Ok, here is another version. itsIt's not perfect or detailed and it will probably need some additional research.
- Get an old Computercomputer (and seal its Ethernet port with duckduct tape, – this computer will not touch the internetInternet again)
- Get several fresh USB Stickssticks
- Wipe the old computer and the USB sticks (you can use something like DBAN to wipe everything together)
- Remove Wi-Fi/Bluetooth cards of your old computer if possible, if. If not possible, deactivate them in biosthe BIOS.
- Get some bootable liveOS, youlive OS. You can use Ubuntu itself, but more or less anything goes. (checkCheck the PGP signature, so uyou know what you downloaded is correct.)
- Download Monero, all. All you need is monero-wallet-cli
monero-wallet-cli
. Put that on a stick, too. (Check the PGP signature, so uyou know what you downloaded is correct.)
- Now boot youyour old computer with the LiveOSlive OS (only with monitor, keyboard and mouse attached). You can also install the OS, depends on your level of paranoia/convenience.
- Copy monero-wallet-cli
monero-wallet-cli
to your old computer. If you run a liveOSlive OS, the locations you have to copy the executable to might differ (googleGoogle is your friend). Also how to mount the USB stick might need some research. - In case it doesntdoesn't work, install the OS. Since it won’twon't "phone home", this is ok too.
- Now run monero-wallet-cli
monero-wallet-cli
. It will create you a fresh wallet. If you intend to save it digitally too (as a .keys.keys
file), give it a proper password when asked.
VoilaVoilà, you have created your complete secure cold wallet. But wait, it’sit's not done yet.
Now thisthese steps are very important. You have different data to save now. Since most of the data is not allowed to ever touch a computer connected to the internetInternet again, I would use at least 2two different USB sticks here.
Check your address in monero-wallet-cli
monero-wallet-cli
(use command addressaddress
). This is youyour public address and it is allowed to touch the internet. Copy it to a textfile on USB 1.Now check your seed with command seed
seed
. You should save it as a textfiletext file on USB 2, but also have to note it down by hand several times. This is all you need to restore your account after all. makeMake sure the words are correct and that the number/sequence is right, too.In the folder where you ran monero-wallet-cli
monero-wallet-cli
, 3three files got created. copyCopy the .keys.keys
file to USB 2.Optionally, you can also save your view key (maybe put it on another USB, so you can decide later how and when it touches another computer)
It is also wise to note down the seed down together with the monero-wallet-cli
monero-wallet-cli
version. You can check it with./monero-wallet-cli --version
./monero-wallet-cli --version
The process is now basically finishfinished. Of course there is lots of variance. You can go with a paper wallet only, by just not doing USB 2 and just keeping the handwritten seed as the only backup. USB 2 should only touch offline computers. Turn off your computer, wipe it again if it was not a liveOSlive OS, and keep your seed and USB 2 savesafe.
Please do practice the creating and restorerestoring process before sending any meaningful amount to such a cold wallet