Discussion Is anybody using "Tails" OS there or "Electrum" wallet?

[faust]

Hello, we all know that privacy is an important thing in our daily life.
However, is anybody actually using this OS and a wallet?
If yes, what is your experience using them?
And if no, what are your preferred wallets and/or OS?

 

[Yomyom]

I used mycelium wallet, it was easy for me to use, about the privacy I don't know.
I think there commission is too high, so it's not so much good

 

[faust]

I used mycelium wallet, it was easy for me to use, about the privacy I don't know.
I think there commission is too high, so it's not so much good

Is commission around 5 USD?

 

[Yomyom]

Is commission around 5 USD?

I didn't check, but I bought couple of times 300$ in Bitcoin and most of the time I got around 280$
One time when I bought in around 600$ I got only around 560$

On the other side, it could be the website I bought from, I didn't check that
I bought from simplex

 

[faust]

I didn't check, but I bought couple of times 300$ in Bitcoin and most of the time I got around 280$
One time when I bought in around 500$ I got only around 560$

On the other side, it could be the website I bought from, I didn't check that
I bought from simplex

Btw on 12th March was a huge BTC fall, still very low price. I remember a few years ago you could buy BTC and a month after all your expenditures are covered and some profit on top. I guess that is the reason why the commission is still so high. Too volatile.

 

[Yomyom]

Btw on 12th March was a huge BTC fall, still very low price. I remember a few years ago you could buy BTC and a month after all your expenditures are covered and some profit on top. I guess that is the reason why the commission is still so high. Too volatile.

I checked again my account
A month ago I had left around 20$ now I have 10$
Theres something crazy there

 

[faust]

I checked again my account
A month ago I had left around 20$ now I have 10$
Theres something crazy there

BTC is 5,38k now, was around 10 grand before

 

[enjolras]

None. For crypto related transactions requiring strict anonymity, I dedicate an old robust Android mobile phone bought specifically, on which LineageOS is installed, which is a custom ROM, security driven, stripped down from Google services sneaking your activity, that can be customized further from raw layer
On top is installed Monerujo, the leading Monero wallet app for Android, which has the service xmr.to integrated into, to support outgoing BTC payments, just in case
With this device, I pay attention to never connect to the internet from home but only on the go via hotspot WiFis, behind double looped VPN, to stay protected from technical failure

I had found a provider of cryptos in the UK, which I had initially met on LocalBitcoins before it required verification. He gave his personal email and address where I could send cash by mail within Europe (cross border). Never been cheated, always was delivered promptly despite several hundreds sent, sometimes above a thousand worth of notes at once (I'd use carbon paper inside an enveloppe to block X-rays - also paid for N this way, except layered inside a book cover for extra insurance)
The premium is then above market price (was 11%) but well worth it to not leave any trail of identification behind and be (almost tbh) entirely confident I can never be traced back. He stopped his money business (illegal activity that normally requires a licence), which is common.
Since then, I'm using a small local IT shop "desk" that legally sells coupons (codes on paper, whose value to retrieve before an expiry date, also cool because it's independant from market fluctuations until claimed), giving as much privacy as the best Bitcoin ATM, not requesting any ID below x hundreds € per week, even cheaper (8% fees).

If you find a way to get XMR (Monero) directly like I did, not involving Bitcoin, not only the obfuscation will be optimised, also not risking manipulation errors, it will really be a lot less of a hassle, without unnecessary trading and transaction (sending over) steps, spread over multiple services online. Personally, I don't get to register on any website, handling away zero documents, and I have only 1 software installed that does it all.
For novices, it mostly requires only the initial accessible setup (if you don't have a computer to install the custom OS via USB, it's something you can pay for at a phone shop, or ask a friend)

 

[enjolras]

Actually, buying with Bitcoin *can* not involve any phase of personal ownership, and be perfectly safer regarding stealth than otherwise. The usage of technology via any device (phone, computer) is unneeded.

Via coupons (for instance but not a monopoly), which is a concept developing widespread (in Europe there are now hundreds of selling points everywhere) just give up the asset bearing property to another entity unlinked to yourself.
Purchase the payment service and stay always out of the loop. No different than walking into a Western Union office but without the paperwork / identification trail. It requires 2 foot, some bill notes, human interaction, sending the paper code by encrypted email to the receiver and that's it. Bitcoin simplier than simple for real dummies.

Same could be said when purchasing crypto on the street or remotely towards a real person, not a corporate (exchange). Pay whatever the mean (does not have to be financial, it could also be against a service given, or a material trade), give the end seller's address directly instead of yours. End of the story. Though, that's not very nice for the person you "use" (some will be money laundering already, some will be clean), better introduce Monero or another solid privacy coins (Zcoin, Horizen, etc) than pass through Bitcoin

Conclusion, you can get away with cryptos, without any knowledge of handling cryptos... MAGIC
It's more secure, but not mandatory, to involve/request the same privacy coin towards all parties by educating them (you stay unreachable), so THEY can protect themselves against investigation, avoid being applied stricter rules (i.e. at the moment coupon shops still apply loose controls often) or being shut down (for criminals)




If you're in southern Europe, you can contact me via PM