What is a mysome.id?
It is a great way to show the world that they can trust that the social media profile they are looking at is, in fact, yours, AND that it is you controlling it. A MYSOME ID is a digital certificate that proves that your SoMe profile is actually yours. For people visiting your profile, they will see a small QR code in your profile picture that includes a link to the digital certificate (or proof, as we like to call it). So, say goodbye to imposters and fake SoMe profiles.
How does mysome.id protect my social media profiles?
mysome.id doesn’t protect your SoMe profile. You do! mysome.id helps you prove that you are you, and it is your SoMe profile. In short, the Concordium Wallet contains a digital ID card only you have access to. You use this digital ID to cryptographically prove your identity and ownership of your SoMe profile.
While it sounds complex, what it is really all about is that mysome.id uses very advanced math (called cryptography) to help you create a completely unique proof that your SoMe profile is in fact your SoMe profile.
To show people visiting your SoMe profile it is protected, you add a small QR code to your background picture (don't worry, we have made it very easy to do). Anyone can then scan the QR code and verify your proof is valid.
Your unique proof cannot be copied and used on fake SoMe profiles and if your SoMe profile gets hacked you can use your Concordium Wallet to invalidate your proof.
Which SoMe platforms are supported?
We started out by creating a nice flow to secure your LinkedIn profile, but many more SoMe platforms will be added in the near future, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram, TikTok, and many more.
What is the best way to check if a SoMe profile is fake?
Install the mysome.id browser extension. It works with Chrome, Edge, Brave, and Opera browsers. It will automatically look for mysome.id QR codes, scan them, and check if the profile is verified with mysome.id.
If the profile has not been secured with mysome.id, then you have to rely on judgment to check if the profile is fake. Here are a couple of ways you can do that, but keep in mind that no single method can guarantee accuracy.
Check the profile picture: A fake profile often uses a photo that looks too perfect or too good to be true. You can try using reverse image search tools like Google Images to see if the photo has been used on other websites or social media profiles.
Check the bio and other details: A fake profile may have incomplete or inconsistent information in the bio or other sections of the profile. You can also check the language and writing style used in the profile, as it may reveal inconsistencies or odd phrasing.
Look for engagement: A fake profile may have a low number of followers or engagement, or may have a high number of followers but very little engagement. You can check for comments, likes, and shares to see if they seem genuine.
Verify through other sources: If you're unsure about the authenticity of a social media profile, you can try verifying the information through other sources, such as official websites or social media accounts, news articles, or public records.
It's important to note that while these tips can help you identify a fake profile, they are not foolproof, and some fake profiles may be very convincing. So always use your judgment and be cautious when interacting with people on social media, especially if you don't know them in real life.
Do I really need to install the mysome.id browser extension to secure my own SoMe profile?
Yes, and you will be very happy you did 🙂. The mysome.id makes the setup process a lot easier.
You can download the official mysome.id browser extension here: mysome.id - chrome extension.
How does blockchain technology help me secure my own SoMe profile?
A public, permissionless blockchain is a decentralized digital ledger that is open to anyone and allows for the secure, transparent, and immutable storage and transfer of data and assets without requiring permission or approval from a central authority.
In plain English, the blockchain allows you to store your proof of ownership of your SoMe profile without any central authority being able to take it away from you, modify it, or delete it.
As the Concordium blockchain, which mysome.id is built on, features a unique identity component built into the core protocol of the blockchain, you are able to prove you are you and that your SoMe profile is in fact your profile.
Who owns mysome.id?
mysome.id is an open-source project launched by the Concordium Foundation.
Who has access to my personal information?
You do 🙂. However, as you are using mysome.id to verify and secure your public SoMe profile, then anyone who has access to this profile will, obviously, have access to the information you have provided on that profile.
When you secure the authenticity of your SoMe profile with a mysome.id proof, your name and social media profile URL is stored, fully encrypted, on the Concordium blockchain. The QR code you create with mysome.id is not only a link to the proof, it is also the key to read the data inside the proof.
Now, getting a bit more technical. When you create a blockchain-based proof, you write the proof on the Concordium blockchain. This proof is created/initiated by your Concordium account address, which will be visible in the ledger of the blockchain. This is essential as this enables you to invalidate the proof if your SoMe profile gets hacked. However, you may want to create an account in the Concordium Wallet just for this purpose and do not use it for other transactions as those transactions will otherwise lead back to your SoMe proof and ultimately your SoMe profile.
You can read more about personal information in the Privacy Section.
Why should I install the Concordium Wallet?
The Concordium Wallet is a great wallet to manage digital assets on the Concordium blockchain and your digital identity. At the moment you will need to install the Concordium Wallet browser extension to prove your identity, create and issue the proof securing your SoMe profile is actually yours, and control this proof in the future.
We expect to launch support for Walletconnect shortly, which will make it possible to use the Concordium Wallet for Android and iOS as well.
Do I need to buy cryptocurrency to use mysome.id?
No, you do not need to buy cryptocurrency when you create and issue mysome.id proofs securing your SoMe profiles. When you create the proof you write a small amount of data on the Concordium blockchain. To process the transaction on the blockchain a small transaction fee is collected by the nodes in the blockchain.
