So, how does SHM improve trust on the open web? We build on a system called public key cryptography. You have a private key, basically random data, that is stored on your computer or phone. And it has a public key, which acts like a username. But it’s not registered with us, anyone can independently create these identities. Any time you do something in the system, it is signed by your private key. Thanks to the magic of cryptography, anyone can verify that signature against your public key. And you can link new devices by signing a message that gives account access to a different private key, on the new device.
So now you can securely see when content is signed by the same person. But how does Seed help you know who really owns each identity? You can form a web of trust by signing a validation for other accounts, claiming that this other key is your friend, a real person, or at least is worth listening to.
Now, when you see some hypermedia content, you can validate the source by looking at their network of friends, domains they own, and other social media accounts. And that’s how the web of trust can ensure integrity on the open web.