There are approximately half a billion encryption users around the world, and in the most generous estimates, only 2.5 % uses hardware portfolios. This is a small number, but I am comfortable, it's not higher.
Why? Because I want people to bitcoin on Bitcoin at a billion, and I want to see everyone for self -fraud safely. Consumer approved wallet industry is one of the biggest obstacles that prevent this goal. And not only to adopt Bitcoin: The entire decentralization revolution is at risk if we do not address the deadly defect in the heart of the most popular governor in the world.
The governor maintains water
Last year on these pages, Lucien Bordon celebrated “10 years of the portfolio revolution.” There is a lot that I agree with, but one blatant neglect. With almost no exception, the governor of the “leading” consumer devices has not been created in the market today a decade ago. As every security expert knows, if you are not progressing constantly, you are moving back.
The problem is not simply that the new threats are constantly appearing, it is that bitcoin use is developing quickly. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are no longer valuable stores; They are now an increasing way for all types of complex transactions. However, the technology of the main devices portfolios has not changed mainly from the days when its basic benefit was safe keys that are not connected to the Internet. It is the same with UX, as users are still expected to write their words and then switch on a small screen every time they want to agree to the transaction.
This is not just a Bitcoin problem. The future of security will witness the protection of our most valuable digital assets and sensitive data with encryption keys. In fact, the entire decentralized economy depends on what is inside this portfolio – so let's take a peek.
Confidence, not achieved?
Lucian was right to emphasize that Bitcoin's strength comes from her commitment to the principles of open source. Where I do not agree with it that the open source has been adopted by the “most of the wallet industry”.
The fact is that the leading devices governor is still based on closed and ownership royal systems that users cannot fully examine. If they cannot search, they will not be able to check; If they cannot verify, why should users take the manufacturers' demands for confidence?
I think that the reason for many devices portfolios remains “black boxes” is that they have something that they hide-such as smart card technology that belongs to contracts used by many portfolios that Bitcoins pledged their keys. This technique is not suitable for the use of encryption today, and certainly not for the future of decentralized safety, as we will need keys to protect everything from our digital identities to accreditation data.
A barrier in front of innovation … and adoption
The constant dependence on the governor of the devices on closed systems is not just a security nightmare: it is also terrible to innovate and adopt the bitcoin.
Today's portfolio is effective walled gardens, where developers must follow the restricted rules and cannot provide any degree of allocation to users. This is not only controlling a stranger for its interest; It is often the basic technology function. Devices such as the Professor's book need to give each application access to the main seeds; It is clear that this means that it must be sought hard before approval (if they are at all).
If this is the way the application store works, we will continue to carry the Nokia 3310s tour in our pockets. Instead, we got open environmental systems, a prosperous developed community, a competition and a galaxy of great applications.
This is what I wish for the governor. When the developers can build without permission, they will not only provide new jobs and experience an improved user, but will play a key role in the Wallets development to support (and secure) the increasing complexity of Bitcoin applications.
The governor must be a center for innovation, a place for developers to create the killer applications that will force people to adopt bitcoin -based services and blocks. In fact, the ecological system such as LEDGER is the “Application Store”, as it hinders the decentralized innovation instead of pushing it forward.
Open your wallet
The solution is simple and necessary: transparency. Just as strong encryption depends on open source algorithms for the public to ensure safety, devices that store the encryption keys must follow the same philosophy. Open source devices and programs enable researchers, developers and even individual users to check and verify security measures, reduce dependence on manufacturers' claims and increase merit with comprehensive confidence.
More and more safe alternatives already exist. The governor of the devices based on the microkernel microkerel devices provide a more powerful safety, allowing independent verification of their safety. These systems guarantee that there is no single company that controls the safety of users' keys to users, which reduces the risk of hidden weakness and enhancing innovation.
The good news is that only one of 40 users of the blades currently own a portfolio of devices. Let's make sure that we give the other 39 a truly safe way to take advantage of their digital future-and to support innovation that will attract other billions of dollars to adopt.
This is a guest post from Zach Herbert. The opinions that are expressed are completely property and do not necessarily reflect the views of BTC Inc or Magazine Bitcoin.