You are welcome to interact with the contracts directly and cover the transaction fee yourself, however, we recommend using the mysome.id interface as it allows us to cover the costs of creating and issuing your identity proof and proof of ownership of your SoMe profile. This will make mysome.id free to use to secure your SoMe profiles.
If someone gains control of your SoMe profile, and you want to invalidate your proof, you will need CCD in your account in your Concordium Wallet as you will need to process a transaction on the blockchain, which carries a small transaction fee of around 10 CCD.
My social media profile got hacked and I cannot login to it?
If you have created a mysome.id proof you should do the following:
- Go to the mysome.id app (app.mysome.id).
- Connect your Concordium Wallet (the one you used to create the proof originally).
- On your dashboard, you see all your proofs. Find the one that belongs to the compromised SoMe profile.
- Click “View” and then on the following page click “Revoke”.
This will invalidate the proof and anyone trying to scan the QR code on your compromised profile will see that the page is not to be trusted, as you are no longer controlling it.
If/when you regain control of the SoMe profile, you should create a new mysome.id proof and update the profile with the new QR code.
What is a “zero-knowledge proof”?
A zero-knowledge proof is a method by which one party (the prover) can prove to another party (the verifier) that a statement is true, without revealing any additional information beyond the truth of the statement itself. They are an important tool in cryptography for enhancing security and protecting sensitive information.
As an example, when you convert your government-issued picture ID to a digital ID in your Concordium Wallet, zero-knowledge proofs (or ZK-proofs as they are called) are used to ensure the company that does it for you will never know your identity on the Concordium blockchain.
In mysome.id, ZK-proof cryptography is used to secure your SoMe profile without revealing unnecessary information about you.
Is mysome.id using self-sovereign identity?
Yes! mysome.id is a perfect example of the benefits of self-sovereign identity.
Self-sovereign identity is a decentralized digital identity model in which individuals own, control, and share their personal data on their own terms, without relying on intermediaries or centralized authorities.
Can I add a mysome.id proof to my Concordium Wallet?
Yes. Once you have created a proof for your SoMe profile you can add it and see it in your Concordium Wallet. Open the Concordium Wallet, go to the relevant account, and click on "Manage". Then type in "9336" in the contract index. Now you can find the proof that belongs to you and add it to your Concordium Wallet.
Can people copy my QR code and use it?
No.
A QR code is a small picture that your phone converts to a website address. Hence, it is possible to copy QR codes, but if someone copies your personal QR code from mysome.id, and places it on their own SoMe profile, it will automatically be invalidated. All mysome.id QR codes only belong to one SoMe profile, and that is the one you made it for.
Will you put my personal information on the blockchain?
mysome.id is not, you are. But with mysome.id, all information that is added to the blockchain is fully encrypted.
In general, when you create a digital proof and you want to ensure no one else can change it, storing it on a blockchain is an excellent solution. When you write data on a blockchain certain things have to be included, including the blockchain account address of who is writing it. As this is your blockchain account, we recommend you create a fresh account in your Concordium Wallet just for this purpose and only use it for this. That preserves your privacy on the blockchain.
You can read more about personal information in the Privacy section
What are the requirements for a mysome.id proof to be considered valid/active?
In short, a valid QR code has to be placed on the correct SoMe profile. This obviously assumes the creator of the proof hasn’t inactivated it in the meantime. In addition, the name on the SoMe profile must match the name that is stored in the original proof. This means if you change your name on your SoMe profile after adding a QR code to it, you have to create a new QR code, using the new name, and replace the QR code on your profile.
Does storing SoMe profile proofs on the blockchain bring more security?
Yes. Storing data on the blockchain makes it impossible for anyone to change it. Also, in the case of mysome.id, the use of the blockchain makes the issuance and use of the digital proof tamper- and censorship-resistant.
What about GDPR and in particular the right to be forgotten?
GDPR is European regulation that protects peoples personal data. It applies when you share personal data with companies. With mysome.id you are not sharing your data with a company, you are writing the data on the blockchain. While GDPR doesn't apply here we strongly believe in your right to privacy. For this reason, we have designed mysome.id so that all data that you store on the blockchain is fully encrypted.
In case you want to be forgotten, you have to delete your SoMe profile. This includes the QR code you created with mysome.id. And without the QR code no one can ever read the information you stored in your proof on the blockchain.
What personal data does mysome.id store?
None. mysome.id does not store any personal data. Read more about data collection in our Privacy Policy.
My QR code is no longer valid, what is wrong?
To prevent hackers or identity thieves misusing your QR code, certain verifications are done when a QR code is scanned. Sometimes this means legit changes you want to make on your SoMo profile comes in the way of this.
The most likely causes are:
- Did you change your name on your SoMe profile? The name inside the original proof must match the current name on the SoMe profile.
- Did you change the URL on your SoMe profile? Many social media sites allow you to make your own URL to your profile. If you change this URL the proof will think your QR was copied to a fake SoMe profile.
In both cases, the simple solution is to delete the QR code and make a new one.
What does it cost to use mysome.id?
The service is completely free.
When you write data on the blockchain you pay a small transaction fee. This goes to the nodes that run the blockchain. We have designed mysome.id so it is possible to get sponsors to cover the transaction costs on the blockchain. At the moment the Concordium Foundation is covering the costs.
If you or your company would like to sponsor the users of mysome.id by covering the blockchain transaction fees, please contact us.
