Linux isn't really that much more secure than windows, a similar attack could easily be executed against Linux desktops. However, Linux is only used on a small amount of home machines, so malware authors don't bother with it.


The only excuse to not have a cold storage setup is if you have a tiny wallet for daily spendings, everything else is just a stupid risk. And people who want to pirate should get a dedicated device for that, instead of using the same one for both piracy and work or finance.

or better yet, just don't pirate material. go to safe streaming sites if you want to keep malware away from your device.

You can easily just boot up with "Tails" and quickly do your Crypto currency stuff, if you are using Windows as a Operating system. <On the same computer> 

This is actually not something that would simply steal your funds by just downloading the shortcut, but rather a Social engineered method to trick you into believing that you are donating to Wikipedia. <People will only lose the donations and not all their coins in their wallet>

Thanks OP, for the advanced warning. 

Maybe a little safer than windows, but not too safe.

Whatever they find and want to download on the internet, they have given hack hackers into the computer systems we use. better try using a different device for work and for entertainment.

Tails is more crypto friendly as it has integrated with deeponion the privacy focused coin. Good to know about this windows scam, we should check those bitcoin addresses and see how many bitcoins they net

Hey I believe not all can use separate devices for both as not all will have the luxury of extra cash, hence these people are often the soft targets. I believe in a situation like this one should install good antivirus protection, and make sure to daily run the antivirus and if the antivirus says it’s risky leave the file or site instantly. Also it’s pertinent to note that in today’s digital world I would advise to stream online, rather than download files which may be harmful for your system.


This is why I stress on having a good antivirus program installed, most of these now come with search engine tools which shows whether the site is safe or not, also they’ll scan your file and help you be safe. I feel you should consider getting one, and it’s just not non techie guys, remember the recent Electrum wallet scam so many fell for it.

I think Linux is painfully clunky shit and I'd sooner give up computing than have to use that on an every day basis. I don't understand why it has to be so crappy after all these years and I don't care either.

And anyone who says 'yeah, but' is welcome to come and sit on my lap and operate it for me via my voice commands. Until then, sod off.



You can get a fully functioning second hand computer for $40 or less if you're totally unfussy. Obviously that's still a lot of money in some parts of the world. If you're in a bit where it isn't consider it an investment in your own future.

I see so many stories of people getting hacked & having their wallets emptied. It’s sad but these guys really need to educate themselves.

You wouldn’t go out on the town with your wallet open constantly & show people what hou have on you.

Seriously, offline cold storage damn it.

Its not a misunderstanding, but I didn't go into details in regards of the audience. The truth of the matter is that there are far less vectors for infection in Linux/BSDs. For starters windows binaries do nothing there, and people using Linux don't (usually) download binaries from web sites, they use their official repository packages or source compile. There are also several bad habits windows users have that are simply not done in Linux.

Yes, you are not totally safe, but its never on the same level. Some windows users like to pat themselves on that false premise: that the only reason Linux doesn't have as much malware as windows is because its not popular. But you are disregarding the infection vectors, which in Linux are very few and rare, but windows has been in all its history a never-ending security nightmare full of bugs and exploits and many don't even require user intervention.

If your malware ridden windows happens to have been infected with a keylogger or similar, the moment you activate your cold wallet you can kiss your money goodbye. A cold wallet should always be handled from a live iso, like Kakmakr suggests.

So? To each their own. The "UI" of "Linux" doesn't even exist, In Linux you can choose to use from many UIs (including several windows/osx clones) or none at all. You are just too lazy to learn new things, but that's your choice. Don't assume everyone is as lazy as you are. Its everyone's decision to take the advice or ignore it.


In this case they used a "movie" as bait, but it could have been anything like "free game/video player/windows cleaner" whatever. Its something about habits and culture, cultivated by that OS that happens to be "popular" but is also the most dangerous.

For example this case: I GOT HACKED AND LOST 1 MILLION.