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What is a Recovery Phrase?
A Recovery Phrase, also known as a seed phrase, is a unique combination of words that serves as a cryptographic key. A typical Recovery Phrase consists of 12, 18, or 24 words selected from a predefined list of words.
The primary purpose of a Recovery Phrase is to provide a secure and convenient method for backing up and restoring encrypted information. By utilizing a Recovery Phrase, we can recover our private keys and access our digital assets even if our devices are lost, stolen, or damaged. It acts as a master key that unlocks the gateway to our data, making it an indispensable tool for long-term data preservation and security.
Recovery Phrases follow a standardized protocol called BIP-39 (Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 39), which ensures compatibility across different wallets and applications. The BIP-39 protocol also introduces a checksum to detect transcription errors, minimizing the risk of loss due to human error.
The strength of a Recovery Phrase lies in its ability to safeguard your digital assets. When properly generated, managed, and stored, it is nearly impossible for anyone to obtain your Recovery Phrase without your consent or knowledge. Recovery Phrases are generated using complex mathematical algorithms, and the sheer number of possible combinations makes it extremely challenging for an attacker to guess or brute-force their way to your Recovery Phrase.
However, it's crucial to understand that the responsibility of protecting your Recovery Phrase ultimately lies with you. While it may be tempting to write it down or store it digitally for convenience, these methods can introduce vulnerabilities. Instead, it is recommended to write down your Recovery Phrase on a physical medium, such as paper or metal, and store it securely in a location known only to you. Avoid storing your Recovery Phrase on devices connected to the internet or in cloud storage, as they can be compromised by hackers or unauthorized access.
Linux users may be asked for their Recovery Phrase each time they log in. To resolve this issue, please install a keychain. The most popular is GNOME Keyring — check the discussion on the Community Forum.