- Many people use Google Docs to store information, such as passwords and Bitcoin information
- If you’re storing a password or Bitcoin seed phrase in a Google Doc, you need to sort it out, or risk losing everything
- Use a password management app to help you store everything safely
If you’re looking for somewhere to store your many seed phrases, passwords and wallet addresses, there are a ton of amazing places. However, a worrying trend is emerging, with people shoving all their important information into a Google Doc. Now, if you’ve ever read any of my posts before, you will know how much this revelation has horrified me. As someone who’s security conscious, this is just about the worst thing you could possibly do.
If this is you, finish reading up this post and then go and change EVERYTHING. Your crypto could be on the line, don’t risk it!
As Secure as a Soggy Cardboard Box
Let’s begin by saying this, if you’re making the choice to store all your seed phrases and passwords in a Google Doc, all of your passwords are the same and your pin numbers are your date of birth, or all the same as your first debit card’s pin. It’s ok, everyone has to start somewhere, but now you’re in the big leagues – the world of crypto.
If the above statement applies to you, then you would probably be better off by writing all of your information on the side of a cardboard box and leaving it in the parking lot of a mall. Google Docs is incredibly unsecure, and if you’ve not closed down the locks on your privacy, it can be really easy to get into this sheet.
What Can I Do?
I’m not going to mock you all day long. For now, it’s time to get to work fixing your mistake. Begin by getting yourself a password management app, such as PassCamp, Dashlane, RoboForm or LastPass. Start putting all of your passwords and login information in this app and enabling 2FA. Once you’ve got all your passwords imported in there, head on over to each site and change them to unique, randomly generated 12-character passwords.
Don’t worry about remembering them. As long as you update the record in your password management app, you’ll be able to open the app and autofill any login form, that’s easier than using the same password for everything!
Next up, create new wallets for your crypto, writing down the seed phrases, pins and anything else on a piece of paper. Send all of your crypto to these new wallets and consider your old wallets useless. You never know who managed to access that document, so pay it safe. After all, it’s your money on the line.
If you really want, you can store your seed phrases, pins and other gubbins in these password management apps as notes, but if you do so, remember they’re stored on a cloud somewhere and it’s not as secure. But it’s still better than storing them on a Google Doc.
Finally, delete that sheet and be rid of your unsecure life. Welcome to the secure life where you’re one of the safe ones. Your accounts and crypto will thrive in your new security-focused lifestyle.
Go and Do It!
This process might take you a few hours to complete, but it’s worth every second. The last thing you want is your data to get leaked in a major data breach, like the Ledger leak, exposing your details to the world. If you’re following the steps outlined in this article, you’ll be safer than virtually everyone else in the leak, meaning that you’re less of a target.
If you want to see if you’ve ever had any information leaked, haveibeenpwned.com is a great tool. Just pop in your email address and if it’s in any leak, you’ll see what info has been leaked about you.
Stay safe, my children!
