Categories
Cryptocurrencies

Nostalgia wallet Review: How Safe Is Nostalgia Light Wallet?

Nostalgia Light wallet is a web-based crypto vault that’s specially designed to help IOTA coin holders receive, store, and send IOTA Tokens. Unlike most other IOTA wallets, Nostalgia doesn’t require you to download the full node blockchain to your computer. It is relatively light and provides you with all the features of a full node or GUI wallet without compromising your computer’s storage and RAM. However, for maximum efficiency, the Nostalgia light wallet has to be integrated into an IOTA server that has the Proof of Work (PoW) feature enabled.

In this review, we will be vetting this IOTA light wallet security features and determining if it is safe to store your coins in the wallet. We will also look at the effectiveness of its security features, check its ease of use, and compare it with other IOTA wallets.

Key features:

Light wallet: The Nostalgia light wallet is specially designed to serve IOTA network users who don’t wish to run full node wallet or the IOTA GUI on their computer. It is light, implying that it doesn’t eat into your computer memory, speed, or battery life.

Browser interface: Nostalgia Light wallet is a web-based wallet that connects to the IOTA network via IOTA-compatible servers. And though it requires simple coding skills to connect the web wallet to the IOTA servers, the process of setting up the Nostalgia light wallet is quite straightforward.

Requires connection to a Full node server: A full node IOTA desktop client downloads the blockchain network into your computer and synchronizes its activities with those of the main blockchain. GUI integrates with the network’s user interface, allowing you to access the blockchain from your computer. Nostalgia web wallet, on the other hand, doesn’t require a direct connection to the blockchain for it to function efficiently. You only need to connect it with an IOTA compatible server.

Faster access to IOTA Network: The fact that the Nostalgia Light wallet is web-based implies that most heavy lifting, especially the generation of wallet addresses, is handled by the IOTA servers. This ensures that transaction processing on the web wallet is relatively faster.

Light wallet for desktop available: In Addition to the web wallet is the Nostalgia desktop wallet app. It is highly versatile and available for all the popular computer operating systems like Linux, Windows, and macOS. And like the web-wallet, the desktop app must also be connected to an IOTA server.

Security and privacy features:

Password encryption: Like most other web wallets, all the data stored in your nostalgia web wallet or nostalgia desktop wallet app is secured with a password. You get to set this multi-character passphrase when creating a user account. It not only helps eliminate unauthorized access to your wallet but also serves as an encryption tool.

Open sourced: The Nostalgia Light web wallet was launched in 2017 by Dominik Schiener – IOTA Network co-founder – and is built on an open-sourced technology. It is available on the GitHub crypto wallet repository, where its users and blockchain experts can view and audit its source code for transparency.

Non-custodial: Nostalgia web wallet and Nostalgia desktop wallet app are both non-custodial. They don’t keep your private keys within the IOTA servers but encrypt and save them on your computer, giving you total control of your funds.

Recovery seed: When setting up Nostalgia web wallet, you will also be presented with a recovery seed that you can use to recover lost private keys or restore the web wallet on another computer.

How to set up and activate the Nostalgia wallet

Step 1: Download the Nostalgia desktop wallet from the GitHub repository

Step 2: Install the wallet and upon launching, select the ‘Create New Wallet’

Step 3: The launcher will then display the “Light Node Settings” page. Enter the IP/DNS of the full node that you want to integrate with the Nostalgia light wallet (Coding skills are required to set up a remote server, enable the proof-of-work feature, and link it to the Nostalgia wallet)

Step 4: The wallet is active and ready to use

How to add/receive coins to Nostalgia wallet

Step 1: Log in to your Nostalgia wallet and click on “Receive” from the user dashboard.

Step 2: This reveals your wallet address. Copy and forward it to the party sending you IOTA Tokens

Step 3: Wait for the funds to reflect.

How to send crypto from Nostalgia wallet

Step 1: On the Nostalgia user account, click “Send”

Step 2: On the popup tab, enter the recipient’s wallet address and the number of IOTA Tokens you wish to send

Step 3: Confirm that these details are accurate and hit “send.”

Nostalgia wallet ease of use

The process of creating a user account and activating your Nostalgia crypto wallet is quite straightforward. The wallet and remote server configuration process, however, requires that you possess simple coding skills. And this rules out both newbie and experienced crypto traders without programing skills, effectively tainting its user-friendliness appeal.

Nostalgia wallet supported currencies and countries

Virtually any crypto trader from a crypto-friendly country in the world can activate a Nostalgia crypto wallet. Note, however, that you can only host IOTA Tokens on the wallet.

