Blockchain Security

Technology has become one great constant in our lives, and one won't be amazed to encounter rapid advancements in the same field. With specialized networking systems and social media platforms, the need for increased security and privacy has undoubtedly become the need of the hour. Blockchain security is the answer to this problem as it helps reduce fraudulent attacks through various cybersecurity measures. One great example is how cryptocurrencies use this method to ensure secure transactions. To know more about this risk management system, keep scrolling.

What is Blockchain Security?

Blockchain simply means recording information, transactions, etc., and transparently preventing hacking, stealth, or cyber infringement of any kind, thus securing data. With the upsurge in global online shift, securing data and transactions between parties has become increasingly necessary. A blockchain database stores data in blocks linked together in a chain.

Since its inception in 1991, this technology has come a long way and has an even longer way to go. The market demand for blockchain technology has just started with great prospects ahead. With the future resting in the hands of digitized users, secured transactions and privacy in communication, along with the ambiguity of certain users, have emerged as new concerns.

The best examples of blockchain security are its usage in digital transactions, cybersecurity, and healthcare. Be it payment-related data, information about the user's location, or sensitive information of any patient, Blockchain Security is the one-stop solution.

Technologies like these come into play when we talk about cyber security and management. The blockchain market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 85.9% worldwide, between 2022 and 2030.

How is Blockchain Used for Security?

It breaks the entire dataset into blocks and secures the bits and pieces of information, thus making it harder to toy or tamper with the information in any way.

Let us take the example of a transaction incurred on a Blockchain-based application. Whenever the transaction is initiated, a respective block is created in the network for storing the data of that particular transaction. Validation of the block in the distributed peer-to-peer network is followed by nodes of the network receiving a green signal for proof of task completion. Then the block gets added to the existing Blockchain, and the transaction is successfully completed.

Blockchain technology generates a database scheme with ingrained security mechanisms. Cryptography is used to safeguard documentation on a blockchain.

Since blockchain-based data frameworks are based on fundamentals such as agreement, data encryption, and decentralization, they have intrinsically secured means of communication. So every new structure of data makes a connection to all preceding blocks in such a way that tampering is practically impossible.

Blockchain Security

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Types of Blockchain

Types of Blockchain

1. Public Blockchain

A blockchain network that allows free joining and participation by users.

Salient Features of Public Blockchain:

  • Anyone can join and conduct transactions
  • Non-restrictive
  • Users can perform mining operations
  • Users have access to historical and contemporary records
  • Public source code which restricts random alterations by users

The transparent and open system makes public Blockchain relatively secure and trustable compared to other blockchain types.

The extensive network with many nodes slows down the entire process and is time-consuming to verify transactions and proof of work. This results into:

  • Lower transactions per second
  • Energy consumption issues
  • Restricted scalability

The most practical uses of public Blockchain include:

  • Voting: to ensure transparency
  • Fundraising: to ensure trust and openness

2. Private Blockchain

When only specific users have access and the ability to use the Blockchain network, it is known as a Private Blockchain.

Features:

  • Restricted network
  • Controlled by a single entity
  • Smaller as compared to public Blockchain
  • Run on the small network within a firm or organization
  • Business blockchain

Due to the smaller number of nodes, the speed of transactions and their verification becomes faster, allowing for personalized scalability (increasing or decreasing the scale of transactions according to specific requirements).

Fewer participants and nodes raise issues like lowered security, lack of trust, and centralized control by the owner.

It’s often used in supply chain management, asset management, and within-organization voting.

3. Hybrid Blockchain

It takes the best of features from public and private Blockchains while ensuring access to which data is to be kept confidential and which can be made public.

Features of Hybrid Blockchain:

  • Permission-based system
  • The simultaneous presence of controlled access and freedom
  • Customizable Blockchain architecture
  • Centralized control by the owner entity is a difficult task, given the varied choice of features from the network by users.

Advantages of Hybrid Blockchain:

  • Tackles 51% Attack on the network by operating within a closed environment
  • Ensures privacy
  • Faster and cost-effective as compared to public blockchain networks

Widespread users of hybrid blockchain networks include retailers, real estate agencies, etc.

4. Consortium Blockchain

Just as the name suggests, the ownership of a consortium network is private, not by a single entity or authority but rather by a group of individuals or organizations from different sectors.

Features of Consortium Blockchain:

  • Partial decentralization
  • A high degree of controllability
  • Increased speed of transactions

Advantages Consortium Blockchain:

  • Easy detection of rule breakers
  • Increased trust among involved companies
  • Secured and scalable
  • No service/transaction fee

Disadvantages Consortium Blockchain:

  • Highly regulated and sophisticated process of launching or updation of blockchain networks
  • Requires the approval of all organizations involved for use

Often used in supply logistics, healthcare, insurance payments, banking, and finance.

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Blockchain security challenges

Routing Attacks:

  • Blockchains depend on immense data transfer processes performed in real-time.
  • Tactful hackers can intercept the data on its way to ISPs (Internet Service Providers) using an account's anonymity. It happens so that blockchain users don't notice anything missing.
  • The data transmission and operations continue as they were before, without any visible changes.
  • Extraction of confidential information without the user's knowledge leads to massive long-term damage.

51% Attacks:

  • Malicious hackers tend to seize control over half of the data and thus draw access to the entire system. This might turn out to be disastrous, leading to loopholes in transactional processes.
  • One might reverse the previously occurred transaction to give a sense to the user that the transaction did not occur while leading to double spending, on the other hand.
  • Moreover, the order of transactions can also be manipulated besides forestalling transactions.

Phishing Attacks:

  • Sending legitimate-looking emails disguised as cyber-attacks, phishing is one of the most common blockchain security challenges.
  • The emails ask for users' credentials such that they might seem most genuine and reliable.
  • Access to users' credentials may cause damage to both users and the blockchain network itself.

