Nostr Web Client

Privacy on chain

If you use electrum public servers, the server will know your ip and all your balances.

If you use electrum servers over tor, the server will know that certain addresses belong to a single entity.

If you do either of these two things you ruin your privacy and your coinjoins.

You have only two options, either you use your own Bitcoin node to check your balances via RPC or with your own electrum server connected to your Bitcoin node.

Or you use Wasabi which offers block filtering through BIP158.

If you use hardware wallets never use the manufacturer's software if it does not allow you to connect to your node, use sparrow connected to your own node, trezor suite connected to your own node, green wallet connected to your own node or wasabi (the latter can also be connected to your own node but is not necessary because of the block filters).

Be aware that three-letter agencies have public electrum servers to collect data or may even have compromised public servers of companies like blockstream.

Take care of your privacy.

Constantin 1y ago

Ok, folks, here I go again with #asknostr

I see all kinds of posts like this and I'm getting more confused by the day. I can't run my own node, I don't even have a computer. I already said it a few times, I am your proverbial normie, my gateway to the internet is a Samsung worth €120 when new. I buy Bitcoin for 10 - 20 Euro about 2 times a week, through the Lightning Network, with no KYC, from public ATMs. I really thought that I was careful, from my point of view, but posts like this worried me a bit. Just in case, I'm also very new. Less than 5 months on Nostr, even less on Bitcoin. Proverbial normie, proverbial blue-collar, etc.

So, do I need to worry? If yes, can you guide me towards an article for morons?

Many thanks in advance!

nostr:note1sx7rjd2q53384k2st0t3cwsr87qhmj2205y500hg4kp2rsffvdpqq8c6rd

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

aivii 1y ago

Are you sure a normie can't get a node up and running under 300 bucks? While it is true what the guy says, it largely depends on your risk profile.

Bitcoin is an uncorruptible public ledger, it is built with supply-audit-design in the heart of it. This requires you to follow certain rules to mitigate possible risk factors. If not, you are trusting someone to be honest. But we try to not place trust; we'd rather, verify.

Dikaios1517 1y ago

It sounds like you are not using on-chain Bitcoin yet, so some of what he mentioned does not apply. Yet, there are other things to consider.

Are you using self custody lightning, or a custodian? Even with self custody, what do your lightning channels look like? Just one channel with an LSP, or a variety of channels with different peers? If a custodian, how much data do they have about you? Are you connecting to them over your bare internet connection,or via a VPN?