<p>The best way currently, that is still easy to access are hardware wallets. The two most famous retailers are:</p>

<p>Trezor:
<a href="https://buytrezor.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://buytrezor.com/</a></p>

<p>Ledger:
<a href="https://www.ledgerwallet.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.ledgerwallet.com/</a></p>

<p>A hardware wallet is dedicated hardware with a defined interface that makes it impossible to extract the private key from the hardware. The interface does however allow signing of transactions. This means that the hardware wallet can safely be plugged into hardware infected with malware.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-29T14:25:39.007Z
Thanks. But digital products don't meet "robustness".
Urso
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-29T16:42:43.397Z
I should maybe add that when creating the private key on the hardware wallets I linked to, they present a 24 word seed on a dedicated screen. These 24 words represents the base private key and the chain code. 

This means that you can backup the wallet by storing these 24 words in  method of your liking, that you find robust enough. A common recommendation is to write them on paper that you store in a fire- and waterproof safe.
user44404
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-29T09:37:19.343Z
2016-12-29T09:37:19.343Z
user44404
<p>For storing the seed I recommend <a href="http://cryptosteel.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cryptosteel</a>. It's waterproof, fireproof and made of stainless steel.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/HIiQf.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/HIiQf.png" alt="cryptosteel description"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-30T16:33:37.133Z
2016-12-30T16:33:37.133Z
SeekingWisdom
<p>Besides hardware wallets I also recommend desktop wallet <a href="https://electrum.org" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Electrum</a> which you can protect with username, password and two-factor authentication. Same as hardware wallets Electrum generates a <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Deterministic_wallet" rel="nofollow noreferrer">HD wallet</a> which means that in a case of disk failure you can restore whole wallet on another computer with the seed you were given at the beginning when you generated a HD wallet.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-29T10:10:46.000Z
2016-12-29T10:10:46.000Z
grajsek
<p>Best ways means the most <strong>reliable</strong> and <strong>robust</strong>, and meanwhile <strong>easy to access</strong> ways?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-29T18:33:28.400Z
You're chances of getting an answer you like will be higher if you define the terms in bold. Otherwise, people might guess a wrong meaning of them.
UTF-8
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-29T23:41:12.730Z
yes, but i don't have an idea about how to describe it in bold. i just feel the current ways (hardware wallet, qr-on-paper, flash disk, etc) are not both robust and reliable. is there any more creative way, maybe low tech way that outperforms the current methods?
Urso
<private-key>
The best way to keep my private keys safe?
Urso
# The best way to keep my private keys safe?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-12-29)

Best ways means the most **reliable** and **robust**, and meanwhile **easy to access** ways?

**Tags:** private-key

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You're chances of getting an answer you like will be higher if you define the terms in bold. Otherwise, people might guess a wrong meaning of them.  
> **username_0**: yes, but i don't have an idea about how to describe it in bold. i just feel the current ways (hardware wallet, qr-on-paper, flash disk, etc) are not both robust and reliable. is there any more creative way, maybe low tech way that outperforms the current methods?  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-12-29. Score: 4

The best way currently, that is still easy to access are hardware wallets. The two most famous retailers are:

Trezor:
<https://buytrezor.com/>

Ledger:
<https://www.ledgerwallet.com/>

A hardware wallet is dedicated hardware with a defined interface that makes it impossible to extract the private key from the hardware. The interface does however allow signing of transactions. This means that the hardware wallet can safely be plugged into hardware infected with malware.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks. But digital products don't meet "robustness".  
> **username_2**: I should maybe add that when creating the private key on the hardware wallets I linked to, they present a 24 word seed on a dedicated screen. These 24 words represents the base private key and the chain code.   This means that you can backup the wallet by storing these 24 words in  method of your liking, that you find robust enough. A common recommendation is to write them on paper that you store in a fire- and waterproof safe.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2016-12-30. Score: 1

For storing the seed I recommend [Cryptosteel](http://cryptosteel.com/). It's waterproof, fireproof and made of stainless steel.

[![cryptosteel description](https://i.sstatic.net/HIiQf.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/HIiQf.png)


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### Answer by username_4 on 2016-12-29. Score: 1

Besides hardware wallets I also recommend desktop wallet [Electrum](https://electrum.org) which you can protect with username, password and two-factor authentication. Same as hardware wallets Electrum generates a [HD wallet](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Deterministic_wallet) which means that in a case of disk failure you can restore whole wallet on another computer with the seed you were given at the beginning when you generated a HD wallet.


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