How easy is it to guess a 12-word crypto seed?
- What is a seed phrase?
- How easy is it to guess a 12-word crypto seed?
- Risks associated with the 12-word seed phrase
- Examples of seed phrase attacks
- How to protect your seed phrase
Seed phrases, times of 12 or 24 words, are an essential security feature of krypton wallets. They are used to restore access to your cryptocurrencies in the event of a lost device/wallet.
1. What is a seed phrase?
Imagine you have a bank account and all you need to log in is a list of 12 words written on paper.
That’s exactly how the seed phrase works. When you create a cryptocurrency wallet, you get these 12 words, which serve as the master key to renew your account.
2. How easy is it to guess a 12-word crypto seed?
Guessing a 12-word seed is practically impossible. The seed phrase is composed of randomly selected words from a fixed list of 2,048 words, resulting in 5.4 × 10³⁹(It’s 54 with 39 zeros) possible combinations. To put this into perspective—even if the most powerful supercomputer in the world were trying billions of combinations per second, it would take billions of years to crack the seed.
- Imagine guessing a PIN for a bank card, but instead of four digits, you have to guess an entire book of words in the correct order. The chances of success are zero. That’s why hackers don’t try to brute-force the seed; instead, they use phishing websites, malware, and scams to trick you into revealing it. Encryption won’t help you then!
BIP-39, který definuje slova používaná při skládání seedu, byl vytvořen v roce 2013 a výrazně zjednodušil zálohování kryptoměnových peněženek. Na jeho vývoji se podílel i Marek “Slush” Palatinus.
3. Risks Associated with a 12-Word Seed Phrase
Even though a 12-word seed phrase is highly secure, there are certain risks:
• Phrase leakage: If someone gains access to your seed phrase, they can instantly take control of your cryptocurrencies.
• Malware and phishing: Malicious software or fraudulent websites may target your seed phrase to steal it.
• Physical theft: If your seed phrase is written on paper or stored on an unsecured device, it can be stolen.
4. Examples of Attacks on Seed Phrases
In the past, there have been cases where seed phrases were compromised:
• Attacks on weak passwords: Some users choose their own seed phrases, which are easy to guess, making it easier for attackers to exploit them.
• Backup theft: Improperly stored seed phrase backups have been found and used to steal cryptocurrencies.
5. How to Protect Your Seed Phrase
• Store your seed phrase offline: Never save your seed phrase in digital form.
• Use a hardware wallet: These devices store the seed phrase in a secure offline environment.
• Create physical backups: Write your seed phrase on paper or a specialized device and keep it in a safe place.
• Separate storage: Keep your seed phrase and hardware wallet in different secure locations. For example, store your seed phrase in a home safe and the device in another secure place.
• Stay cautious: Never share your seed phrase with anyone and ignore suspicious requests asking for it.
• Use a passphrase: This extra layer of protection ensures that even if someone gets hold of your seed phrase, they won’t access your funds without the passphrase.
Conclusion:
A 12-word seed phrase is extremely secure against technical breaches, but its biggest weakness is human error. Most people lose their cryptocurrencies due to scams, poor security, or mistakes in seed storage.
If you protect your seed properly, your cryptocurrencies will remain safe. Just follow the golden rule: “Whoever has the seed, has control.” Or in other words, “Not your keys, not your coins.”
Want to ensure your seed stays secure?
Use safe storage methods! Paper can burn, digital notes can be hacked—but a durable metal backup can withstand anything.
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