Nostalgia wallet cost and fees

You won’t be charged for downloading and installing or activating the Nostalgia crypto wallet app. You also won’t be charged for holding an unlimited number of IOTA Tokens on the wallet. However, you will have to part with a small network fee every time you send your IOTA tokens to another wallet or exchange.

What are the pros and cons of using Nostalgia Wallet?

Pros:

  • Nostalgia is a light wallet that doesn’t eat into your computer space of processing speeds
  • Nostalgia wallet records faster transaction processing speeds when compared to the IOTA GUI wallet
  • The wallet is free to use
  • You don’t have to own the full node client or the remote server that links to your Nostalgia wallet

Cons:

  • It is not easy to use as you need programming skills to activate the wallet
  • It is not self-reliant and must be connected to a full node client or server with the proof of work functionality enabled.
  • Its customer service is wanting.

Comparing Nostalgia wallet to other IOTA crypto wallets

Nostalgia wallet vs. IOTA GUI Wallet

Nostalgia and IOTA GUI are both IOTA-only crypto wallets. Both are free to use and maintain relatively inexpensive transaction processing fees. They, however, adopt different approaches to achieving these purposes. For instance, while the IOTA GUI wallet is a full node desktop client that integrates the IOTA Blockchain network, Nostalgia is a web wallet or a desktop app that doesn’t require you to download the blockchain to the wallet.

Rather, you only have to connect the light wallet with a remote full node client or IOTA-Compatible server. However, while the IOTA GUI is easy to install and activate, linking the Nostalgia wallet to a remote server calls for special coding skills. Nevertheless, Nostalgia posts faster transaction processing speeds when compared to IOTA GUI.

Verdict: Is the Nostalgia wallet safe?

Well, a host of factors make Nostalgia wallet one of the most secure crypto wallet apps. For instance, the Nostalgia wallet collects minimal personal information and has embraced such security measures as open-sourcing the wallet technology, storing your private keys in your computer, and encrypting all the personal data therein. However, we must mention that both the Nostalgia web wallet and desktop app are both hot wallets and face the threats of being wiped by malicious malware and remote hacks, especially since it doesn’t support two-factor authentication.

Categories
Cryptocurrencies

GUI Light Wallet Review: Security, Features, And Ease of Use

The GUI light wallet is a highly innovative crypto wallet that stores and helps you manage your IOTA tokens. According to the IOTA foundation, GUI Light is specially designed to provide IOTA altcoin holders with the most user-friendly, simple, and inexpensive way of securing and interacting with their digital assets. The wallet was launched in 2016 and has since been subjected to several upgrades that introduced vital security and operational features.

In this GUI Light wallet review, we will be vetting the effectiveness of its security features. We will also look at the wallet’s user-friendliness and highlight its pros and cons before comparing it with other IOTA-only crypto wallets.

We start by looking at its key operational features.

Key features:

Integrated into IOTA GUI: GUI Light wallet draws its name from the fact that it is incorporated into the IOTA network’s Graphical User Interface. It not only allows you to store your IOTA coins but also provides you with a direct link to the IOTA network.

Double spend warnings: The double-spend warning feature is a recent upgrade to the GUI Light wallet aimed at helping you avoid conflicting transactions. It warns you every time you attempt to initiate an outbound transfer twice, especially if the first transaction hasn’t been confirmed. You can choose the ‘Yes, send it now’ option for legitimate transfers and ‘No, Cancel’ option for a double-spend transaction.

Light node: There are two versions of the GUI IOTA wallet: Full node and Light Node. The GUI Light Wallet is light, non-technical, and specially designed for beginner traders. It makes it possible for you to run and interact with the IOTA network without installing the desktop client that eats into your computer speed and storage space.

Highly versatile: GUI Light wallet is a desktop app wallet. It is also highly versatile and compatible with all the popular operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Track your portfolio: On the GUI Light wallet user dashboard is the History tab as well as the balance display tab that lets you track your IOTA tokens inflow and outflow. These go a long way in helping monitor your spending as well as budgeting and finance management.

Security and privacy features:

Password: Like any other crypto wallet, the GUI Light wallet is secured with a password that you set when creating a user account.

Recovery seed: When setting up your GUI light wallet user profile, you will be provided with a recovery seed. Write it down and keep it safe, as you will need it to reset the wallet password and recover your private keys from a lost wallet.

Open source: The GUI Light wallet is built on an open-sourced technology. This implies that virtually anyone can view and audit the wallet’s source code and possibly identify malicious codes or other security loopholes.