Sybil Attacks:

  • Sybil attacks flood the target network with an overwhelming amount of false identities, crashing the system.

The Private Key:

  • It can be seen as the main key to the user's funds.
  • If the private key is weak, it can be easy for cyberpunks to hack.
  • This means that they could easily gain access to users' funds.
  • Private keys should be kept secret and strong enough that they can't be easily guessed.

Blockchain Security Tools

  1. Truffle: A popular Ethereum development framework with tools for testing and debugging smart contracts.
  2. Ganache: A personal Ethereum Blockchain that can be used for testing and development, including a user interface for interacting with smart contracts.
  3. TestRPC: A Node.js-based simulator for Ethereum smart contracts. It allows you to test contracts on a simulated Ethereum network.
  4. MythX: A smart contract security analysis.
  5. SWC-Registry: Test cases and Smart contract weakness classification.
  6. Oyente: A static analysis tool to check security challenges.
  7. Manticore: An execution tool of binaries and Ethereum Smart Contracts.
  8. SmartCheck: Static smart contract security analyzer.
  9. Securify 2.0: A security scanner.
  10. Surya: A utility tool to prepare a text-oriented report.
  11. Solgraph: Generates a DOT graph and highlights potential security vulnerabilities.
  12. Octopus: A security analysis framework.
  13. Solidity Security Blog: Involves a detailed list of bugs, vulnerabilities, crypto-related hacks, and preventative measures.

Features of Blockchain Technology

Features of Blockchain Technology

Decentralization

Decentralization, in literal terms, means the dispersion of control or authority to local heads and subheads rather than just a single organization. Decentralization in blockchain technology also refers to a group of nodes maintaining the network rather than just a single organization.

The users can directly access data and transactions as the system doesn't require any kind of external governance.

One can store anything from cryptocurrencies, important documents, contracts, or other valuable digital assets. Just as in real life, decentralization in blockchain also gives the common people their power and rights back on their assets.

Several advantages of this blockchain feature include:

  • Fewer chances of failure
  • User Control
  • Fewer Breakdowns
  • Transparency
  • Authenticity

Cryptography and Hashing

Hashing is the process of converting an original piece of data into a digest or hash. The process uses cryptographic hash functions for the irreversible conversion of the message.

Consensus Protocol

The consensus algorithms form an integral part of any blockchain. The consensus protocol is a decision-making process for the group of nodes present on the network.

Due to this blockchain feature, the nodes can come to an agreement quickly and relatively faster, which is essential for data retrieval and transactions.

Just as consensus amongst all party members is necessary to arrive at a conclusive decision, a harmony among all nodes on the network is also essential for a system to run smoothly.

Consensus protocol backs the decentralization function of blockchain.

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Blockchain Security Tips and Best Practices

1. Implementing Two Factor Authentication

To make sure that only the rightful account owner may access their account, a 2-factor authentication is utilized as an additional layer of security. To access their account via this technique, the user must first input a username and password combination and additional information before proceeding.

This is done to combat users' propensity to forget previously supplied information depending on what they already know. It uses techniques including one-time password (OTP) verification, key cards, and smartphones.

2. Using VPN

This is done to combat users' propensity to forget previously supplied information depending on what they already know. It uses techniques including one-time password (OTP) verification, key cards, and smartphones.

Users are not required to share any information with the owner of the application during the second stage of authentication because it is dynamic in nature. This reduces the chance that the account may be hacked as a result of credentials being stolen.

3. Using anti-phishing tools

Phishing as a cyber crime has already been discussed above in the topic “Challenges Faced in Blockchain Technology.” The need to combat such cybercrimes arises and thus the need for anti-phishing tools comes into play. It is believed that the use of codes can reduce such phishing scams. Using codes can allow for the cross-verification of legitimate or illegitimate emails.

4. Keep your software up to date

It is the new advancements in technology that are equipped to deal with new hacking styles and cyber crimes. Advancements in software should not be ignored by the user but should be ensured to renew from time to time. With this, the user not only ensures system safety but also the privacy and security of confidential information and transactions.

5. Allow listing trusted senders and receivers

The senders and recipients of data should be known and trusted. With full verification of those involved; one can then only vouch for security and privacy. Connecting with unverified and unknown users can land one in trouble.

Once the information is leaked, it is almost impossible to reverse the doing. It is thus asked to allow only established contacts and those which can be backed up by proof and evidence.

Conclusion:

With digitalization, Blockchain technology has become an essential part in various fields and uses. Issues like confidentiality and ambiguity arise a rooting need for technology like blockchain development and management.

We hope you’re now familiar with the basics of Blockchain like its functions, major types, challenges encountered while creating one, and so on.

As Blockchain security assumes new dimensions now and then, stay tuned to our blogs for more updates.

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Amani
Amani
Research Analyst
As a content writer at HKR trainings, I deliver content on various technologies. I hold my graduation degree in Information technology. I am passionate about helping people understand technology-related content through my easily digestible content. My writings include Data Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Python, Salesforce, Servicenow and etc.

Blockchain Security FAQ's

Blockchain security is a popular complete risk management system for all blockchain networks, using Cyber Security frameworks and other best practices. It helps to reduce the risk of potential cyber-attacks and fraud.

Ethereum is considered the best and most secure Blockchain and cryptocurrency platform

These are Public, Private, Hybrid, and Consortium Blockchains.

Blockchain technology has in-built security features that protect the user's privacy. It is because it's based on decentralization, consensus, and encrypted Cryptography principles.

The following are the essential aspects of blockchain security:-

  • Data privacy and security
  • Secure Transactions
  • Smart Contracts
  • Identity management
  • Access control