Community post
Removing data from blockchain is impossible without breaking the chain
I don't think we can't permanently remove data from a blockchain (Hive blockchain in this case) without ruining the chain. That is why privacy on Hive is not merely lacking - it is non-existent. I also don't expect that one of Hive's future updates will support this function.
Replies (15)
Just a fact - the government of Estonia runs on blockchain. Imagine if even a tiny part of the chain is changed - its credibility will be ruined. It practically upholds the distinction between the "public" word in "public officials" (and "private" in "private citizens").
privacy can also come through encryption
Encrypting your data while putting it publicly online invites surveillance entities to try breaking your encryption. Also, the metadata of your encrypted data (its owner, time of upload, size of data, and its intended recipients) can tell a lot about what the encrypted data is.
Also, why encrypt data only to send it to a recipient here on Hive, where it gets posted into the blockchain? The fact that communication occurred between two people already tells enough. It is much better to use secure communications apps (such as Signal) for that.
yes they can try decrypt hive and btc..
have fun
Why do you think that?
If you use a pseudonym and don't write about yourself, how should you be identified?
Via your IP address?
Personally, I think Hive is mostly about direct monetization of content and uncensorability.
That's a common way of identifying a person behind an anonymous account, but there is something that has a more devastating effect on anonymity - accidentally putting personally-identifiable information (such as name or email address).
What do you mean?
By the way, I am not having fun trying to be as private and anonymous as possible. It is a necessity.
they can try decrypting / "hacking" bitcoin or hive.. they won't manage it to come through so they will waste time and have fun.. ;)
I now realize that you missed my point. I said that encrypting something but storing it publicly still tells a lot about the uploader. It does not matter if the encryption is broken or not.
You are telling something about "having fun", but you don't realize how much the metadata (data that describes data) can tell about the data itself (before it is encrypted) and its original uploader.
you could encrypt everything
Isn't it possible to hide one's IP address via VPN, Tor, or tools like that?
Again, you are missing my point. I know you can encrypt every bit of the data itself and nobody can decrypt them without the private keys, but you cannot encrypt the metadata - uploader data, time of upload, data size, other uploads of the user, intended recipients, etc.
You can do that, but it cannot guarantee your anonymity (or privacy) forever. In fact, I am always using the Tor browser to access Hive, but now is the time for me to stop my anonymous activities due to the risks.