<p>Edit:
Blockchain.info is <a href="https://github.com/blockchain/My-Wallet/blob/ddbb0995fbdb2b5f22bef9eb92a26e2bfefb6e00/account.js#L90" rel="nofollow">open source</a>, the algorithm is public. The mnemonic that they use stores information about your wallet id and your password only. </p>

<p>Previous answer: You should read into <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039.mediawiki" rel="nofollow">BIP 39</a> this covers how mnemonics map to the values that are used to create a <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Deterministic_wallet" rel="nofollow">HD wallet</a> the algorithm is very well known and corresponds to the size of the key space needed for wallet generation.  There are generally <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039/english.txt" rel="nofollow">2048 words</a> in the wordlist used to create a wallet. A 12 word seed generates 128 bits of information (and 4 check bits). That's 11 bits per word from a list of 2048 words. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-15T09:54:12.217Z
Thanks Mark, the question title is ambiguous (I'm changing it now) as I am actually not referring to BIP39 mnemonics, but rather the old (circa 2011-2015) BC.info password recovery mnemonics
Wizard Of Ozzie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-11T17:47:32.517Z
2016-03-15T16:23:51.963Z
2016-03-15T16:23:51.963Z
Mark S.
<p>How do mnemonics encrypt wallet data and what prevents hacking of the algorithm?</p>

<p>For example Blockchain seems to encrypt all data using a mnemonic yet doesn't hold customer data server side.</p>

<p>What prevents creating numerous Blockchain wallets, recording the mnemonics and discovering the algorithm?</p>

<p><strong>NB.</strong> The BCI mnemonic recovery protocol is <strong>NOT</strong> the same as BIP39</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-19T03:31:14.370Z
FYI, I've done some research, and it appears mnemonics at blockchain.info for example work like this: **[11 words encoding wallet ID & checksum]** + **[words encoding passphrase, 1 word per 2 character combination]**
Wizard Of Ozzie
<wallet><security><blockchain.info><hacking>
How do Blockchain.info recovery mnemonics encrypt wallet data and what prevents hacking of the algorithm?
Wizard Of Ozzie
# How do Blockchain.info recovery mnemonics encrypt wallet data and what prevents hacking of the algorithm?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-13)

How do mnemonics encrypt wallet data and what prevents hacking of the algorithm?

For example Blockchain seems to encrypt all data using a mnemonic yet doesn't hold customer data server side.

What prevents creating numerous Blockchain wallets, recording the mnemonics and discovering the algorithm?

**NB.** The BCI mnemonic recovery protocol is **NOT** the same as BIP39

**Tags:** wallet, security, blockchain.info, hacking

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: FYI, I've done some research, and it appears mnemonics at blockchain.info for example work like this: **[11 words encoding wallet ID & checksum]** + **[words encoding passphrase, 1 word per 2 character combination]**  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-03-11. Score: 1

Edit:
Blockchain.info is [open source](https://github.com/blockchain/My-Wallet/blob/ddbb0995fbdb2b5f22bef9eb92a26e2bfefb6e00/account.js#L90), the algorithm is public. The mnemonic that they use stores information about your wallet id and your password only.

Previous answer: You should read into [BIP 39](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039.mediawiki) this covers how mnemonics map to the values that are used to create a [HD wallet](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Deterministic_wallet) the algorithm is very well known and corresponds to the size of the key space needed for wallet generation. There are generally [2048 words](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039/english.txt) in the wordlist used to create a wallet. A 12 word seed generates 128 bits of information (and 4 check bits). That's 11 bits per word from a list of 2048 words.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks Mark, the question title is ambiguous (I'm changing it now) as I am actually not referring to BIP39 mnemonics, but rather the old (circa 2011-2015) BC.info password recovery mnemonics  

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