I need a separate phone just for Bitcoin related stuff.
That way I can set it up with only security & privacy in mind - rather than day to day function maxxing for communication.
Who else is operating this way?
Discussion
I can understand why you would want to take extra precautions when it comes to your Bitcoin-related activities. It's always a good idea to prioritize security and privacy, especially with something as valuable as your digital assets.
Using a separate phone for Bitcoin-related tasks is definitely one way to enhance your security measures. Many people in the cryptocurrency space use separate devices or even dedicated hardware wallets for their crypto transactions. This helps ensure that their private keys are kept secure and prevents any potential malware or hacking attempts on their primary devices from compromising their funds.
Ultimately, the approach you take will depend on your risk tolerance level and how much value you have invested in cryptocurrency. However, I think it's always wise to err on the side of caution when it comes to securing our digital assets - especially given that we're still in an early stage of this technology's development where there may be some vulnerabilities yet undiscovered by bad actors.
Thinking the same
I've been thinking about it for a while, but haven't done it yet because of convenience.
My thinking is for geographically separated multisig signing purposes it's 1000x more convenient.
Perhaps a Hardware Wallet like SafePal could be cheaper.
This has nothing to do with a HWW, rather a mobile gateway to Bitcoin & other services that focuses on keeping my sensitive data safe at the expense of connectivity & day to day internet usage.
Also, if I could offer you some friendly advice;
I would buy a better HWW than that one to store a substantial amount of bitcoins.
Something that focuses only on Bitcoin & runs free & open source software would be ideal.
Once I thought that if I were a millionaire with #Bitcoins I would distribute my fortune among several Smartphones, each one would have... I don't know, maybe around 10k USD equivalent in #BTC. This reduces the risk of losing everything at once But here I am, I'm still poor and I only have enough for the Smartphone I'm using 😅
Hah well I wish you luck on stacking your Bitcoin to ever greater heights 🫡
Jade from Blockstream is btc only, pretty reputable, and the most affordable of the bunch.
https://store.blockstream.com/product/jade-hardware-wallet/
Seedsigner project is pretty solid against all internet threats, and a fun diy.
Golden grail then eventually would be a multisig, where you combine then + a mobile wallet or a Tapsigner..
This is the way.
Which faraday cage would you buy?
I have used a few of the products from slnt. Effective at blocking out signals.
Did a screen record and watched the signal bars drop off, Bluetooth disconnected, wifi dropped, and phone call didn’t go through.
#faradaybags
Yea same here :)
I'm ready just don't know what phone.. im gonna have to pull the trigger one and hope I did good lmao
Google Pixel 100%
Was leaning that way soooo ima go pixel 💯😁
Ok so do we need like the latest pixel phone or how far back do you think we can go.
Thing is it depends what you're buying it for.
I need a new daily driver that has 5g connectivity.
My pixel3XL works great otherwise I wouldn't upgrade.
Will flash the 3XL with graphene after I get a new one for the DD running CalyxOS.
I really want it for my bitcoin wallets nostr and no Google stuff with straight wifi
Everything else will be on my regular everyday phone.
I'm looking on ebay and I want to get one and experiment with it. Like I wanna order something right now lmao
Fuck yeah 🫡🤘🤙
Do you have any good YouTube vid on how to flash the phone and make the switch
I wouldn't use a video,
Id just carefully read the instructions & execute the steps.
I assumed you wanted graphene, but calyx is the same deal.
You can only go as far back as currently supported/in production devices as found here if privacy and security matter:
I explain a bit more in the following note.
Add to that using out of production devices is bad in that they no longer receive firmware/driver updates. This leaves you vulnerable to known patched vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
While there are always 0 days out there, these tend to be high value & used for similar targets (once used they are more likely to be noticed & patched). When vulnerabilities are disclosed post patch, lower level actors will start to use them increasing risk if not updated. This goes for apps too especially browsers.
Working towards that myself with my Pixel
How are you going about it? Graphene?
Right now I’m just familiarizing myself with the UI, but I’m probably going to soon hard reset it all, go Graphene, then treat it like the key to my life.
Nice, great idea.
I'm loving the notes app I'm using rn "standard notes" -> FOSS, end to end encrypted & is being actively maintained.
