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Hello everyone,
I'm very happy to participate fully in this begginners' fixed classes. This task focused on BLOCKCHAIN WALLETS where every facets of the topic are well explained by our crypto-professor @sapwood

This post will be structured based on the homework tasks given as stated below;

• HOW DO YOU STORE/SECURE YOUR KEYS
• WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRIVATE KEYS (EXAMPLES| SCREENSHOTS)
• DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL TRONLINK WALLET(ANDROID/IOS/WEB EXTENSION)
• HOW DO YOU STORE YOUR KEYS(HINT: WRITE IT DOWN ON THE NOTEPAD AND DEMONSTRATE WITH EXAMPLES)
• WHICH FORMS OF KEYS, DO YOU COMFORTABLY WITH YOUR TRONLINK WALLET(INCLUDE SCREENSHOTS - HIDE/BLUR SOME SENSITIVE INFORMATION)

HOW DO YOU STORE/SECURE YOUR KEYS

Blockchain wallets are very important storing point for cryptocurrencies and other assets temporarily or permanently. A wallet protects the crypto related assets with cryptographic hashing keys. With the help of cryptography, the keys are randomly generated. This strings of alphanumerical sequence can't be easily guessed and can be used to identify wallets. There are two forms of keys over the wallet asymmetrically. They are:

• PUBLIC KEYS
• PRIVATE KEYS

PUBLIC KEYS
As the name implies, this set of keys are visible publicly. Public keys are randomly generated from the private key and serves as the wallet address.

In the traditional banking sector, every clients have a specific number attached to their bank account. This numbers are unique and specially different from each other. With the number, popularly referred to as the bank account number to transfer funds into the bank account of the particular client. They can be visible publicly and can be used effectively to make transactions into the account of the client.

Public keys are just like the account number which can be used by everyone for encryption. As it serves the wallet address, crypto related assets will be sent via it into the wallet of the recipient. With it, the encryption process of the cryptographic functions will ensure that the funds are transfer safely through the Blockchain technology/networks into the wallet. Being exposed to the visibility of everybody permits it's usage for encryption process during transactions.

PRIVATE KEYS

As the name implies, it must be secured and kept safe or obscure from the Public eyes. It is privately-oriented as the ownership of this keys gives undeniable access into the wallet.

Just like the OTP, CVV and other Security codes from the banking sectors are sensitive and delicate which must be exposed to anyone else. With the help of private keys, the accessibility and ownership of the wallet are absolutely granted so it should be guided jealousy.

HOW BEST DO I STORE/SECURE YOUR KEYS

Due to its sensitivity, My private keys are highly secured. Although many people thought best where to store their keys online in the cloud drives or in a books.

Personally, I cut the long strings of my private keys into parts and store it both offline and online. Let me demonstrate with this typical private keys in steps.

STEP ONE
Example of Private keys:
5KhR9SyjcbFFswthWSS3ujr1JwA1FnGg6wSc1RMvL9QUW9nRxPA

STEP TWO
Divide the strings into SIX Parts in my notepad and on my book.

STEP THREE
Upload it on my Google Drive and keep a copy on my Diary.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRIVATE KEYS (EXAMPLES| SCREENSHOTS)

Private keys exist in three different forms. They are:

• PRIVATE KEYS
• MNEMONIC KEYS
• KEYSTORE KEYS

PRIVATE KEYS
In this form, the Private keys exist as a string of alphanumerical sequence which can't be guessed easily. It is a product of hashing functions of cryptography.

For instance;
5KhR9SyjcbFFswthWSS3ujr1JwA1FnGg6wSc1RMvL9QUW9nRxPA

In this format, it is very sensitive and ready to be used where needed. It should be highly secured and safely kept away from anyone else.

MNEMONIC KEYS

This is a confidential sequence of words arranged to serve as a authorization form of keys for decryption process and accessibility to the wallet. It is also in human readable form and appears as seed words from which other keys can be generated from. For instance;

Apart from granting accessibility, it can also be used to restore a lost wallet and assets therein. It is very sensitive and delicate too. It should be highly secured.

KEYSTORE KEYS

In this format, the Private keys exist as a JSON file or Keystore file. As a key, it is very unique and sensitive too to grant accessibility into wallet. Having a Keystore keys, one can easily restore and claim absolute ownership of a wallet and assets therein.

Without the user's password, this unique keys can't be used freely. It's usage is very effective with the passwords and can be unique.

DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL TRONLINK WALLET(ANDROID/IOS/WEB EXTENSION)

Let me show you how to download TRONLINK APP on my Smart and Android phone in steps.

STEP ONE
Launch the GOOGLE PLAY STORE for List of ANDROID APPLICATIONS.

STEP TWO
Indicate and Search for TRONLINK WALLET on the address bar of Playstore.

Click on INSTALL

STEP THREE
After downloading and installing the app automatically. Launch the Installed Tronlink App from the Desktop of your phone.

Select and Click on Create Account

STEP FOUR
Set username. For instance, I typed in sammylinks.

Click on NEXT

STEP FIVE
Back up with Mnemonic keys. As a decentralized wallet, the Private keys exist as Mnemonic keys and must be safely secured.

NOTE The application does not allow screenshot of the mnemonic keys for enhanced Security

STEP SIX
Set user's password and it must follow their criteria listed below.

STEP SEVEN
Confirm the password set before and Click on NEXT

STEP EIGHT
Successfully, A Tronlink wallet have been downloaded, Installed and Launched with it's assets and address provided.

HOW DO YOU STORE YOUR KEYS(HINT: WRITE IT DOWN ON THE NOTEPAD AND DEMONSTRATE WITH EXAMPLES)

As indicated above on how best to store my keys. Private keys in any form is very sensitive and important and should be highly secured. Personally, I kept mine securely

• OFFLINE STORAGE
• ONLINE STORAGE

OFFLINE STORAGE

I wrote it on my Diary without a title or indication. It just looks like ordinary list of words as third party can't really know what it is! Thereby promoting privacy and protection.

Mnemonic keys on my Diary

ONLINE STORAGE
I wrote it on my notepad and store it on my GOOGLE DRIVE. Here, it will be readily available and cheap storage too.

WHICH FORMS OF KEYS, DO YOU COMFORTABLY WITH YOUR TRONLINK WALLET(INCLUDE SCREENSHOTS - HIDE/BLUR SOME SENSITIVE INFORMATION)

Tronlink wallet is a Decentralized wallets with other Defi spheres for Tron ecosystem. It should be highly protected. Compromising it's Security by exposing the Private keys provided during the Installation of the application will result into Financial losses if it's in the hands of evil-minded individuals.

Mnemonic keys on my Diary

However, during the Installation of my Tronlink wallet, Two sets of Private keys are provided; firstly, A user's password should be provided by the client. The password must follow their criteria to enhance it's protection. Secondly, Mnemonic keys are randomly generated and should be stored privately. To restore the wallet and other accessibility into the wallet, Mnemonic keys provided must be cordially followed.

CONCLUSION

In Asymmetric cryptography, two set of keys are provided. Public keys serves as wallets address
And can be visible to everyone for encryption process during transactions. Private keys are randomly generated and exists in several formats and should be protected from the Public eyes.

Tronlink App is the decentralized wallets without intermediaries during transactions. As the client's have their Private keys gave them absolute ownership of the wallet and assets therein.