FAQs
To guess your seed phrase, you not only need 12 correct words. You will also need to put them in the correct order. With a current, most up-to-date computer, it will take a few billion years to find that combination.
What happens if someone finds your recovery phrase? ›
Your 24-word recovery phrase (sometimes also called a mnemonic phrase, Secret Recover Phrase or seed phrase) is the master key to all your crypto accounts. Anyone gaining access to your recovery phrase can very easily clone your accounts on their own device (or software wallet) and spend your funds.
Can someone guess my crypto private key? ›
The probability of guessing a valid Bitcoin private key is 1 in 2²⁵⁶. Said like that, it might seem like a relatively simple task.
What's the probability of guessing a seed phrase? ›
Re: What are the odds of guessing someone's private key or seedphrase? Guessing someone's private keys is extremely unlikely to happen. Although, there's this theory that anything human mind can think of is possible to happen to it would take billions of years for a computer to guess a seed phrase at random.
How secure is the seed phrase? ›
Seed phrases are a crucial aspect of crypto security. They are a sequence of random words that guarantee the recovery of wallets. While seed phrases offer an extra layer of security and recovery, handling them responsibly is important. Losing access to them can result in the loss of your wallet.
What if someone guesses my seed phrase? ›
If you think your seed phrase has been stolen or might be found by someone else: You should transfer your crypto into a new wallet as soon as possible and generate a new seed phrase. If you lose access to your wallet and lose your seed phrase: You will lose access to your crypto assets.
What if someone steals my recovery phrase? ›
Losing the backup seed phrase or recovery words for a cryptocurrency hardware wallet can be a catastrophic event for any cryptocurrency holder. In this case, the person might not be able to access their coins anymore, and the funds stored on the hardware wallet could be lost forever.
Can someone steal my crypto with my private key? ›
Applications (software) and devices can be hacked. Because private keys are stored in applications and device wallets, hackers can access them and steal your cryptocurrency.
Is it possible to find bitcoin private key? ›
It is not possible for bitcoind to know the private key from the address unless they are both stored in the wallet. Tip: The dumpprivkey command does not generate a private key from an address, as this is impossible.
What does a private bitcoin key look like? ›
What does a private Bitcoin key look like? A private Bitcoin key is a 64-character string of letters and numbers. It might look something like this: E9873D79C6D87DC0FB6A5778633389F4453213303DA61F20BD67FC233AA33262.
There are 2256 different possible 24-word mnemonic seed phrases. For comparison, the number of atoms on Earth is estimated to be around 2166. The chance of someone else being able to guess your seed is astronomically small, to say the least.
How hard is it to crack a seed phrase? ›
However, seed phrases are considered very secure by modern standards. With a 12- or 24-word seed phrase out of 2048 possible words, determining the right words in the right sequence is almost impossible.
Can two people have the same seed phrase? ›
Put simply, it's virtually impossible for two people to receive the same seed phrase. You would have a much better chance of winning the lottery several times in a row.
Can hackers get your seed phrase? ›
Storing your seed phrase on a cloud service, linked devices, or on your personal computer defeats the purpose of using a self-custody wallet, as this makes it easier for hackers to target your seed phrase. Keeping it offline can prevent any form of a cyberattack.
Are seed phrases safe? ›
Therefore, securing your seed phrase is crucial because it is the master key to accessing and controlling your cryptocurrency and digital assets. If your seed phrase is lost or stolen, you risk losing access to your digital wealth permanently, as it cannot be recovered by anyone else.
How do I protect my seed phrase? ›
Another popular option is to use indestructible seed phrase storage devices. These are often made of steel or another metal. They offer protection from fire and water, making them a safe and inconspicuous method of backing up your wallets. Popular options include Ledger's Cryptosteel Capsule, Blockplate and Seedplate.
What if my seed phrase is stolen? ›
1. Acquire or reset a replacement hardware wallet. If your seed phrase is lost or stolen, the best thing to do is purchase a replacement hardware wallet in order to generate a new key to perform a key replacement on the Unchained platform.
What is the secret recovery phrase? ›
— Your Secret Recovery Phrase (or seed phrase) is the backup of all the private keys stored in a given crypto wallet. It allows you to recover all of your blockchain addresses, even without the original crypto wallet.
Is a 12-word seed phrase safe? ›
Adequate Protection: With 2^128 possible combinations, the 12-word seed is a fortress against brute-force attacks. For most users, this level of security is more than sufficient to safeguard their digital assets.
What is the difference between a private key and a secret recovery phrase? ›
A private key, also known as a secret key, is a mathematical key that is used with an algorithm to encrypt and decrypt data. A seed phrase, AKA recovery phrase, is a series of words used to restore access to multiple private keys in a self-custody wallet. In cryptocurrency, security is everything.