The Ultimate Seed Phrase Security: MEMORIZATION

[Tungbulu]

As the development and advancement of the cryptocurrency industry continues to unfold, the problem of security remains acute for investors and enthusiasts of cryptocurrencies. The seed phase is one of the essential security measures that should be adequately taken to protect our digital assets. The seed phrase here is one that grants anyone access the wallet and the amount of money that is available in there as we already know. But the 1 bill I dollars question remains where must be the best and safest place for storing this valuable information?

In a world filled with hacking threats, physical storage vulnerabilities, and technological failures, I've come to a realization: the best place to store my seed phrase is actually in my head. Yes; and now, I walk through the process of memorizing and knowing all my seed phrases by heart.

>THE DANGERS OF PHYSICAL STORAGE

One can keep seed phrases either on paper or in electronic form, and some pay argue that putting the paper inside a safe, or in a locked cabinet may feel like enough security. However, these methods are not reliable as reliable as they may appear to be. Safes can be breached and open, cabinets can be forced opened, papers can be misplaced or destroyed. Further, existing physical storage procedures may face severe challenges such as natural disasters, fire outbreaks, or floods.
A very good example is the recent fire outbreak in LA that consumed everything in its path, so imagine someone in that neighborhood has a hardware wallet in his house with the pass phrases hidden in somewhere in the house he considered safe and the fire came and engulfed his house, he’ll literally lose every single thing. Even if the the safe is fireproof, and it’s a flood, everything can be easily displaced.

>THE DANGERS OF DIGITAL STORAGE

Also unsafe are digital storage forms that include copying seed phrases in a computer or phone. Technology malwares, ranked hacking, and general technological disasters can in varying degrees jeopardize digital storage. Also, decentralization of the seed phrase also implies that your seed phrase is only as safe as the device or digital platform you use.

THE POWER OF MEMORIZATION

Eliminating the issues associated with physical and electronic storage is possible since memorizing your seed phrase is 100% possible that even the dumbest person can do it. In this way, your phrase is shielded in a way and you adhere it to your memory so well that no external interuption has a way to penetrate it. In general, your seed phrase will be safe unless there is an exceptionally serious case, for instance, when you suffer a head blow or other health problems that results in amnesia.

I’m not saying it’s an easy thing to do, It needs focus and commitment to memorize a seed phrase. I’ve been able to come up with some helpful tips to help anyone commit their phrase to memory:

1. Break it down: Split your seed phrase into segments to make it easier for you to memorize them if in case you end up forgetting them.
2. Create associations: Connect each word or phrase to individual and interpersonal imagery.
3. Repeat and rehearse: Now and then, repeat your seed phrase to help refresh your memory.
4. Use mnemonic devices: When recalling information use methods such as an abbreviation or creation of a rhyme, just as if you’re learning how to memorize your country’s national anthem.

CONCLUSION

In the current world, where cybersecurity threats and natural disasters and theft are prevalent, the best form of security is doing things the traditional way: memorizing a seed phrase. When you memorize your phrase, you are also free from all the risks that you have with the physical and digital storage. Though it takes time and commitment, But still, you are secure knowing your seed phrase is safe and can be used at any time needed. Therefore, attempt memorizing your seed phrase today; you should start memorizing it today if you haven’t. You’ll be glad you did it for your digital assets.

[NeuroticFish]

the best form of security is doing things the traditional way: memorizing a seed phrase

No. Just no.
Memorizing is nice, for short term. For long term it's not working well.
* memory is playing tricks and over time you may think you've memorized a certain word, but the seed actually contains a synonym of it. And it's just one simple example.
* memory goes from bad to worse with aging
* accidents do happen. And a bump in your head can make you forget  a lot of things. It would be shame to also leave you poor.

All in all, this forum contains a lot of good ways to save your seed offline. Memorizing it is not one of them.