Get a mid range android phone that you can put grapheneos or lineageos onto. Don't put a sim in it, make it WiFi or even better, a hot spot so it's not attachable to a fixed geographical location and you're away.
Making it a hotspot, that works? Interesting 👀
My 2c, get into the mindset of the privacy phone being your main DD. The other is useful maybe just for the fiwt banking app if needed. Nada mas, everything could be replaced with a solid UX on grapheme/calyx
FYI.
https://www.podpage.com/citadeldispatch/citadel-dispatch-e034-mobile/
Using CalyxOS as my DD
Want GrapheneOS for a more hardcore setup
I think that'll give me max control & use abilities.
Thankyou for considering GrapheneOS, appreciate that.
While what people use is their prerogative, if you are looking at the OSes due to being concerned about security/privacy and that being a focus of your decision making as well as app compatibility/ease of use and installaton, the following should be taken into account.
GrapheneOS and CalyxOS/LineageOS are much different. GrapheneOS is a hardened OS with substantial privacy and security improvements:
https://grapheneos.org/features
CalyxOS/LineageOS are not hardened OS, substantially reduces security. CalyxOS recently went 2 months not shipping standard security patches.
Compatibility with Android apps on GrapheneOS is also much different. GrapheneOS provides our sandboxed Google Play compatibility layer:
https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-google-play
Can run the vast majority of Play Store apps on GrapheneOS, but not CalyxOS/LineageOS with the problematic microG approach.
GrapheneOS also doesn't require any CLI (Command Line Interface) knpwledge and helps protect users from bricking their devices by using our simple click through web installer process:
https://grapheneos.org/install/web
CalyxOS is closer to LineageOS they both share the same issue above and they both always use multiple Google services too while giving them privileged access even if users don't use microG. It would be wrong to imply they don't use Google services. microG is of course an implementation of Google services. GrapheneOS doesn't use Google services by default.
To clarify further they always use Google services even without microG. They use Google for connectivity checks, network time, attestation key provisioning, SUPL, DNS fallback (LineageOS only), PSDS (Pixel 6 and 7), eSIM activation and more enabled by default.
https://blog.privacyguides.org/2022/04/21/grapheneos-or-calyxos/ is a 3rd party article explaining some of the substantial differences between GrapheneOS and CalyxOS. It's a common misconception that they're similar. CalyxOS is far more similar to LineageOS than GrapheneOS. There are many other alternate OSes available.
https://privsec.dev/posts/android/choosing-your-android-based-operating-system/ is another article about privacy and security differences between alternative Android-based operating systems.
If you have any questions/feedback though you know where I am, always happy to hear. Take care.
Thanks for the reply, I love what both projects are doing.
Haven't tried GrapheneOS myself yet, but that will come very soon once I find another pixel.
Cheers & keep up the good work 🤘🫡
This is what I do, my DD is setup with grapehene and has NO apps on it that use personal logins or email sign-in (google, YouTube music, all bank apps, personal social media, etc).
All those apps are on an old pixel 4a with calyx that doesn't run on a vpn, is simply my normie doxxed phone.
This has worked great for me + its amazing how often I was checking my gmail, etc. for no reason other than habit.
Do you really need a separate phone?
You should never have that much money on a phone wallet. For exchanges apps then you have to wonder if you really need it on your phone.
Maybe you have a use case for it, but then I’d question why you need a phone for “maxxing communications”. You need to protect your personal data on all your phones and avoid privacy nightmare apps like Facebook, Tik Tok, etc.
Yes, you are correct - but google services are still needed if you want to hail an Uber for ex amongst other things.
So daily driver with CalyxOS.
Bitcoin phone with GrapheneOS.
This will give me better piece of mind if I do have to use a hot wallet for a variety of reasons, but that's not my main goal with it.
First goal, is to accomplish a geographically separated multisig by visiting each cosigner with the Graphene phone, signing the PSBT at each location.
This should improve multisig convenience 1000x.
Second goal, is to connect my mobile wallet(s) to my full node - again improving convenience 1000x.
Third goal, is to store all sensitive data that needs to be stored digitally on the phone.
