FAQ

Questions, answered plainly

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Using Lantern Zero

What does Lantern Zero do?: It wakes your Zcash wallet every 30 minutes so it stays in sync in the background. If you turn on scanning, it also tells you within seconds when a payment arrives.
Which wallets support it?: None yet. The protocol is a draft and the server is a prototype. Wallet developers can start from the protocol spec today.
How do I connect a wallet?: Paste or scan a connection URL in your wallet's settings, the way you'd set a custom server address. Some wallets may set it up for you.
How much does it cost?: Pricing isn't set yet. You'll pay in shielded ZEC on this website, with no email or personal details.
Can I run my own server?: Yes. The server is open source under MIT or Apache-2.0, and self-hosted servers use the same connection URL. A ready-made self-hosting kit is in progress.

Can Lantern Zero spend my funds?: No. Your spending keys never leave your wallet. The server never asks for them.
What does the server learn in the default mode?: That your account exists and which devices to wake. It never sees a viewing key, and it never sees your IP address, because requests go through an independent relay.
What does scanning mode reveal?: While you lend a viewing key, the server can see the payments you receive to it. The key lives only in memory for 24 hours to 7 days. For the least exposure, use a separate receiving account for scanning.
Can Apple or Google see my payments?: No. Every push is encrypted to your device. They can see when a push arrives, so with instant alerts they could tell when you were paid. Private alerts avoid this by waiting for the next scheduled ping.
How do I delete my account?: From your wallet. Everything tied to the account is dropped immediately.

Why every 30 minutes, and not every block?: Apple asks apps to receive no more than two or three background pushes an hour. After the NU7 upgrade, a block comes every 25 seconds, so each wake checks about 72 blocks.
What if my phone misses a wake?: Nothing breaks. Phones sometimes delay or skip background pushes, and your wallet catches up at the next wake or when you open it.
Does my wallet still need a light wallet server?: Yes. Your wallet downloads blocks from the light wallet server it already uses. Lantern Zero tells it when to sync and, in scanning mode, which blocks to scan first.
Does it work with Tor?: A self-hosted server can be reached over a Tor onion service instead of a relay. The hosted service always uses Oblivious HTTP relays.
What happens after Zcash's Tachyon upgrade?: Tachyon will change how wallets find payments, so we expect the scanning service to retire. Scheduled wake-ups should stay useful.