Please show me how to sign a message step by step and what is its significance ?

[safetybitcoin]

Hi everyone,

I am a member of this forum for quite some time and I have seen many people here are often asked to sign a message when making a purchase

transactions. I really do not know what it means to do what it is and please help me understand it a most thorough and instructions step by step.

If possible, please illustrate it with a concrete example. For example : You sell an item for me and I ask you to sign a message. So what do you do ?

and I will do? to complete this purchase.

I look forward to your help !

Sincerely thanks !

[1714599462]

1714599462

[1714599462]

1714599462

[Death]

I would like to know as well. I hear and read about it all the time but nobody wants to explain it. Tried googling and youtube, no luck. Although it may be automatic.

[BlindMayorBitcorn]

Here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=990345.0

[Bittings]

Here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=990345.0

Above link explains how to sign very well. If we come to second part of your question:

Well, there are -at least- 2 purposes that I know.

a-) For example, lets say youre selling some btt forum accounts, people want a signed message from a BTC address at an old unedited post to prove that account is not stolen or hacked.

b-) Lets say youre selling some goods and you have a deal a potential buyer. Buyer can ask a signed message from you not to change your idea or the price. The purpose of signed message is here opposite side cannot change the deal unless providing a new signed message and you can easily prove the original deal. When there is a conflict between buyer and seller, a signed message can handle the problem.

[safetybitcoin]

Here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=990345.0

Thanks for your help ! And I have already read that thread. I also knew how to sign a message from my bitcoin-core clients. But I don't know after I signed a message then what I will do next ? I can change it by a new message with the same bitcoin address later or not ?
So, I hope everyone here help me "step by step" .
Thanks again !

[Bittings]

Here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=990345.0

Thanks for your help ! And I have already read that thread. I also knew how to sign a message from my bitcoin-core clients. But I don't know after I signed a message then what I will do next ? I can change it by a new message with the same bitcoin address later or not ?
So, I hope everyone here help me "step by step" .
Thanks again !

Lets say you are selling 10 LTC @ 0.06 BTC and buyer agrees with you at that price and wants a signed message from you.

1-) You sign a message that includes the sale price and other terms and send it to potential buyer.
2-) Buyer keeps signed message for a possible conflict.
3-) If everything goes smoothly, deal is closed. However , either one of parties doesnot obey the deal , it will be easy to identify the who breaks the rules.

Possible conflicts:
Buyer sends 0.06 BTC and you can say that it isnt the sale price , it is 0.065 BTC.(But signed message says 0.06 BTC)
Buyer sends 0.06 BTC to an unknown BTC address that you arent specified in the signed message. So, you can prove that you didnt get the payment in case of wrong payment.

4-) Third party looks at the signed message and decides the wrong side of the deal. But please keep in mind a signed message doesnt prevent the scam. It just helps out the faulty part. If you are dealing transaction , use an ESCROW not to worry in future.

[safetybitcoin]

Here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=990345.0

Above link explains how to sign very well. If we come to second part of your question:

Well, there are -at least- 2 purposes that I know.

a-) For example, lets say youre selling some btt forum accounts, people want a signed message from a BTC address at an old unedited post to prove that account is not stolen or hacked.

b-) Lets say youre selling some goods and you have a deal a potential buyer. Buyer can ask a signed message from you not to change your idea or the price. The purpose of signed message is here opposite side cannot change the deal unless providing a new signed message and you can easily prove the original deal. When there is a conflict between buyer and seller, a signed message can handle the problem.

Oh, I sincere thank you for your help !Your answer helped me understand more about the meaning of this especially "part b" . Now I can know how is the inportance of the sign a message. But I still have a wonder . How can I check that message ? How a signed message can handle the problem ?
Sincerely thanks again!

[Bittings]

How can I check that message ?

You can check and verify a signed message from online https://brainwallet.github.io/#verify or you can check it from your wallets installed on your computer. Its already explained first answer to OP.

How a signed message can handle the problem ?

===snip===

Lets say you are selling 10 LTC @ 0.06 BTC and buyer agrees with you at that price and wants a signed message from you.

1-) You sign a message that includes the sale price and other terms and send it to potential buyer.
2-) Buyer keeps signed message for a possible conflict.
3-) If everything goes smoothly, deal is closed. However , either one of parties doesnot obey the deal , it will be easy to identify the who breaks the rules.

Possible conflicts:
Buyer sends 0.06 BTC and you can say that it isnt the sale price , it is 0.065 BTC.(But signed message says 0.06 BTC)
Buyer sends 0.06 BTC to an unknown BTC address that you arent specified in the signed message. So, you can prove that you didnt get the payment in case of wrong payment.

4-) Third party looks at the signed message and decides the wrong side of the deal. But please keep in mind a signed message doesnt prevent the scam. It just helps out the faulty part. If you are dealing transaction , use an ESCROW not to worry in future.

[safetybitcoin]

Here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=990345.0

Thanks for your help ! And I have already read that thread. I also knew how to sign a message from my bitcoin-core clients. But I don't know after I signed a message then what I will do next ? I can change it by a new message with the same bitcoin address later or not ?
So, I hope everyone here help me "step by step" .
Thanks again !

Lets say you are selling 10 LTC @ 0.06 BTC and buyer agrees with you at that price and wants a signed message from you.

1-) You sign a message that includes the sale price and other terms and send it to potential buyer.
2-) Buyer keeps signed message for a possible conflict.
3-) If everything goes smoothly, deal is closed. However , either one of parties doesnot obey the deal , it will be easy to identify the who breaks the rules.

Possible conflicts:
Buyer sends 0.06 BTC and you can say that it isnt the sale price , it is 0.065 BTC.(But signed message says 0.06 BTC)
Buyer sends 0.06 BTC to an unknown BTC address that you arent specified in the signed message. So, you can prove that you didnt get the payment in case of wrong payment.

4-) Third party looks at the signed message and decides the wrong side of the deal. But please keep in mind a signed message doesnt prevent the scam. It just helps out the faulty part. If you are dealing transaction , use an ESCROW not to worry in future.

Hi Bittings,

Oh, Great man ! I appreciate your enthusiastic help ! And I sincere thank you so much !
Almost I understood 85% about this problem thanks to your help ! only one thing I want to ask you is how to check it and could sign another message to the same address as well or not ?

Regards,

[safetybitcoin]

How can I check that message ?

You can check and verify a signed message from online https://brainwallet.github.io/#verify or you can check it from your wallets installed on your computer. Its already explained first answer to OP.

How a signed message can handle the problem ?

===snip===

Lets say you are selling 10 LTC @ 0.06 BTC and buyer agrees with you at that price and wants a signed message from you.

1-) You sign a message that includes the sale price and other terms and send it to potential buyer.
2-) Buyer keeps signed message for a possible conflict.
3-) If everything goes smoothly, deal is closed. However , either one of parties doesnot obey the deal , it will be easy to identify the who breaks the rules.

Possible conflicts:
Buyer sends 0.06 BTC and you can say that it isnt the sale price , it is 0.065 BTC.(But signed message says 0.06 BTC)
Buyer sends 0.06 BTC to an unknown BTC address that you arent specified in the signed message. So, you can prove that you didnt get the payment in case of wrong payment.

4-) Third party looks at the signed message and decides the wrong side of the deal. But please keep in mind a signed message doesnt prevent the scam. It just helps out the faulty part. If you are dealing transaction , use an ESCROW not to worry in future.

Oh, great !. Thanks Bittings so much ! I understood 95% about "sign a message" . Thanks again ! my great man !