Keys

Cryptography Basics for Developers Cryptography helps protect information by transforming it. It can keep secrets safe, prove who sent a message, and ensure it wasn’t tampered with. As a developer, you should rely on proven libraries rather than writing crypto code yourself. Small mistakes can undermine security and give attackers an easy path in. What cryptography does Cryptography has three main jobs: confidentiality (keeping data secret), integrity (detecting tampering), and authenticity (proving who sent something). ...

Blockchain wallets and smart contracts basics Blockchain wallets are the tools you use to manage digital money and to run programs on the blockchain. A wallet stores keys, not coins. The keys prove you own assets and allow you to sign transactions that move funds or interact with apps on the chain. There are several types of wallets. Hardware wallets are small devices that keep your keys offline. Software wallets are apps on a phone or computer. Custodial wallets are managed by a service, where the company holds your keys for you. Non-custodial wallets give you sole control of your keys, but you are responsible for backups and keeping the device safe. ...

Encryption, Keys, and Best Practices Encryption helps protect information even when systems are breached. It secures data at rest in databases and files, and data in transit between services and users. A thoughtful plan blends both protections to keep data safe in many situations. Two main kinds of keys exist. Symmetric keys use the same secret to encrypt and decrypt. They are fast for large data and simple to deploy. Asymmetric keys have a public key for encryption or sharing and a private key for decryption or signing. They are handy for exchanging keys and proving identity. ...