Do you encrypt your data or secure your crypto using a hardware wallet? Modern security terms like these might sound like a foreign language to some of us, but don’t write them off. They are vital for online safety and privacy, so we’re here to be your Google Translate.
Virtually everyone in the world with an email or social media account has been targeted or, worse yet, become a victim of online theft. How can you protect colleagues, friends, family, and yourself from cybercrime? These buzzwords hold the key, so let’s break them down for you in plain English:
Cryptography
Cryptography is the science of securing information and communication by transforming data into a form that unintended recipients cannot understand. In the past, it helped our ancestors pass on secret messages and communicate confidentially behind enemy lines. Today, the “art of codes” is used to encrypt private data, authenticate identity, and create secure communication channels (i.e. end-to-end encryption channels). State-of-the-art cryptography is so advanced that it is virtually impossible for anyone to decode encrypted data, except for the holder of the encryption key. What files should you encrypt? All your files, if possible.
Private key
This string of randomly generated numbers unlocks your encrypted information. It identifies the intended recipient and enables the key holder to approve or authorize actions related to the message’s contents. You can create digital signatures, form secure communication channels, and perform cryptocurrency transactions with your private key.
Decentralized security
Do you trust the admins of popular central platforms like OneDrive, Google Drive, and Facebook? Blockchain technology now lets us take charge of our own cybersecurity. In decentralized security, each user holds the respective cryptographic keys to their identity, assets, and data, and no central administrator has access to these keys. This way, security is self-sovereign and user-controlled without the need to involve administrators. Blockchain networks verify the data and prevent any entity outside of the blockchain from changing or manipulating the data. Data on blockchains is traceable and transparent, so tampering with it is just about impossible.
Hardware wallet
This device enables you to generate and store private keys offline. This protects your assets from online threats and all actions done with private keys occur within the hardware wallet. You can connect UKISS Hugware® to your computer and it will keep your assets safe and identity confidential. More on this later!
Recovery phrases
A recovery phrase (also commonly referred to as a “seed phrase”) is a unique passcode to get into your crypto wallet. It’s like a master password if you get locked out of or lose your crypto wallet. Many crypto wallets on the market then require the user to enter seed phrases that are up to 24 words long. However, suppose you write those recovery phrases on a piece of paper and lose that paper, or save those phrases in a word document or as a photo, and accidentally delete that? Then it’s GG.
What you can do
If you would like to protect yourself with a hardware wallet, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of recovery phrases, check out UKISS Hugware®, which is the world’s first hardware wallet that does not require you to jot down recovery phrases. Instead, UKISS Hugware® synchronizes the master seed across devices, which is why users can create backups without copying down phrases. UKISS Hugware® comprises an Authentication-Key (A-Key) that lets you make transactions when you plug it in, and a Rescue-Key (R-Key) that enables you to access digital assets, should you lose your A-Key.
Patented in over 20 countries and major markets, each UKISS Hugware® set comes with a certificate of authenticity, which is tamper-proof, immutable, and verified on blockchain that the device is genuine.
The bottom line is: Be well informed and protect yourself! Then you won’t be an easy target for online crime. UKISS Hugware® is now on sale at ukiss.io/shop/.
Note: Coconuts Media is not a financial services company, does not provide financial advice, and is not a qualified expert in the storage of digital assets—financial or otherwise. This article is part of a paid partnership with UKISS and is for educational purposes only.
