Protecting your cryptoassets is just like protecting your body.
In high school, I was just like many other teenagers - my mind was overflowing with questions about sex and relationships, conflicting emotions about my changing body, and awkward plans to broach these topics with my Catholic mother. Luckily, my best friend's mom was a wealth of information. She never told me what I should or shouldn't do, she simply explained the different options and closed each conversation with:
"Make good choices."
That phrase has echoed in my head for years, and I think about her approach every day when I'm responding to emails from Exodus customers. A lot of customers apologize for asking "noob" questions. It's my goal to address all of your concerns, make you feel welcome, and encourage you to feel comfortable asking all of your questions - without the fear of being judged for being new.
Research overwhelmingly shows that comprehensive preventative sex education programs lead to healthier practices, fewer unwanted pregnancies, fewer abortions, and fewer cases of STIs. The Community Support Engineers at Exodus are here to provide a comprehensive crypto education. While we don't have any influence over your practices between the sheets, we do want to give you the resources you need to practice safe storage of your assets.
Safety
Us when you tell us you want to export your private keys.
If you follow us here on Steemit, or on Medium, then you are already acquainted with the vulnerabilities of software wallets. Part of my job as a Customer Support Engineer is teaching customers the different options for safeguarding their wallets, and preventing anyone from capitalizing on those vulnerabilities.
It's during these conversations that I feel like a full-fledged sex-ed teacher. If you think of your crypto as your genitals - stay with me here - it becomes easier to see how these topics align.
You can't learn everything about crypto from a textbook, and we don't expect you to. Using your crypto is a great way to experience this new technology. Feel free to experiment, but please follow a few guidelines. You'll thank us later.
We know that you are going to use your 12-word phrase or private keys however you see fit. If you want to claim that airdropped token, or get your hands on the latest fork, we can't stop you from exporting your private keys and entering them into another wallet. We can, however, give you the guidance to safeguard your existing balance during these riskier events in the world of crypto. For example: we will help teach you how to delete your current wallet, and create a new one so your private keys will reset.
If you ask a sex-ed teacher about practicing safe sex, they will talk to you about condoms, the pill, the patch, the shot, IUDs, abstinence, and the pros and cons of each. Each couple is different, and has unique criteria for choosing the contraceptive that best suits their needs. Similarly, each crypto owner is different. We will walk you through the vast array of computer security options - from anti-virus providers, to VPNs, network security settings, and storage options. We are here to explain the importance and differences of each.
Emotions
Us during any moon and any dip.
The parallels don't stop with contraception - as you learn more about crypto, you will probably encounter a lot of the same emotions you experience when courting someone. It's a wide range of emotions - and they're not always pleasant. One day you are curious, captivated, and eager. You are gripped by the idea of your favorite alt coin suddenly taking off. You imagine the inevitable gains and daydream about which color lambo you'll select first. This coin is "The One" - you just know it.
Faster than a hormone-fueled mood swing, the market shifts. You keep checking your phone for that affirmative alert. Time slows down with each new red candle. Self-doubt and anxiety take control. Why did I pick that one? Am I a sucker? What did I do wrong? You find yourself wishing you had sold a few days ago instead of being distracted by moon dreams.
While the CSEs at Exodus aren't therapists or bartenders, we do hope to calm your nerves and give you peace of mind by explaining how this tumultuous ecosystem works. You'll find that some of our emails can really stretch on, as we don't want you to feel left in the dark when exploring an aspect of this technology.
Boundaries
Us when we see you eyeing that "Giving Away Free ETH" tweet.
When you start dating someone new, there is a period of getting to know each other. You don't want to spill all of your secrets right away, and you are probably on the lookout for any red flags. You are using this time to evaluate compatibility, and set boundaries to make sure you don't get taken advantage of. Setting boundaries in any relationship is important - this includes relationships in the crypto community.
When you are first learning about a new investment, you should take the time to really get to know the asset or company you are investing in. With so many ICOs and tokens flying around, this can quickly feel like crypto Tinder. Don't swipe right on everyone!
The good news is that a lot of Tinder boundaries are easily transferable. If someone on Tinder says they will send you $100 dollars, all you have to do is Venmo them $10 first - you certainly aren't going to send them any money, and you will probably unmatch them because you know it's a scam. The same goes for random messages on Telegram, or Reddit - if someone is offering a deal that is too good to be true, you should err on the side of caution.
Make Good Choices
Learning about crypto can be fun. Like sex, though, a careless mistake can have permanent consequences. At Exodus, our goal is to empower you to discover new ways to manage your assets and take control of your future wealth. We hope that our education and guidance will lead to fewer victims and a healthier ecosystem overall.
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Please reserve the comments section for lively and honest discussion about the article! If you have technical issues with Exodus, our Community Support team will be happy to speedily assist you if you send a descriptive email to: support@exodus.io
This post first appeared on Steemit as an exclusive article but was also reblogged on the Exodus Movement Medium page. We give the <3 to our fellow Steemians first and foremost, but this article may appear elsewhere after its initial publication.