The #SK is a collection of free & open-source (FOSS) tools that enhances your control & privacy in the digital realm. It achieves this by transforming any computer it is plugged into, and booted from, into a secure & self-managed device for almost all your security focused computer needs, including the management of your Bitcoin interactions via an arry of options using the Tor network.
Why create the SovereignKey?
Because there are multiple ways to bring about liberation & the emancipation of information. Doing so while subsequently enabling the usage of tools in a manner that keeps you safe & private, is one such method I wanted to explore. I wanted to see the SK exist because I wanted to solve the problem of effectively putting the future in the hands of those who will live in it.
SK is the ideal solution for managing your digital value privately & securely, yet still affordably.
Encased within an ordinary USB drive (varrying GB options to come), it offers discreet security & seamless integration as it boots from an Operating System (OS) know to focus on user sovereignty & the utilization of battle-tested FOSS privacy tools.
It does not require any prior special knowledge of how all the tools it is made up of work, beyond this ReadMe file, to get started with the SK. However, you will find links to all the different resources used to bring this about further down in this ReadMe.
We highly recommend that you DYOR (Do Your Own Research) on these and familiarise yourself with them.
In order to use the SK, you will have to put the computer you are attaching it to into Boot Mode & then choose to Boot from the USB/External USB instead of the Internal Hard Disk. This will effectively allow you to use the computer you have plugged the SK into as your own computer.
Why? Because you are now booting up from the Operating System (OS) that is on the SK.
Please Note: Some devices require that you tap the Boot Menu Key repatadly as the device boots up in order to access the Boot Menu instead of only pressing it once or holding it down.
Expand for Steps
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Make sure computer is turned off.
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Plug your SK into USB slot of the computer.
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Turn computer on.
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Tap/Hold the correct
Boot Menu Keyto enter theBoot Menu. -
Select
Boot from the USB/External USB(might be named differently depending on the specific computer you are using but there will be mention of eother a USB or External Drive). -
Wait for Tails to load.
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Enter the default
Persistant Storagepassphrase, clickUnlock Encryption. -
Select the blue
Start Tailsbutton on the top right of the box. -
Connect to a local internet network so that you have internet access.
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Select
Connect to Torwhen the Tor Connection window appears.
PC brands & their associated Hotkeys
Here is a list of PC brands and their associated hotkeys for entering the boot menu:
| Computer Manufacturer | Boot Menu Key |
|---|---|
| ACER SERIES | Esc, F12, F9 |
| ASUS SERIES | Esc, F8 |
| COMPAQ | Esc, F9 |
| DELL SERIES | F12 |
| HP SERIES | Esc, F9 |
| LENOVO SERIES | F12, F8, F10 |
| SAMSUNG SERIES | F12, Esc |
| SONY SERIES | F10, F11, ASSIST |
| TOSHIBA SERIES | F12 |
| MOTHERBOARDS | Boot Menu Key |
|---|---|
| ASUS | F8 |
| GIGABYTE | F12 |
| MSI | F11 |
| INTEL | F10 |
| ASROCK | F11 |
| EVGA | F7 |
| ASROCK | F11 |
| OTHER MANUFACTURERS | Boot Menu Key |
|---|---|
| XIAOMI | Fn +F2 (Choose Boot Menu) |
| PANASONIC | F2 (go to the exit and then choose boot order) |
| NEC | F5 |
| PACKARD BELL | F8 |
| eMCHINES | F12 |
| FUJITSU | F12 |
| GATEWAY | F11, Esc, F10 |
| iBALL | F9 (Choose your media under boot option) |
| HUAWEI | F2 |
| SHARP | F9 |
If you would like to have your work added to the Knowledge Transfer section of the #SK then please do Email Us & we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Accessible Computing is the goal of the #SK - Many individuals need access to a computer but do not have the funds to purchase one, or to upgrade to newer models. Others, need a way to ensure the work they are doing is as private as possible without having to worry about the underlying privacy of the device they are using.
By bringing technologies & information that have already been open sourced together in order to create a "Swiss Army Knife" type Soverign Solution, we have essentially found a way to export these tools in one product to the masses across the globe, at affordable rates.
Why rebuild the wheel when you can build something more by utilizing pulley systems built using that wheel technology?
Expand for Technologies Used
The Operating System (OS) used for the #SK is Tails ~ Used by Human Rights Activits & Journalists around the World, it is a portable operating system capable of protecting against surveillance & censorship. It makes use of the Tor network by default to protect your privacy online. To assit in this, it includes a selection of applications to work on sensitive documents & communicate securely. Everything in Tails is ready-to-use & has safe defaults.
Combining Tails, Bitcoin Core & the technologies below allow for strong anonymity for transactions & secure encrypted storage for your computer needs.
Electrum Wallet
Electrum Wallet - This wallet is added into Tails by Default & has been a Bitcoin Desktop Wallet of choice since its creation in 2011. Electrum’s focus is speed, with low resource usage & simplifying Bitcoin.
BAILS
BAILS - Installs Bitcoin Core on the encrypted Persistent Storage of Tails, creates & recovers Bitcoin Core wallets from Codex32 (BIP93) seed backups & creates backup Bails USB sticks & shareable blank Bails USB sticks.
It ensures your money is protected from surveillance, censorship & confiscation, leaving no trace of your Bitcoin use on the computer or the Internet.
Sparrow Wallet
Sparrow Wallet - Sparrow is a Bitcoin wallet for those who value financial self sovereignty. Sparrow’s emphasis is on security, privacy & usability while priding itself on not hiding information from you. On the contrary, it attempts to provide as much detail as possible about your transactions & UTXOs, but in a way that is manageable & usable.
Knowledge Transfer
Free Books - A collection of curated Books around Bitcoin & Financial Literacy.
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The Bitcoin Whitepaper (Available in various Languages by Satoshi Nakamoto
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2nd Edition: The Simplest Bitcoin Book Ever Written by Keysa Luna
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Bitcoin: Separation of Money and State by Josef Tětek
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The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous
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Bitcoin For Business by Student of Bitcoin
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Codex32 - Shamir Secret Sharing Scheme by Leon Olsson Curr & Pearlwart Snead
Digital Education - Digitial Media Based Education around Bitcoin & Financial Literacy
- The World’s First Kids Cartoon about Bitcoin! by Tuttle Twins
This is a passion project first & foremost, so I thank you all for your interest in the SovereignKey & how to go about assisting us in continuing to make it a reality.
Since "getting into" Bitcoin back in 2019/2020, I have always wanted to find a way to make a meaningful contribution to its advancement in some way, shape or form. I truly belive the self-custodial ownership & usage of our data & value is the key to our kingdoms & that there is a lot more we can do to ensure there is as little, within our control, being leaked to big or small tech.
That combined with the burining desire to ensure we can actually get technogoly in the hands of those who need it the most in this current & coming age of tech dominiation, has led me to the #SK, which is my contribution by way of working to be a prudent student, in a time where everyone wants to be the reviered puzzle master.
A portion of all sales will therefore be donated to all of the contributors to the FOSS components of the #SK listed under Knowledge Transfer above. However, if you feel moved to, please consider donatiing directly to them.
Common Issues
This is in no way a comprehensive list, however, it will be updated with more information as we discover the issues reported:
- Tails does not start at all on Mac models that use the Apple M1 chip and on many other Mac models.