[Agbamoni]

I so much get interested in this topic. Due to the alarming threats these days. Prioritizing our KYC is important. There is no perfect way of storing our key phrase that has no danger. Even memorizing it is still risky. With the length of the seed phrase (12 words) It can be easily forgotten. The highest security measure is to never tell anyone you own a crypto.
Next aside from memorizing it, stamp your key phrase on a metal or steel plate. It doesn't burn, it rarely rusts, and difficult to think it is out of storing anything essential.

[aoluain]

Yea it sounds like a great way to save your see phrase and can seem like the most
secure because you bring your brain everywhere!

But as has already been posted above and on other threads, its not as "secure" as you
might think. Nobody knows the future and things can change in your brain over time.

The only thing I would say if someone really wants to do this is to be disciplined
is to have the seed saved on something physical, encrypted USB or a metal plate
and to be able to confirm the words regularly and that way you have best of both.

[Churchillvv]

Perhaps the subject has been deliberately severely on different boards of this forum that memorising seed phrase is not a proper way of ensuring security to your assets.

Many reasons are behind this arguement which NeuroticFish has listed and as such it proves that writing your seed phrase down and putting them in different locations (splitting) or using one of the new techs like cryptosteel cassettes, cryptosteel capsules etc while splitting your seed phrase is much safer in the current world.

However having a cold storage wallet is best in protecting your assets and writing your seed phrase is a much more better manual than memorising it, perhaps it's true that nowhere is 100% safe but the safest measure should be taken.

[Charles-Tim]

Disadvantages of memorizing your seed phrase are:

• memory can disappoints (forgetfulness)
• accident that can erase past memory
• inability to pass the coins as inheritance

Digital storage is not advisable nor recommended. Physical storage is the best but there is nothing bad to memorize your seed phrase which might be the last resort.

[apogio]

the best form of security is doing things the traditional way: memorizing a seed phrase.

Please be careful when suggesting things like this. It's non-sense. Newbies may read and actually think that this is good advice.

It only requires 1ms to forget your seed phrase.

Bitcoin without a backup, is 99.9% lost money.

I would literally de-merit this thread if there was a thing like that.

[Hazink]

Everything that has an advantage also has a disadvantage; you forget to mention the disadvantage of memorising your seed phrase; you forget that something can lead to another, which could make the person forget a few things in that memorised seed phrase; you have also forgotten about accidents that do result in memory loss. Let's just use, for example, how many numbers that relate to either address, phone number, or whatever it may be in the past 10 years can you still remember correctly the same way that it is?

There have been few topics in react to this too in the past and the idea is not entirely safe.
My experience with memorizing seed phrases
Is it advisable to memorize seed phrase?

If you ask me, I will say one should use the best measure to secure their seed phrase, like using a piece of paper to write it down and laminate it to be waterproof. Some make use of steel; write it down there and save it in a safe place where both water and fire can't harm it. If you can back it up by memorising the words, then that will be an added backup, but it should not be used as the only means.

Check this seed phrase backup options:
Coinplate Steel Seed Phrase Saver By Agbe
Securing Your Seed Phrase with Washers By fillippone
 

[Tungbulu]

I so much get interested in this topic. Due to the alarming threats these days. Prioritizing our KYC is important. There is no perfect way of storing our key phrase that has no danger. Even memorizing it is still risky. With the length of the seed phrase (12 words) It can be easily forgotten. The highest security measure is to never tell anyone you own a crypto.
Next aside from memorizing it, stamp your key phrase on a metal or steel plate. It doesn't burn, it rarely rusts, and difficult to think it is out of storing anything essential.

That is why I said, memorizing these phrases isn’t an easy task, but with time, it gets easier and you’d be happy you dedicated that much time and effort to memorize your phrases. I still have a lot of things I memorized few years back during my University days, and up till today, I still remember and can still recite them vividly like it was just yesterday, although there are some that I may have forgotten but that’s only because I only memorized them to pass a particular test and after the test I didn’t feel I had further need for them. But with phrases as important as your pass phrases, you’ll remember them all the days of your life because you know the importance of those phrases which will make it impossible for you to forget.

