Skepticism Sunday #3 — August 4, 2024

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This thread is only for comments discussing the uncertainties, shortcomings, and concerns some may have about Monero.
NOT the positive aspects of it.
Discussion can relate to the technology itself or its economics.
Talk about community and price is not wanted, but some discussion about it maybe allowed if it relates well.
Be as respectful and nice as possible. This discussion has potential to be more emotionally charged as it may bring up issues that are extremely upsetting: many people are not only financially but emotionally invested in the ideas and tools around Monero.

How it works:

Post your concerns about Monero in reply to this thread.
If you can address these concerns, or add further details to them – reply to that comment. This will make it easily sort-able.
Upvote the comments that are the most valid criticisms of it that have few or no real honest solutions/answers to them.
The comment that mentions the biggest problems of Monero should have the most karma.

https://monero.town/post/3820563

The first principle is that you must not fool yourself — and you are the easiest person to fool.

Richard Feynman

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5 comments

Block-explorer tools and websites
Do not use this. If you try to find something there, you are only giving away that you have done something there by trying to find something.
Imagine who is looking for a specific transaction? Even in other block explorers! Who is searching for a transaction or the details of a transaction at this point in time? Of course, most likely only someone who actually has something to do with it.
Operate your own fullnode and, if possible, refrain completely from researching transactions on third-party websites.
- If I have a node, can I use block explorers to check my transactions anonymously?
  BTW, how would this work? Doesn't XMR automatically obfuscate this?
  
  If I have a node, can I use block explorers to check my transactions anonymously?
  If you have a node - you can just use RPC to get all the info you need (or self-host a blockhain explorer connected to your own node if calling RPC manually is too complicated), no need to use public block explorers.
  BTW, how would this work? Doesn't XMR automatically obfuscate this?
  Imagine you have received an output (a transfer) from a CEX. Immediately (well, after 10 blocks) other people start using your output as a decoy in their transactions. After some time, you actually use this output in a transaction. From what the CEX knows (we assume they are bad guys who try to spy on you) there are hundreds (or more) of transactions where you potentially could have spent your XMR, they don't know which one is the real spend though. Now you go and use the transaction hash to see its status on a blockchain explorer that is hosted by CEX. Assuming they can correlate your identity (e.g. by IP/cookies/fingerprint/etc.), they now know that you specifically checked a transaction that possibly spends the output they sent you. They cannot prove that you spent it, but it would be a reasonable assumption (why else would you check that specific transaction?). Now, on it's own it doesn't give them much info (although your privacy already has been partially compromised), as the destination address is hidden as well as the amount. But if the receiving side of your transaction also cooperates with your CEX, and they tell CEX that the amount they received is the same (minus fees) as you withdrawn from the CEX (or even worse, they somehow also correlated this transaction with your identity) they now can be even more sure that it is your transaction (even though they still can't prove it).
  So, Monero is doing its best to protect you, and you still have plausible deniability, but in those very specific circumstances bad actors can be reasonably sure where your money went.
  FCMPs will fix that :)
  
  Oh absolutely there's no way I'm using CEXes for this. Thanks for the explanation

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