Foundations · 03 / 86
Keys, hashes, and signatures
Three ideas sit under every wallet. You do not need a maths degree. You need to know which one is the secret.
The key
A private key is the secret that can move the record. A public key is the part other people can see. The address is a shorter name for that public part.
If someone else has the private key, they do not need your password. They have the money.
Hash and signature
A hash is a fingerprint of some data. Change one character and the fingerprint changes. A signature is proof that the holder of the private key approved a specific message.
You will be asked to sign things that are not payments. A signature can still be dangerous. Read what you are signing.
Check yourself
Which part must stay secret?
The private key, and the seed that can rebuild it.
After this you can name the secret (the private key) and refuse to treat a signature as a harmless click.