INTRODUCTION
CONTENT
- What exactly is blockchain?
- What security features are available to blockchain?
- What is cryptocurrency?
- Well-known cryptocurrencies
- What security issues can be identified in cryptocurrencies?
- Conclusion
WHAT EXACTLY IS BLOCKCHAIN?
Blockchain is a digital folder of economic-related transactions that has a very high level of intractable security. Blockchain is programmed in such a way that it is able to keep a very good record of every single financial transaction.
Again, it has the ability to record anything of value of any kind. It can be visualised as a thin spreadsheet that is sort of duplicated to run simultaneously in different computer networks.
These spreadsheets are designed to be updated on a regular basis. This forms the basis or basic understanding of the operational model of the blockchain industry.
There is no centralised database. Instead the databases are run across different individual computer networks. Hence, there is no single database that could be attacked by cyber hackers.
With the use of public and private keys which are cryptographic keys made accessible to individuals across the globe access can be gained into the system.
Through a public peer-to-peer system, two users can both agree on an exchange of a particular value of cryptocurrency from one end to another. This would be done privately and securely.
WHAT SECURITY FEATURES ARE AVAILABLE TO BLOCKCHAIN?
There are a few simple but complex security features that have been adapted in the blockchain industry.
(1) Cryptographic keys
The cryptographic keys are a very wonderful innovation in the cyber security space of the 21st century. The keys consist of a long string of encrypted and difficult-to-decipher sequence. They are so unique and difficult to access without authorisation.
(2) Multiple verification for a particular transaction
In the blockchain industry, more than two users would be required to put a badge on the particular transaction. In some other gateways for economic transactions, two parties or three could be enough to verify a particular transaction.
However, in the block chain industry, there are thousands of distinct nodes that serve as digital ledgers that bear a copy of every single digital transaction acted upon.
Therefore, it is almost impossible to transact fraudulently since each node verifies the transaction before granting permission. It is impossible to transact successfully if every single node does not query that particular transaction.
There are equally a few other important security measures in place.
By the way…
WHAT IS CRYPTOCURRENCY?
Cryptocurrency is a digitally recognised and held form of asset. It can be used as a medium of exchange which uses a very complex form of cryptography to secure every single business and economic transaction performed on the platform.
They are often referred to as alternative, digital and virtual currencies. In essence, cryptocurrency can be said to be a series of simultaneously-run, spreadsheet-like entries in a database system which can only be altered in the case that some encrypted conditions are met.
Cryptocurrencies have the properties of being secure, controlled in supply, fast and global, irreversible, needing no permission to be used and operated with pseudonyms (that is, identity not revealed to any third entity).
WELL-KNOWN CRYPTOCURRENCIES
Some examples of well-known cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, ethereum, ripple, litecoin, monero and steem.
WHAT SECURITY ISSUES CAN BE IDENTIFIED IN CRYPTOCURRENCIES?
Cryptocurrencies can have the same problems as other well-known electronic payment gateways such as PayPal and WebMoney. This is because cryptocurrencies can be classified as electronic money also.
It should be noted that there are some risks which are quite uniquely associated with cryptocurrencies. The way and manner by which cryptocurrencies are operated even make them more likely to occur.
Two very significant security issues of cryptocurrencies would be discussed here.
(i) Hacking through the payment system
One very disturbing security challenge and threat in the cryptocurrency ecosystem is that even using the correct receiver or user addresses to make payments could still result in loss of digital assets or money.
It has been discovered that some genius hackers had devised a social-engineering means of deceiving the hosting providers and gaining access into e-wallets which did not belong to them. They make the hosting providers to view them as the rightful domain owners even when they are not.
Once access is gained, digital assets can be transferred wrongfully and fraudulently. At a certain time, this particular method had been used to swindle over 300,000 dollars in a few hours by some hackers. However, they were later intercepted due to the fact that payee names were quickly and impatiently replaced.
This resulted in the system becoming suspicious of the fraudulent transactions going on. Gaining access and keeping the wallet for a longer period before transacting could have proved to be by far more dangerous and quite deleterious.
However, this particular method of illegally gaining access into an unauthorised wallet can also be seen in other classic e-payment gateways. This could be seen in the case of a whole bank being hijacked by hackers in Brazil.
(ii) Loss or theft of wallet file
The loss or theft of one's wallet file could be a very serious and dangerous cryptocurrency security issue in the ecosystem. This is another very serious and major security concern with cryptocurrencies.
However, this is based on the discovery that most users decide to store the wallet size of their cryptocurrencies in their computer systems. Hence, they can either be stolen with the use of malware or lost in the case that the hard disk crashes.
On the block chain, cryptocurrency transactions and transfers are registered, stored or recognised as wallet-to-wallet or peer-to-peer transfer of particular amounts of digital assets or cryptocurrencies agreed-upon.
It should be noted that the use of "wallet" in cryptocurrency does not refer to something tangible. With the use of private keys, access can be gained into your cryptocurrency wallet. So, safely securing your e-wallet would eventually come down to how your private keys are stored.
A private key could be imported into the wallet of a hacker and your digital assets could be spent fraudulently without your knowledge in that manner. This could happen in the case that you lose your private keys to an unauthorised user.
Usually, the private keys are used to generate the public keys with which people can send or transfer assets to you. This could raise the question of whether these public keys could not be used to reverse engineer and generate your private keys without your consent.
However, it is reassuring to know that this asymmetric encryption is programmed in such a way that one way is easy and the other is absolutely difficult or impossible.
Other users make use of your public keys generated by the private keys to send you money. The system can also use your private keys to send out money to other users specified. Usually, this is done by the system imploring the use of what is known as an Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA).
A way of getting around this particular security threat of cryptocurrencies is by making hard copies of one's secret and private keys. Then, USB hardware wallets could be purchased also. Also, when large amounts are to be transferred or corporations are involved, the use of USB tokens become mandatory
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it should be understood that most security breaches in the cryptocurrency airspace could often be traced to some form of negligence and human error.
The security of the cryptocurrency has often been described as being airtight. Hence, human efforts should be properly put in place, executed and implemented to curb some of the breaches experienced over the blockchain ecosystem.
Hello, it is good to have you participate in this week's class. While reading through your post, I found it difficult to differentiate between the subtopic and the body of the post.
Rating 5
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit