.

I only talked about that distro as a curiosity within the world of Bitcoin and Linux, at no time have I recommended it. I'll say it in other words. This distro has not received updates for several years, in fact, the last stable version was: Distribution Release: BitKey 14.2.0 - 2017-05-23.

If you read my previous posts in this thread you will see that I always talk about what I do, but I don't tell anyone what decision they should make.

BitKey Linux is not secure since it has been without updates or development for 7 years.

[Baofeng]

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.

Yeah, but I think the point is that Mac OS doesn't have that much of malware, although the numbers are going up as far as cyber criminals creating malwares or trojan for Mac OS, still though if we compare it to Window based wherein the attack could be as high as 80%. Of course no system is 100% safe by this cyber criminals, it's because this group are sophisticated and really good at what they are doing. The only weapon we have it to educate ourselves with how the attacks are being perpetuated, their modus operandi, so that as crypto enthusiast who uses Windows or any OS, we can prevent this kind of attacks and our crypto will be safe.

[bitmover]

Always thought that it does not matter which operation system, antivirus or wallet user uses, because he gets hacked not based on what has chosen, but based on what he did. Even if user has super protection system, one reckless click can change everything. I think it is enough to follow security measurements and be cautious, to safely store crypto. As nobody will hack you unless someone find out you have funds.
~snip~

To a large extent, I share your opinion, because most of the incidents that happen to crypto users have nothing to do with the OS they use, but with the fact that they simply make a wrong move that hackers use to empty their wallet. So let's say a part of crypto users gets "hacked" because they save their backups (seeds/private keys) in e-mail or the cloud or as an ordinary text document on the desktop.

There is no doubt that Windows is the OS that is by far the most exposed to attacks, but even if it is another OS, it still boils down to the fact that it is not recommended to store your cryptocurrencies in desktop/mobile hot wallets. It's simply too much of a risk and that's why hardware wallets exist.

I agree that Linux is safer.  I hate Mac OS or any other Apple stuff  , the costs (price, lack functions, incompatibility) of having them are not worth any possible benefit.

Windows might not be the safer, but it is much better than it was 20 years ago. I am a Windows user since 3.11, and it is much better now.

It is safer, faster, more stable and the WSL (Windows subsystem Linux) is amazing...

As I use a hardware wallet  , I never lost any funds. I also hold some amount of money in metamask for years...

I think the problem is basically bad habits in the internet that most people have...

[ABCbits]

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.

I don't see what's so funny, when i've seen few people do their work/job on non-activated Windows. And while it's true there are many places to buy cheap windows or software key, there's risk the key become invalid if the seller turns out obtain it illegally. You probably want to read this article, https://www.howtogeek.com/392080/cheap-windows-10-keys-do-they-work//

[Lucius]

Yes, I remember your advice, thank you.

But I would like to add here that for an unlicensed Windows system with a watermark, the problem is not only the presence of the watermark, but the main problem is that Windows updates have stopped, especially the Windows Defender update, which will make your device vulnerable to major security risks due to the update stopping.

Therefore, it is better to obtain a license or replace Windows with Linux.

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.

[bitbit97]

Yeah, but I think the point is that Mac OS doesn't have that much of malware, although the numbers are going up as far as cyber criminals creating malwares or trojan for Mac OS, still though if we compare it to Window based wherein the attack could be as high as 80%. Of course no system is 100% safe by this cyber criminals, it's because this group are sophisticated and really good at what they are doing. The only weapon we have it to educate ourselves with how the attacks are being perpetuated, their modus operandi, so that as crypto enthusiast who uses Windows or any OS, we can prevent this kind of attacks and our crypto will be safe.

That malware can do nothing if user did not run it first himself. I have never seen when when a malware or trojan downloads and run himself, after user only turns on his device. It is user who always makes a first step. From reading this topic, user can believe that if he buys a none-windows device, he will be 100% safe. From my own experience - I have MacOs at home and in the office. Still someone managed to steal from my ETH wallet. How this happened? I dont know. Doubt that I caught a keylogger and someone accessed my wallet.

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.

I don't see what's so funny, when i've seen few people do their work/job on non-activated Windows. And while it's true there are many places to buy cheap windows or software key, there's risk the key become invalid if the seller turns out obtain it illegally. You probably want to read this article, https://www.howtogeek.com/392080/cheap-windows-10-keys-do-they-work//

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...

[milewilda]

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.

As for having that windows license key or not then it would really be somewhat that understandable that having those non activated might be having that security issues but of course theres no proof that it could really be able to compromise on whatever files you do have stored on a non activated windows machine. It would really be having that limited features but of course
when it comes to security of your own wallet or those private keys would really be that still depending on you. Also, its true that it is really that already cheap if we do speak about
license keys on which i have been able to purchase one online too.

[dkbit98]

I would also add not to use wind0ws for anything, unless you are forced to use it on your work place.
There is no good reason why anyone would install bitcoin wallets on windows computer and expect don't to be attacked by some malware in future.
Linux OS works better and if you have older computer it should be much faster with good Linux distro.
Most Bitcoin wallets work great with Linux and you can customize it anyway you want.

[NotATether]

I would also add not to use wind0ws for anything, unless you are forced to use it on your work place.
There is no good reason why anyone would install bitcoin wallets on windows computer and expect don't to be attacked by some malware in future.
Linux OS works better and if you have older computer it should be much faster with good Linux distro.
Most Bitcoin wallets work great with Linux and you can customize it anyway you want.

Linux is better with pretty much every computer except for the ones that have shiny new firmware for which there are no open-source Linux drivers for it, yet.

The workplace continues to be dominated by Windows. But I strongly suspect that many of them don't actually need to be using that. Only the businesses that still use Outlook, Exchange, Active Directory, and all that legacy crap are stuck with it.

[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?

[NotATether]

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?

Because the banks never upgrade their software.

They are not even using a new version of Windows. Many use using Windows 7, XP, or even really ancient dinosaur versions made in the past century. Oh and that is without mentioning COBOL and the IBM mainframes.

Their reasoning is that if they upgrade the risk of transactions failing will be way too big. Which makes no sense at all.

This is exactly the kind of corporation that Elon should've barged into and change everything, not social media.

[ABCbits]

--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.

[NotATether]

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.

Here is something else I didn't write - the big businesses are not using the "Home" or even the "Pro" versions of Windows, which are full of ads and spyware and other sorts of junk. They use an enterprise version of Windows without all the bloat. And then they usually do a bunch of Group Policies and buy an external firewall/AV to lock down their systems and networks.

Microsoft knows that it is going to lose the enterprise market if those customers get pissed off at the end-user UX, that's why they give them a more bearable (and expensive!) edition of Windows to use.

[dkbit98]

Linux is better with pretty much every computer except for the ones that have shiny new firmware for which there are no open-source Linux drivers for it, yet.

There can be some issues with brand new laptops and drivers for new components, but this usually gets reported and updated quickly for major linux distros.
On the other side you can expect to have constant bugs and problems on wind0ws, you need to pay to use it and they will 100% spy everything you do.