Here's a comparison of the old walletdat lifestyle and the modern lifestyle:
: Anyone can arbitrarily write public keys into a wallet.dat file, even if they don't correspond to real private keys. The wallet will appear valid, sync with the blockchain, and show a balance—but you'll never be able to spend the funds because the private keys don't match. old walletdat hot
B — Using bitcoin-wallet (part of Bitcoin Core tools) or other utilities Here's a comparison of the old walletdat lifestyle
with anyone. Anyone with the file and password can take your funds. How to Access Your Old Wallet Method 1: Using Bitcoin Core (The Official Way) sync with the blockchain