Best practises to secure your Bitcoin
Bitcoin is purely a digital money, devoid of any physical representation and reliant entirely on blockchain technology. There are no tangible BTC bills to fold or coins to stash in your physical wallet; instead, it utilizes a unique storage solution known as a Bitcoin wallet.
A Bitcoin wallet, or digital wallet, stands as a distinctive and secure storage method. It harnesses the blockchain, the underlying technology of the cryptocurrency network. What adds to its influence is its numerous utilities. Utilising a mobile Bitcoin wallet enables you to receive BTC from other wallets, initiate fund transfers or payments, and monitor your balance in real-time.
Bitcoin transactions involve the transfer of value between bitcoin wallets, confirmed by signing of the transaction through private keys. Similar to a bank’s PIN, a private key grants access to a Bitcoin wallet, which makes it very secure.
Similar to the bank account PIN, a private key is confidential and sensitive information that should be guarded with utmost care and not disclosed to anyone. It serves as the gateway to your Bitcoin wallet, granting access for the utilization of your funds. The storage of private keys is dependent on the type of wallet used, it can be stored in a personal computer, remote servers or non-digital format by writing and storing it in a safe and accessible place.
Diverse cryptocurrency wallets exist, with two main categories:
Software or Hot Wallet:
These are accessible through an internet connection, encompassing web and mobile wallets.
Hardware or cold Wallet:
These are physical devices that operate independently of internet access. Examples include hardware wallets, desktop wallets, and paper wallets.
Certain peer-to-peer marketplaces and online exchanges, such as Noones, provide a complimentary hot Bitcoin wallet upon account creation.
While conventional transactions in banks and financial institutions often involve signing with a pen and paper, Bitcoin transactions employ a digital signature. This cryptographic and “mathematical proof” assures that the BTC originated from the wallet’s owner and no one else. A digital signature also serves as a means to confirm whether the BTC has been dispatched to someone else.
Despite the visibility of your signature in a particular Bitcoin transaction to everyone on the network, the safeguard lies in the privacy of your private key. Bitcoin employs intricate processes and features, making it resistant to compromise. Hence, there’s minimal concern about the security of your hard-earned funds, provided exclusive access to your private keys is maintained.