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If the private key(s) are/is in the wallet.dat file, then isn't it overly exposed to hackers? Can't a hacker just read my C:[dir]\wallet.dat file and take all the bitcion?
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If the private key(s) are/is in the wallet.dat file, then isn't it overly exposed to hackers? Can't a hacker just read my C:[dir]\wallet.dat file and take all the bitcion?
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Yes, if you have an unencrypted wallet.dat then this is a very real possibility. Even an encrypted wallet.dat is vulnerable without a strong password and good security practices. It's simply a list of private keys encrypted with AES. AES can't be hacked, but a weak password can. FWIW, people who've lost their password for the wallet.dat have not been able to retrieve their funds, so an encrypted wallet.dat stands the test of encryption.
possible duplicate of How to protect against wallet theft?
– cdecker – 2015-05-23T11:32:28.663