Secure your Bitcoin like Satoshi | Air Gapped old Laptop guide #1

Secure your Bitcoin like Satoshi | Air Gapped old Laptop guide #1

From ForrestHODL by ForrestHODL

September 4, 2026 · 10 min

About this episode

This episode provides a practical guide on securing Bitcoin by creating an air-gapped laptop system.

In this video, I walk you through the practical steps of hardware security by physically removing the WiFi and Bluetooth chip from a laptop. This process is essential for anyone looking to create a truly air-gapped system that remains completely isolated from wireless networks. I show you exactly where the module is located and how to safely disconnect it without damaging the rest of your machine. Whether you are building a secure workstation for sensitive data or just want to learn more about computer hardware, this guide provides a clear and direct approach to enhancing your privacy.List of items needed.Laptop for dedicated Air gap deviceComputer with pruned or full node (umbrel or start9 works)M-disc writable driveM-discsUSB flash drivesWebcam if the laptop one doesn't work well enough.Guide I am roughly followinghttps://github.com/bowlarbear/yeti-2.00:29 - Overview: Removing chips vs. BIOS disabling0:50 - Approved communication methods (USB, Disc, Camera)1:16 - Hardware levels and tools (ThinkPad example)2:23 - Step 1: Removing the battery2:45 - Step 2: Accessing the keyboard screws3:15 - Step 3: Removing the keyboard3:24 - Step 4: Locating and removing the Wi-Fi chip3:43…

People in this episode

Host: ForrestHODL

Topics covered

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: umbrel, start9

Books & works: yeti-2.00, Air gapped laptop series

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