Re: Using an offline designated MacBook as an offline wallet in 2019? Is it safe?
I've searched the forums, and the variations of this question are not often specific enough to get a solid answer, so here's my situation and question;
If I have an older MacBook that I no longer use but that works great, and I have it reset to factory specs, then install a wallet on it, and use that computer as a "cold" wallet, with all wifi and wireless settings turned off, and only physically plug the laptop in when going online (20 minutes here and there) and unplugging it... could that be considered safe enough to be a secure place to store BTC or other crypto?
A MacBook and it's settings is something I'm familiar with, have an extra, and like being able to put different kinds of wallets on it.
I'm not talking about connecting to wifi now and then, I'm talking about ONLY plugging in the ethernet cable when going into the wallet and unplugging it when I'm finished. If I have the spare laptop (can't sell it, it has sentimental value but I have a newer, faster one I use daily) would the experienced on here say that's a secure way to store coins?
If I have an older MacBook that I no longer use but that works great, and I have it reset to factory specs, then install a wallet on it, and use that computer as a "cold" wallet, with all wifi and wireless settings turned off, and only physically plug the laptop in when going online (20 minutes here and there) and unplugging it... could that be considered safe enough to be a secure place to store BTC or other crypto?
A MacBook and it's settings is something I'm familiar with, have an extra, and like being able to put different kinds of wallets on it.
I'm not talking about connecting to wifi now and then, I'm talking about ONLY plugging in the ethernet cable when going into the wallet and unplugging it when I'm finished. If I have the spare laptop (can't sell it, it has sentimental value but I have a newer, faster one I use daily) would the experienced on here say that's a secure way to store coins?
You can't call that an "offline" wallet, but you can make it a secure laptop. Then I'd say, sure; because you can remove OSX and put Linux on it
A true offline wallet is something like a piece of paper with your seed words (privatekey) written by hand, and your addresses so you know where to send funds to. By using any online blockchain explorer you can simply verify any transactions done to it.
The day you want to move funds out of it... It becomes "online" because you are installing the wallet software "somewhere" and activating it. This should, ideally be done with a live iso, because YOU WANT everything to disappear afterwards.
So the short answer to your question is: No, you can't.
And yes, believe it or not it is possible to boot USB sticks or optical media from "macs", which is all you need to boot something decent like Linux where you should perform any offline wallet creation, or manipulation.
Even if OSX can better than windows, its by no means secure. Besides Apple loves to drop support to older models, you are better getting rid of it sooner than later when your updates stop coming...