Why is blockchain not secure?

All blockchain transactions are protected by cryptography. Each block essentially contains a unique, private key that can be verified with a public key. If there is a change in the transaction-related data, the block's unique key becomes invalid. As a result, the block is discarded from the chain.

Blockchain is not immune to hacking, but being decentralized gives blockchain a better line of defense. To alter a chain, a hacker or criminal would need control of more than half of all computers in the same distributed ledger (unlikely, but may be explained later). One supposed guarantee of the security of a blockchain system is “decentralization”. If the copies of the blockchain are kept on a large, widely distributed network of nodes, there is no weak spot to attack, and it is difficult for anyone to accumulate enough computing power to subvert the network.

But recent work by Sirer and his colleagues shows that neither bitcoin nor Ethereum is as decentralized as you might think. They found that the top four bitcoin mining operations had more than 53 percent of the system's average mining capacity per week. With the same measure, three Ethereum miners accounted for 61 percent. The blockchain was created to be completely immutable, so once data is placed inside the blockchain, it cannot be manipulated.

This means that data stored within the blockchain itself is highly secure. Blockchain is an encrypted electronic ledger that was developed about a decade ago to protect bitcoin transactions. The system records every key action or decision in a transaction or business process, in chronological order. As the database does not have a centralized entry point and is distributed over a computer network, many experts say it cannot be hacked.

Its reputation for safety and security and its ability to streamline complex business processes and make them more transparent has drawn the blockchain's attention to other industries, including manufacturing. Manufacturers are especially interested in using blockchain to manage the supply chain and protect themselves and their customers from counterfeit products. Blockchain technology enables decentralization through member participation in a distributed network. There is no single point of failure and a single user cannot change the transaction log.

However, blockchain technologies differ in some critical security aspects. The Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), a venture capital fund operating through a decentralized blockchain, inspired by Bitcoin, was robbed of more than $60 million worth of ether digital currency, roughly one-third of its value through code exploitation. Similar to how decentralization of blockchain technology benefits healthcare systems, so does IoT device manufacturers and how some leverage blockchain solutions to protect user data. When building a blockchain application, it's critical to assess what type of network best fits your business goals.

Blockchain technology may seem advanced, but it is no less vulnerable to good computer hacks, even in the form of a malicious individual sitting in his computer chair and accessing a blockchain network for which he has been granted permission. Given the high value and security-critical nature of some proposed implementations, it is imperative that nothing alters the data prior to its placement on the blockchain. Code exploitation occurs when a blockchain user or cybercriminal acting as a blockchain user identifies a weak spot in a blockchain's software and exploits that weakness with malicious intent. For example, you may have heard the term “mining” when it comes to Bitcoin, which is among the most popular examples of blockchain technology.

Within the blockchain of a given cryptocurrency, the entire network needs to reach a consensus on the transaction order, confirm the last transaction and publish it publicly. According to Dan Boylan of The Washington Times, the key to blockchain security is that any changes made to the database are immediately sent to all users to create a secure and established record. This decentralized tamper-proof feature has made blockchain increasingly popular beyond its original support function. The first transaction to be committed would be added to the currency's blockchain as the next block of data in its transaction history.

As other practical implementations for technology are discovered, blockchains are becoming the main contenders for solving a number of cybersecurity challenges and providing end-to-end security to global institutions. Mass adoption is leading to stricter limits and the implementation of greater security protection that revolves around blockchain technology. But even with the security provided by the very nature of the blockchain itself, in addition to a global network of nodes and miners that constantly confirm and protect the integrity of a blockchain, there are still risks. And it's about understanding the aforementioned cyber threats associated with blockchain technology and how to manage them.

Blockchain uses a decentralized or distributed ledger that exists on a large number of independent computers, often called nodes, to track, advertise, and coordinate synchronized transactions. . .