Achievement 2 @veezbiz - Task: Basic Security on Steem

Taking Security and Privacy Seriously: The internet is both a social space as well as a business space. Governments, companies, and small-scale businesses use the internet for all forms of transactions. During this COVID 19 pandemic, the internet has been beneficial to keep social, business and educational interactions going. Although the internet is beneficial to us, it is also a space occupied by some criminals.

Internet criminals often prey on data and passwords of internet users for personal gains. The Steemit community may not be immune to such type of individuals. It is important; thus, we secured our data and passwords properly so that it is inaccessible to criminals and fraudsters. Here on Steemit, there are fundamental security tips for new steemit users. Our essential tools on Steemit are our keys and master password. New users are required to put their keys and master password in a secured place where snoops and fraudsters will not have access to them.

Question 1
Have you retrieved all your keys on steemit?
Answer: Yes, I have.

Question2
Do you know each of these key functions and restrictions?

[Image culled from google]

Answer: Yes, I do. The keys are the posting key, active key, owner key and memo key. Before I explain their functions and restrictions, it is important to note that these keys are of two types, namely private and public keys. The private keys consist of unique 51 alphanumeric, upper-lower-case characters while the public keys consist of 53 alphanumeric, upper-lower-case characters, linked to the usernames of steemians, and they help steemians and authenticate and encrypt messages. So, when I discuss the keys below, I refer to the private keys.

1. Posting key: Steem keys are categorised based on a hierarchy of their functions. The posting key is the least in the level of functional hierarchy because of its limited capacity. Its only function is to allow steemians login into their accounts to post information for public consumption. Through this key, steemians can also comment, mute, up/down vote other steemians’ posts. This key can not authorise operations that may affect the steemian’s transactions.

2. Memo key: The functions of this key is higher than those of the posting key. This key allows steemians to send and receive private messages, and to encrypt and decrypt their memos during transactions. Without placing the pound (£) or the hashtag (#) sign before the key, an account holder won’t be able to encrypt their memo.

3. Active key: This key is higher than the posting and memo keys in functions. In fact, it performs all the functions of the posting key as well as those of the owner key except that it cannot change the owner key. It is used for financial transactions and for voting witnesses. A steemian cannot use the active key to decrypt encrypted private messages.

4. Owner key: This is the most functional key, and it is at the top of the hierarchy of keys functions. In fact, it is as important as the Master password [I will briefly explain the function of the master password below]. It is used to change all other keys including the owner key. It performs all the functions of posting and active keys like posting, voting, commenting as well as transactions. It allows an account holder to change their keys including their owner key. If this key is compromised, the steemian may not be able to manage their account appropriate. This shows that this is a delicate key and should only be used when the need arises. Account users are advised to keep this key in a very hidden place. It should only be used for account recovery.

5. Master Password: Just like the owner key, the master password is used to change all the keys if the steemians suspects that their keys have been compromised by hackers. So, like the owner key, this key allows steemians to take back control of their accounts. Notice that rather than call this key, it is called password because it is from it that all the keys used in the steem are generated. It is advisable for steemians to protect their master password by storing it in a very secured place like Dashlane or any other secured password manager.

Question 3
How do you plan to keep your master password?
Answer: I have kept my master password in Dashlane, a secured password manager, to protect it from being accessed by anyone except me.

Question 4
Do you know how to transfer your steem token to another steem user account?
Answer: Yes, I can transfer my steem token to another steem user account. Below are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Log into this link https://steemitwallet.com with your posting key.

Step 2: Click on the green highlighted code: 0.002 STEEM directly below Buy Steem. A drop box will appear:

Step 3: Click Transfer (The first item on the dropbox). Enter the account name on the second column. Then enter the amount you wish to transfer in the amount column. Use the memo column to indicate the purpose of the transfer.

Step 4: Click the next button to complete the transaction:

Question 5
Do you know how to power up your STEEM?

Answer: Yes, I can power my STEEM through the following process:

Follow Steps 1 and 2 above [Click on this link https://steemitwallet.com to access your steemit wallet. Then click on the green highlighted code 0.002 STEEM and a dropbox appears.

Next: Click on power-up:

Finally, enter the amount and then click on power up to complete the process.

I appreciate the moderators of this steemit community for giving me the opportunity to answer these steem freshers’ questions @cryptokannon.