<p>See it this way: your address is similar to your email address. people use it to send you emails but only your email and password pair can access you inbox. Passwords are like your private keys.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-02T01:43:13.950Z
2017-09-02T18:36:24.273Z
2017-09-02T18:36:24.273Z
user59022
<p>Maybe a good way to think of it - email.</p>

<p>Consider your email address - anyone who knows it can send YOU an email.</p>

<p>But without knowing your password, nobody can use your email address to send SOMEONE ELSE an email.</p>

<p>Your bitcoin private key is critical to protect, much like your email passwords.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-07T18:05:38.160Z
2017-09-07T18:05:38.160Z
Brian Lockhart
<p>No. An address is designed to be given out so that people can send you money. You cannot spend Bitcoin by knowing an address, otherwise block explorers wouldn't be showing people's addresses. What is needed to spend Bitcoin are private keys. Those need to be kept secret and are never given out to anyone. One private key corresponds to one address.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-01T23:01:29.337Z
2017-09-01T23:01:29.337Z
Ava Chow
<p>What if I wrote down or saved a file with the address on and someone found it, can they take my coins?
How secure is it?</p>

<address><security>
If someone knows my bitcoin address, does this mean they can spend it or move it?
Mocas
# If someone knows my bitcoin address, does this mean they can spend it or move it?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-01)

What if I wrote down or saved a file with the address on and someone found it, can they take my coins?
How secure is it?

**Tags:** address, security


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-09-01. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

No. An address is designed to be given out so that people can send you money. You cannot spend Bitcoin by knowing an address, otherwise block explorers wouldn't be showing people's addresses. What is needed to spend Bitcoin are private keys. Those need to be kept secret and are never given out to anyone. One private key corresponds to one address.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2017-09-02. Score: 3

See it this way: your address is similar to your email address. people use it to send you emails but only your email and password pair can access you inbox. Passwords are like your private keys.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-09-07. Score: 1

Maybe a good way to think of it - email.

Consider your email address - anyone who knows it can send YOU an email.

But without knowing your password, nobody can use your email address to send SOMEONE ELSE an email.

Your bitcoin private key is critical to protect, much like your email passwords.


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