Stamping your phrases on a piece of metal may appear to be just an awesome way of storing your phrases, but tell me, where exactly are you gonna store that piece of steel or metal plate, in your bedroom? Burying it underground? Or locking it up in a safe? All these could still be breached, except you have a better place you can store it, somewhere that can keep it out of reach of thieves or natural disasters.

[Hatchy]

~snip

If you so think that you found the best way to help you store your keys, then that's yours. Don't force anyone into using it as it's the worst method of storing your keys. I wouldn't want other newbies to think that something of this nature would actually help store their keys .

Yes there's no best way to store your seed phrase but the few ones that have been used and trustworthy in the past still serve it's purpose. Since I've been on this forum, I've come across different means to store my keys, but the best which still stands, is to write it down and keep in a safe place.

I wouldn't want to see you in the future creating another post requesting for help on how to recover your seed, so it would be best to follow the usual means and avoid causing your self some trouble in the future. Memories can't be trust.

[Solosanz]

There's 1% chance someone could suffer brain injury.

The global incidence of all-severity, all-cause TBI is estimated at 939 cases per 100,000 people.

Memorizing seed phrase is the worst way to backup your seed phrase because there's no guarantee we can able to remember it everyday, we live not only to memorizing 12-24 words, but learn a new skill and doing other thing that needs focus.

I have many back up like steel plate in few parts and hide it inside something that people will never expect, I believe I can still access my seed phrase whatever happens except death.

[WatChe]

No. Just no.
Memorizing is nice, for short term. For long term it's not working well.
* memory is playing tricks and over time you may think you've memorized a certain word, but the seed actually contains a synonym of it. And it's just one simple example.
* memory goes from bad to worse with aging
* accidents do happen. And a bump in your head can make you forget  a lot of things. It would be shame to also leave you poor.

All in all, this forum contains a lot of good ways to save your seed offline. Memorizing it is not one of them.

You lost your phrase, it's over forever. It's best to take care of your seed first and I am also of the opinion that seed must be stored offline. There are lots of things we have to memorise like our different digital accounts passwords, debit card pin and stuff like that. I very often forget my Bank account password which is very short, how can a person like me can memorise seed which is usually of 12 words and these words have no association between them. Best approach is to write it on paper and store it at some secure location.   

[GiftedMAN]

In my personal opinion I will always choose physical storage as my best option because it only takes someone who has access to where I saved my seed phrase to get access to it but for digital storage, it's a no no for me because once your storage is compromised you will be sure that you already have a neighbor who has access to your wallet. Memorizing it is good if you have a strong and long term memory to save things in your brain but it is very risky if you don't have it elsewhere cause in the case of accident,one can be affected and if there is a memory loss it becomes a problem for you to have access to your wallet. In thinking about safety let us consider the advantages and the disadvantages of the measures we have taking.

[Tungbulu]

Before making this post, I already know a lot of people, if not everyone would tongue lash me for even suggesting this method, especially those who think their brains doesn’t have the capacity to accumulate and retain 12 phrases that literally means more than a lot to them, but honestly that’s totally lame, first of all, I’m not saying this is the best or the perfect method, but in most cases, I’m sure some persons would have wished they memorized their phrases.

Have you guys considered why even up till now, it’s still impossible to forget your country’s national anthem or the lyrics to that your favourite song, even when your life doesn’t depend on it or when it doesn’t mean that much to you, and still you don’t believe it’s possible store 12 phrases in your head for as long as you want (except there’s a medical complications that affects your memories) A lot of people are against this idea, not just because it’s a totally stupid idea but because they just don’t in their head see the possibility there.
I’m not saying storing your phrases offline is completely bad, I’m saying that it’s not 100% secure and anything can happen at anytime and you lose it, and if eventually this happens and you lose your backup phrases to a natural disaster or some other inevitable or unforeseen factors, that’ll only mean you’ve lost everything, but if you’re able to memorize your phrases in such a situation, would you all still maintain your opinions that memorizing one’s phrases is totally stupid?

