Introduction
At Censo, we often joke that we'd love to get to know each of our users personally – but rest assured, we never will. And there's a good reason for that. In the world of cryptocurrency, privacy isn't just a preference; it's a necessity. Our commitment to your anonymity goes beyond a mere feature; it's woven into the very fabric of how Censo operates.
The Paradox of Authentication and Anonymity
In an ideal world, robust authentication and complete anonymity would go hand in hand. That’s the world we’re striving to create at Censo. We require absolute certainty in user authentication because we're dealing with something as precious as your digital records – your seed phrases. At the same time, we understand the philosophical and practical importance of privacy, especially in the crypto universe.
Why Anonymity Matters
For many crypto users, privacy is part of their core ethos. Censo respects this, not just philosophically, but also as a fundamental aspect of our service.
The Intersection of Security and Privacy
Ensuring user privacy enhances security in profound ways. By not holding any Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Censo ensures that, even in the unlikely event of a data breach, the information is virtually useless to hackers.
- Learning from the Past: Incidents like the Ledger hardware wallet data breach[1] illustrate the dangers of linking user PII to crypto assets. At Censo, we sidestep this risk entirely by maintaining anonymity.
- Beyond Personal Preference: Anonymity in Censo isn't just about user comfort; it's a bulwark against phishing attacks, threats, and unwarranted government intrusions.
Censo's Authentication: A Two-Pronged Approach
Our approach to authentication for Apple (and similarly for Google users) is twofold, involving an Apple Login ID and advanced biometric technology:
- Pairwise Pseudonymous Identifiers (PPIDs): Unique to each user-Censo interaction, these identifiers ensure that we recognize you without ever knowing you. The PPID is hashed before it even leaves your phone, leaving us with only a SHA2 hash – a far cry from any identifiable information.
- Face Biometry with Liveness Test: Powered by FaceTec, this cutting-edge technology ensures that only you can access your seed phrase. We store an encrypted map of your face, not actual photos, making it useless in anyone else’s hands.
The Beauty of PPIDs Explained
Pairwise Pseudonymous Identifiers are at the heart of enhancing user privacy in digital interactions. They create a unique ID for each user- client pair, ensuring that different clients cannot correlate or share information about users. This approach is a cornerstone in our privacy- centric architecture, guaranteeing that your interactions with Censo remain yours and yours alone.
Conclusion
So there you have it. At Censo, we take your privacy seriously – so seriously, in fact, that we choose to know nothing about you. In the dynamic world of crypto, where security and anonymity are paramount, we stand as a beacon of trust, ensuring that your digital assets are protected without compromising your personal identity. We would love to know you better, but in the interest of your security and privacy, we're content to ensure that we never will.
[1] Ledger data leak: A ‘simple mistake’ exposed 270K crypto wallet buyers
