Bitcoin wallet on dropbox
Locating Bitcoin's data directory
Gnu/Linux
By default Bitcoin will put its data here:~/.bitcoin/ You need to do a "ls -a" to see directories that start with a dot.
If that's not it, you can do a search like this:
find / -name wallet.dat -print 2>/dev/null To change the directory Bitcoin stores its data in:
Run in terminal or script: ./bitcoin-qt -datadir=./[Directory_Name]
Mac OSX
By default Bitcoin will put its data here:~/Library/Application Support/Bitcoin/
Windows
Go to Start -> Run (or press WinKey+R) and run this:explorer %APPDATA%\Bitcoin Bitcoin's data folder will open. For most users, this is one of the following locations:
C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application data\Bitcoin (Windows XP) C:\Users\YourUserName\Appdata\Roaming\Bitcoin (Windows Vista and 7) If you have trouble browsing to these folders, note that "AppData" and "Application data" are hidden by default.
Backing up your wallet files
Note: Using Dropbox to back up your Bitcoin data is not recommended as doing so introduces the following security concerns:
- Dropbox stores your encryption key (meaning that a disgruntled Dropbox employee or an attacker who gained access to the system could decrypt your Dropbox data and steal your bitcoins)
- the Dropbox client only needs a password for the first login. After it authenticates once, the server assigns it a token which it uses to show that, at one time, its user knew the password rather than sending the actual password (meaning that if you ever use the Dropbox client on another PC, that PC's users can access your Dropbox - even if you change your password - and can steal your bitcoins or get a virus that will steal your bitcoins).
Whether you use Dropbox as your backup or not, it is advised to use what Steve Gibson calls "pre-Internet encryption" which means to use some form of encryption on your files before you back them up, in case an attacker gains access to that backup. Make sure to pick a password that is memorable but secure.