[Rikafip]

In the current world, where cybersecurity threats and natural disasters and theft are prevalent, the best form of security is doing things the traditional way: memorizing a seed phrase. When you memorize your phrase, you are also free from all the risks that you have with the physical and digital storage.

Yep, very good idea.   

And then, while walking down the street and minding your own business, along comes an idiot on one of those electric scooters. He hits you, causing head trauma that leads to memory loss. Goodbye, seedphrase and bitcoin.

[headingnorth]

Very bad idea for most people. The chances of forgetting 12 to 24 words in the long term, or even the short term, are greater than 99%.
You could however use your memory as a backup only, but still keep a physical copy or copies of the seedphrase stored somewhere.
So in case you ever lost the physical copy, you could possibly recall it from memory, if you are very lucky and your memory doesn't fail you.

But I wouldn't count on it.

[Ambatman]

Before making this post, I already know a lot of people, if not everyone would tongue lash me for even suggesting this method, especially those who think their brains doesn’t have the capacity to accumulate and retain 12 phrases that literally means more than a lot to them, but honestly that’s totally lame, first of all, I’m not saying this is the best or the perfect method, but in most cases, I’m sure some persons would have wished they memorized their phrases.

The brain is not trustworthy.
Yeah individuals with nigh photographic memory or retentive memory may find this appealing but
The human brain grows old like every organ.
Not adding that we can't stay healthy forever and succumbing to Alzheimers and vascular dementia ain't off the table.
Just like offline saving has its risk, likewise memorizing but the offline risk can be relatively mitigated.

Combining the two isn't bad, but reliance on memory is risky.
I forgot my password due to using various password for different platforms
So can't really trust my brain with my seedphrase.

[Wexnident]

~

Aaaand you forgot to add the dangers of memorization. That you can forget. That you're only human. If you had photographic memory sure, memorize all you want. But if you don't, acknowledge that and acknowledge as well that there's other methods that yes, may also have risks, but you can learn to mitigate that. You CAN'T mitigate forgetting. You will grow old, and your brain capabilities will deteriorate in time. It's just how life works.

If we were to start nitpicking, you can say that ANYTHING is dangerous. So might as well just not buy/store Bitcoin (or anything with value) really since they all run the risk of say, being stolen no? It's all a matter of choosing which risk you want and can handle.

[Lucius]

I leave it up to everyone to choose how they want to store their sensitive information, although I agree that one should not rely solely on their brains when it comes to such matters. It's not just that we can forget such information due to an injury or illness, but that we can also reveal such information if we are under the influence of alcohol or drugs and are not fully aware of what we are saying.

It might be fun for someone to remember their 12-word seed, but what if you have 24 words and a passphrase? That would be a bit harder, right?

[Haunebu]

Before making this post, I already know a lot of people, if not everyone would tongue lash me for even suggesting this method, especially those who think their brains doesn’t have the capacity to accumulate and retain 12 phrases that literally means more than a lot to them, but honestly that’s totally lame, first of all, I’m not saying this is the best or the perfect method, but in most cases, I’m sure some persons would have wished they memorized their phrases.

Fact is that this is a tricky way to secure seed phrases and there are far, far more convenient ways to secure them these days which is why it makes sense as to why so many people in this thread didn't really like your idea.

and if eventually this happens and you lose your backup phrases to a natural disaster or some other inevitable or unforeseen factors, that’ll only mean you’ve lost everything, but if you’re able to memorize your phrases in such a situation, would you all still maintain your opinions that memorizing one’s phrases is totally stupid?

The chances of something like that happening are extremely slim which is why memorising seed phrases will never be the best way to secure them.