How to secure your keys and your Unchained account
Geographically separate your hardware wallets and seed phrase backups
Each key to your vault involves two physical items: a hardware wallet and a seed phrase. Your hardware wallet is for using your key to sign transactions, and your written seed phrase backup is used to restore your key if an existing device breaks.
To get the benefits of multisig security, you must avoid keeping all the items in the same physical location. Failing to separate them can make events like natural disasters or robbery a single point of failure for your bitcoin.
The first and best step is to move one seed phrase backup to a second secure physical location. This simple action will remove all single points of failure. Then, if you have more items, consider separating them further.
To get the benefits of multisig security, you must avoid keeping all the items in the same physical location. Failing to separate them can make events like natural disasters or robbery a single point of failure for your bitcoin.
The first and best step is to move one seed phrase backup to a second secure physical location. This simple action will remove all single points of failure. Then, if you have more items, consider separating them further.
Ideally, the hardware wallets and seed phrases for each key have their own secure, geographically-separated storage location.
Secure secondary locations may include a personal office safe, bank safety deposit box, a summer home, or even a trusted friend or family member’s residence. If you want reassurance that no one else has seen your seed phrase, you can put it inside a sealed tamper-evident bag.
Learn how to secure your hardware wallets and backups
Which item should you first geographically separate to ensure basic key security?
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Set up 2FA for your Unchained account
To maximize your account security, we recommend setting up two-factor authentication (2FA) using an authenticator app. This extra layer of security ensures that even if someone gets your password, they still need a second piece of information to access your account.
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To do this, download a Time-based One-time Password (TOTP) authenticator app such as Google Authenticator (iOS, Android), Authy, OTP Auth, or AndOTP. Alternatively, you can set up 2FA using a Yubikey with the Yubico Authenticator app.
Sign in to your account, navigate to User Info, open the Security tab, and enable 2FA. Scan the QR code with your authenticator app, enter the six-digit code, and confirm the setup.
Sign in to your account, navigate to User Info, open the Security tab, and enable 2FA. Scan the QR code with your authenticator app, enter the six-digit code, and confirm the setup.
What security tool protects your Unchained account even if your password is compromised?
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Get support from Unchained safely
On the left side of your screen, select Support to view our contact information if you need assistance. We also have a Knowledge Base full of answers to the most common questions.
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When communicating with Unchained, use our Support PINs feature to verify the person you’re speaking to is a real Unchained employee. This helps protect you attackers who might be giving you malicious advice. Unchained will never ask you to send bitcoin to an unsolicited address.
How do you verify that you’re talking to a real Unchained employee during a support call?
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