USE A HARDWARE WALLET

A hardware wallet is your strongest defense against hacks, phishing, and malware. It’s a physical signing device that keeps your private keys isolated offline and signs transactions securely—so your keys never touch the internet.

HOW IT WORKS

Your computer or phone prepares a transaction and sends it to the device. The hardware wallet displays the exact address and amounts on its own screen; you confirm by pressing a button. It returns a signature, not your private key. Even if your PC is compromised, the attacker can’t extract your keys from the device.

WHY IT’S SAFER THAN SOFTWARE-ONLY WALLETS

Software wallets (e.g., browser extensions) store keys on your computer, exposing them to keyloggers, clipboard hijackers, malicious extensions, and “drainer” sites. A hardware wallet keeps the keys in a secure chip and requires physical confirmation, blocking most common attack paths.

BEST PRACTICES

• Back up the seed phrase offline (prefer metal plates over paper) and never type it into a computer or phone.
• Set a strong PIN on the device; consider a BIP39 passphrase stored separately for high-value holdings.
• Verify on the device screen: address, amounts, and network—avoid blind signing.
• Buy from the manufacturer or an authorized reseller, verify packaging, and update firmware only via official tools.
• Prefer USB for setup; be cautious with Bluetooth in hostile environments.
• Use separate accounts/devices for experimentation, and review token approvals regularly.
• For larger treasuries, consider multisig using multiple hardware wallets.

POPULAR OPTIONS

Ledger, Trezor, Keystone, BitBox02, and Grid+ integrate with tools like MetaMask, Rabby, and WalletConnect while keeping your keys off your computer.

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