How to Register STEEM Account in 4 Different Ways: A Complete Comparative Analysis of Security and Anonymity

How did you register on STEEM? The great majority (me as well!) of users entered into the STEEM via “official” registration form on steemit.com website. But there are another options!

As you know, STEEM itself (as a blockchain network) and steemit.com website are two separate entities (even though very closely connected with each other by one developing team). STEEM blockchain network is the basis, inner protocol, STEEM’s flesh and blood while steemit.com website is the external convenient user interface, beautiful system “face”.

What does this mean from practical point of view? It means that to work with STEEM network you don’t need to always use external interface, you can interact with the protocol directly. In some cases, direct interaction with STEEM blockchain can be not just reasonable but also necessary.

Let’s discuss the specific situation of new STEEM account registration.

Perhaps you don't know, but there are at least four different ways to open new STEEM account. All these ways differ one from another by anonymity rank (personal information release), security (created account protection) and by usage complexity and computer skills required during register process.

In general, you would only need the “official” way but if you have some specific plans for STEEMit (full anonymity for example) you have to use one of the other variants listed below.

1. Official registration via Steemit.com website

This is the easiest and the fastest way to connect to the system - for this you will only need Facebook account (without any additional conditions) or Reddit social network account (with positive commentator’s karma). Your new accout will be credited by 7 STEEM in Steem Power. With this Steem Power you will be competent user without any restrictions to post, comments and vote on other posts.

However, in spite of accessibility and ease usage of the “official” registration form it has two principal disadvantages.

First, official accounts are not anonymous – your account is linked to social network profile, developers also know your email. Also, responsibility for your account security fully lies on website steemit.com developers. Though they do manifest (and I have no reason to doubt in this) that they don’t have the access to users’ account keys which are generated during the registration process, nevertheless this keys generation process is made not by you, and the owner’s key change (i.e. further account transfer or sale) is not possible without developers’ approval. 

2. Registration via cli_wallet command prompt

To use this method, you need to download the STEEM source code, then compile and install programs package and synchronize wallet with STEEM network. And this is not that easy (in comparison with "official" registration) to do, since there is a need to have quite strong knowledge and programs compiling skills. Most likely you will also need some Lunux skills (and a computer with Linux on board).

And this is not fast way – you will need time for wallet setting and wait while it sync with network. 

If you happy, you will get console access to work with STEEM blockchain directly.  In the wallet there are a lot of commands, but for account registration purpose you need only listed below:

• get_account – to check the new account name for availability
• suggest_brain_key – to generate account access keys (owner, active, posting and memo)
• create_account – to register an account with previously generated keys (don’t forget to save them!)

I will not concentrate on details of these comaands – if you want you may look up through the source code (code is documentation) or I can submit additional article if you are interested.

The main thing you need to know about this way of registration: it guarantees full security. You generate access keys by yourself and nobody can get steal them, even theoretically. Moreover, STEEM recovery system connects new account to your existing one (and not to developers’ account), so you get full control on all further actions and not limited by anything. But there is a negative side: this account cannot be treated as fully anonymous, since it’s connected to your primary account and this connection is stored in blockchain forever.

Same as in first method, you will have 7 STEEM on your account's balance and there are no limits in writing, commenting and voting.

3. Paid third-party registration

The limitations for new users’ anonymity during registration on "official" website and via cli_wallet console have resulted development services allowing you to purchase an accounts using either Bitcoin or Litecoin for a small fee.

The procedure is quite simple, not more complicated as "official" form filling in – you need only select new user name and pay the registration fee. 7 STEEM will also be added to new user's balance, and additional expenses are quite slight to consider them as important. New user is not associated by other party (not your) account and this method can be treated as quite anonymous.

Unfortunately, from security point of view not everything is so good. After you pay the registration fee you will be given all control keys and the service developers give you the word that they do not save this keys. But there is no 100% security guarantee here.

New account will be linked to the service owner account and you will not be able to use STEEM account recovery if required.

4. PoW mining

The most secure and anonymous way of new users’ registration in STEEM. I will not get into detail on how to do STEEM mining – there is a lot of topics about mining. The main thing is that you can set up mining using the account that doesn’t exists. After PoW block is being found and approved - your account will be registered in network.

This is completely anonymous. New user will not be linked to any other acoount. This is absolutely secure – you generate the access keys yourself and no one ever touches them.

The slight negative side lies in the fact that you will have only 1 STEEM on balance. This is enough to submit posts and comment but this is not enough for voting. Post curation will be not available until you collect more Steem Power.

There are one more feature. In order to login to steemit.com website first you have to update your PoW keys using cli_wallet, then login with posting key you just set. Here is the more details and examples.

Here is a comparison table for all of STEEM account registration methods:

	Anonymity	Security	Ease of use
Official registration
cli_wallet
3-rd party paid registarion
PoW mining

5. Final words.

As you can see there is no ultimate way of registration on STEEM – every mentioned variant has its disadvantages. There is always a compromise in simplicity, anonymity and security – you will have to sacrifice one or few options. But you now have realized choice – how to connect to STEEM network depending on your needs, plans and aims here.