<== An Outsider Look at HIVE ==>
An Outsider Guide to HiveSigner & HIVE KeyChain
I am creating this Outsider Guide to HIVE for new users.
In my first post I created a new HIVE account using BlockTrades.us. The account creation process gave me a collection of keys.
Theses keys are extremely important. You need to keep copies of the keys in secure places. You should never share the keys as hackers will be able to steal your account if they gain access to the keys.
Be Sure to Create a Back Up for Your Keys
I keep a copy of my keys in an encrypted file which is in a hidden directory on my local machine. Fearing that something might happen to my local machine, I created a copy of this encrypted file in a hidden directory on a remote server.
Some people make print outs of their keys which they store in safety deposit boxes or other secured locations.
Never Share Your Keys
HIVE is real money. There are people in this world who would love to steal your HIVE. You should never give your keys with any web site. Theives are known to phish for keys by offering airdrops or by presenting fake login pages to web sites.
Your keys are worth money. Never share your keys!
HiveSigner and Hive KeyChain
To help users with key security, the Hive Community created two security programs. The first security program is a web site called HiveSigner. The second is a browser extension program called Hive KeyChain. You will probably want to install and use both programs.
Hive Signer is a web site that maintains keys and provides oauth security services for your account. Simply go to the site and press the "Get Started".
The program will ask for your user name and the master password so that HiveSigner and import. This is the one and only time that you should ever give your password to a web site.
After importing your account, HiveSigner will ask you to create a short HiveSigner password. You will use this password every time that you access a web site; so, it should be something easy to type.
HiveSigner does not store you keys. It creates unique authorization codes based on your keys. This allows you to log into web sites without compromising your keys.
HIVE Keychain
HIVE Keychain is a Browser Helper Object that people can download to their computer. Since the keychain works with your browser, you need to download the keychain from the webstore for your browser.
- HIVE Keychain on Chrome.
- Hive Keychain for Firefox.
- HIVE Keychain on Apple Store.
- HIVE Keychain Source Code on GitHub by @stoodkev.
Like HiveSigner, KeyChain stores authorization codes based on your keys. This program gets you into most HIVE based apps.
Programming With HiveSigner
HiveSigner implements the Oauth protocol for remote web authentication. The HIVE Signer Development Kit has the scope on implementing oauth on your web site. Sadly, I do not have time to write about this process.
HiveSigner History
In the early days of STEEM, people used their keys to log into different web sites. This opened the platform to phishing attacks. Sadly, some people lost STEEM in the various attacks.
In response, SteemIt developers created SteemConnect which created an remote program based on OAuth. OAuth is a open standard for web site authentication developed in 2006 by Blaine Cook for the Twitter OpenID project.
Many large firms such as Google, Amazon and Facebook have extended the standard.
The keychain BHO was developed by @stoodkev to handle keys at the browser level with the brand Steem Key Chain.
The two projects actually serve different purposes and many HIVE users use both products.
Both projects were forced to rebrand when Justin Sun executed his hostile take over of STEEM. The developers sold the SteemConnect.com domain. The Steem Keychain is still available for the Steem Application.
The @HiveSigner account shows updates on the platform. This is my post on the platform.