Community-led development: The fact that the GUI Light wallet was created and is currently maintained by the IOTA Foundation it centralizes its operations. However, the foundation is gradually walking away from this centralized control of the wallet by bringing onboard developers from the IOTA community. It hopes to ultimately dissociate itself from the wallet and hand it over to the community developers who will direct future upgrades and further developments.

Non-custodial: This desktop app wallet stores your private keys in your computer and not on the IOTA Foundation servers, giving absolute control over your wallets.

How to set up and activate the GUI Light wallet

Step 1: Open GitHub and search for GUI Light wallet

Step 2: Download the most recent update of this desktop wallet that is compatible with your desktop/laptop’s operating system

Step 3: Click on install and select light node

Step 4: Complete the registration tab by entering your email address and setting your wallet’s password

Step 5: The wallet will provide you with a recovery seed. Copy these phrases onto a piece of paper and store them on a safe place offline

Step 6: Your wallet is now active and ready for use

How to add/receive coins to GUI Light wallet

Step 1: Log in to your GUI Light Wallet

Step 2: On the user dashboard, click on ‘Receive.’

Step 3: This will reveal your wallet address and QR code. Copy either and send them to the individual sending you IOTA Coins

Step 4: Wait for the coins to reflect on your wallet

How to send crypto from GUI Light wallet

Step 1: Log in to your GUI Light wallet

Step 2: On your user dashboard, click on ‘Send.’

Step 3: Enter the recipient’s wallet address and the amount of IOTA coins you wish to send

Step 4: Confirm the correctness of these details and hit send.

GUI Light wallet ease of use

GUI Light wallet has one of the easiest and most straightforward onboarding processes. The wallet is easy to navigate and fast in executing crypto transactions. Further, all the important tabs like Send, Receive, and History are neatly arranged and easily accessible on the user dashboard.

Importantly, a recent community-led upgrade to the GUI Light wallet introduced different translations to the wallet. GUI Light wallet is now multi-lingual, supporting more than 15 international languages.

GUI Light wallet supported currencies and countries

GUI Light wallet will only support IOTA coins. And unlike most other crypto-specific wallets that integrate an inbuilt exchange or third party crypto conversion platform, GUI is quite rigid. You first have to convert your crypto or fiat currencies into IOTA on third party exchanges before adding them to your crypto wallet.

GUI Light wallet cost and fees

GUI Light Wallet is free to download, install, and use.  Therefore, you will not be charged to receive or send IOTA coins from your wallet. Instead of the traditional miner and administration fees charged by most blockchain networks, IOTA Network uses proof of work consensus to fund crypto operations. Here, you are required to commit your computational power and approve two previous transactions before you can have your transaction checked and validated.

What are the pros and cons of using GUI Light wallet:

Pros:

  • GUI Light wallet is one of the handful crypto wallets that don’t charge transactions fees on transfers out
  • GUI Light wallet is incorporated into the IOTA blockchain network’s user interface
  • GUI Light wallet is gradually moving towards community-led management and development of the crypto wallet
  • The wallet is non-custodial, and this gives you control over your private keys

Cons:

  • Beginner traders may find GUI Light wallet too complex
  • The IOTA network has been a target of most phishing and hacking schemes that have almost resulted in the loss of tokens and significant downtimes
  • There is no mobile app for the GUI Wallet app
  • The desktop wallet will only support one altcoin – IOTA Coins
  • Comparing GUI Light wallet to other IOTA crypto wallets

GUI Light wallet vs. Nostalgia light wallet

Both GUI Light Wallet and Nostalgia wallet are IOTA specific and will only support IOTA coins. They can also be considered light wallets, as they don’t require you to download the IOTA network full node to your computer. Their differences stem from the fact that while the GUI wallet is incorporated into the IOTA networks user interface, Nostalgia will only work if connected to a full node network that has its Proof of Work feature activated. Moreover, while light wallet is a desktop wallet, Nostalgia is a Google Chrome browser extension.

Verdict: Is GUI Light wallet safe?

GUI Light wallet is highly convenient, easy to use, and inexpensive crypto vault for IOTA Coins. It has also put in place several effective security measures that not only deter unauthorized access but also boost the privacy of your digital assets. These include a multi-character password, building the wallet on open-sourced technology, private keys, and moving towards a community-led development model that guarantees transparency. There are, however, numerous user concerns about the safety of the private keys stored in the crypto wallet, especially after the constant hacks and lack of such handy security measures as two-factor authentication.