NEWBIES INITIATIVE TASK 3 - My Hive Keys and Security

Ever since the commencement of this newbie initiative edition, it is been different learning and lessons dished out by the administrators. And recently, a very crucial topic in the Hive life of anybody on Hive including the older ones on the chain; was brought forward; which is the Hive Security Keys. Basically, security is the word used to represent how an entity is safe. Combining that definition with security keys, you can understand it to be how safe our Hive account is.

I believe every user on Hive, upon registering on any of the frontends, would see that a file is shown after successful registration containing the keys. The security keys are to Hive as the password is to your Facebook account. Do you get that now? Without your Facebook password, no entry to your account; the same applies to Hive.

We have FIVE Hive security keys and each of them has different functions that can be performed using them. We have the master, owner, active, posting and memo keys.

1. Master Key - As the name, it serves as a master in control of his subjects. This is the key that would be used to call out (recover) the other keys (subjects) in the event of losing your other keys.

2. Owner Key - According to @bruno-kema, it is the most powerful key on the blockchain - the Hive planet. Although, I still wonder why I do not get to use it much. The owner key is like a landlord who builds a house, which is tantamount to him having all the keys of doors in his possession and can change them if he likes. This key can be used to change other keys in the advent of loss of the other keys and it is said to be used in the recovery of your Hive account.

3. Active Key - For me, this is the security key I am most familiar with prior to this topic, I have used it a thousand times more than any key. It is used to perform transactions such as sending Hive/HBD, Saving HBD and others like voting for a witness, etc.

4. Posting Key - This key is used to make comments, post, upvote and reblog content. I once had an encounter with using this. I remember I typed a comment without clicking the reply button and minimized my browser, so when I came back to reply I was asked to paste my posting key.

5. Memo Key - This is said to be the least powerful key, I think I agree because I have never used it before. And it can be used for anything that has to do with private messaging.

In your opinion, what are the best ways of keeping your keys safe?

For me, the best way to keep your keys is to have them both as softcopy and hardcopy. Manually write them down in a sheet of paper and tuck them away where only you would access. Also, the file containing them could be backed up on your phone, to cloud storage etc. And I'd suggest that if you are one who gives out your phone easily, you couls change the file name to one which is quite inconspicuous and only you could decode it. It's just a piece of advice though.

How do you check your recovery account and what process is needed to recover an account?

Recovering an account simply means to get back sole control over your account after maybe loss of your keys or event of malicious activities etc. First, you'd need to check for your recovery account. This is a Hive account that is linked to yours for the purpose of easy recovery. To check, one would have to go to https://hiveblocks.com/@username, input your username and scroll down. Your recovery account can be changed if you wish to. If you'd have to change, make sure it is a user or someone on the chain you know well and trust with your life.

Then, to do the recovery proper, go to https://reazuliqbal.com/HiveAccountRecovery/ and click "Recover Account", then generate a new password which would then give you a new (public) owner key. You then send this key to your trustee - the user handling your recovery account. Put in the remaining necessary details and click on Recover Account. And your account is hereby recovered, do not lose it again!!

Lastly, I'd like to add - we must be careful in the way we handle our keys; Careful in the way we click links cos some of them have malicious things lurking beneath them - as @starstrings01 mentioned.