<p>I don't know about Multibit specifically, but in bitcoin-qt the password does not protect your addressbook and transaction list, only the private keys; and a prompt for password appears when you try to send coins. So without the password people can still see what you've been up to, but cannot steal your coins.</p>

<p>If you want to put the wallet file in a public place you should place an additional level of encryption.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-08T15:43:40.697Z
Well, people know what you've been up to anyways, just by watching the block chain.
Christopher King
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-08T20:29:52.433Z
@PyRulez: People know what your addresses have been up to, but they don't know that they're your addresses.
Meni Rosenfeld
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-12T06:40:00.873Z
2013-11-12T06:40:00.873Z
Meni Rosenfeld
<p>The password is required to spend the coins.  This is the purpose of the password.</p>

<p>Multibit does not consider it to be a security problem if people who steal your wallet can see the balance.  If you have a problem with that, you should encrypt your wallet with a program such as TrueCrypt.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-18T10:21:41.820Z
2013-11-18T10:21:41.820Z
zkilnbqi
<p>I'm new to BitCoin but a friend of mine was recently stung when a bunch of his coins were stolen. Naturally, I'm now very cautious. I've password protected my MultiBit wallet and, to test the security of this, I have copied the .wallet file to another computer and opened in a new installation of MultiBit. However, I was not asked for my password and I can see my transactions in there. Can someone explain what the password does if it doesn't stop you accessing the wallet?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>PG9</p>

<wallet><security><multibit>
MultiBit Password Protection - How Secure is it?
PG9
# MultiBit Password Protection - How Secure is it?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-11-12)

I'm new to BitCoin but a friend of mine was recently stung when a bunch of his coins were stolen. Naturally, I'm now very cautious. I've password protected my MultiBit wallet and, to test the security of this, I have copied the .wallet file to another computer and opened in a new installation of MultiBit. However, I was not asked for my password and I can see my transactions in there. Can someone explain what the password does if it doesn't stop you accessing the wallet?

Thanks in advance.

PG9

**Tags:** wallet, security, multibit


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-11-12. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

I don't know about Multibit specifically, but in bitcoin-qt the password does not protect your addressbook and transaction list, only the private keys; and a prompt for password appears when you try to send coins. So without the password people can still see what you've been up to, but cannot steal your coins.

If you want to put the wallet file in a public place you should place an additional level of encryption.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Well, people know what you've been up to anyways, just by watching the block chain.  
> **username_1**: @PyRulez: People know what your addresses have been up to, but they don't know that they're your addresses.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2013-11-18. Score: 2

The password is required to spend the coins. This is the purpose of the password.

Multibit does not consider it to be a security problem if people who steal your wallet can see the balance. If you have a problem with that, you should encrypt your wallet with a program such as TrueCrypt.


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