Your Status keys and recovery phrase (also referred to as a mnemonic phrase or seed phrase) secure and authenticate your communications and transactions.
Your public Status key is like an email address, serving as an identifier you can share with others for communication. When you share your Status profile with others, you share your public key.
On the other hand, you should never share your private key, which safeguards your sensitive information and crypto assets. This private key generates a recovery phrase, a sequence of words that serves as your private key backup. If you lose access to your device or forget your password, you can restore your Status profile using this recovery phrase.
Like many web3 apps and crypto wallets, the Status app uses a system based on a public and private key instead of the conventional username and password model. Your private key is only known to you and is not stored on any central server, unlike usernames and passwords. This decentralized approach to security is a core principle of web3 applications.
The device where you install the Status app stores your keys and encrypts the private key with your Status password. If your device has secure hardware (like Apple's Secure Enclave or other trusted platform modules), the Status app uses this hardware to save your keys, providing an additional layer of security beyond encrypting the private key with a password.
After you create your Status profile and back up your recovery phrase, you won't be able to see your recovery phrase in the Status app any more. This way, you can be sure that your recovery phrase and private key aren't accessible even if someone gains unauthorized access to your device.
Your private key is only accessible to the Status app on your device and protected by your Status password.
Remember your Status password and keep it in a safe place, back up and secure your recovery phrase or use a hardware wallet like Keycard for extra security.
If your recovery phrase gets into the wrong hands, the person who has it can gain full access to your Status profile and crypto funds.
Since the recovery phrase is a backup of your private key, a malicious user can use it to restore your profile and wallet on any device. That's why it's crucial to keep your recovery phrase confidential and store it in a secure location. If you think someone else has access to your recovery phrase, check out If someone else has access to your Wallet.
No. Status doesn't have access to your recovery phrase or private key and can't recover this information for you. If you can't find your recovery phrase, check out If you lose your Status password or recovery phrase.
If you forget your password or lose your device, you can use your recovery phrase to restore your Status profile. It's crucial to keep your recovery phrase and password safe and secure.