I see all kinds of posts like this and I'm getting more confused by the day. I can't run my own node, I don't even have a computer. I already said it a few times, I am your proverbial normie, my gateway to the internet is a Samsung worth €120 when new. I buy Bitcoin for 10 - 20 Euro about 2 times a week, through the Lightning Network, with no KYC, from public ATMs. I really thought that I was careful, from my point of view, but posts like this worried me a bit. Just in case, I'm also very new. Less than 5 months on Nostr, even less on Bitcoin. Proverbial normie, proverbial blue-collar, etc.
So, do I need to worry? If yes, can you guide me towards an article for morons?
Many thanks in advance!
quotingPrivacy on chain
note1sx7…c6rd
If you use electrum public servers, the server will know your ip and all your balances.
If you use electrum servers over tor, the server will know that certain addresses belong to a single entity.
If you do either of these two things you ruin your privacy and your coinjoins.
You have only two options, either you use your own Bitcoin node to check your balances via RPC or with your own electrum server connected to your Bitcoin node.
Or you use Wasabi which offers block filtering through BIP158.
If you use hardware wallets never use the manufacturer's software if it does not allow you to connect to your node, use sparrow connected to your own node, trezor suite connected to your own node, green wallet connected to your own node or wasabi (the latter can also be connected to your own node but is not necessary because of the block filters).
Be aware that three-letter agencies have public electrum servers to collect data or may even have compromised public servers of companies like blockstream.
Take care of your privacy.