How to prevent cryptocurrency wallets from being hacked?

Secure your crypto with strong, unique passwords, two-factor authentication, and hardware wallets for large sums; avoid phishing scams and public Wi-Fi.

Feb 28, 2025 at 01:15 pm

• Hardware wallets: Hardware wallets like Ledger Nano S and Trezor store private keys on physical devices, which greatly reduce the risk of hacker attacks, and are suitable for long-term large-scale storage.

• Software wallet: Choose well-known and well-known, such as Exodus Wallet. Download from regular channels, update regularly, and enable multiple security settings, which is suitable for daily small transactions.

• Paper wallet: Print the private and public keys on paper and completely offline. But choose high-quality paper and store it properly to avoid damage or loss.

• Set strong password: sufficient length, contains upper and lower case letters, numbers, special characters, and avoid using personal information, such as birthdays, names, etc.

• No reuse: Each cryptocurrency wallet has a unique password. If a certain platform password is leaked, other wallets will not be affected.

• Regular replacement: It is recommended to change the wallet password every 3-6 months to reduce the risk of password cracking.

• Use password managers: like LastPass, 1Password, etc., to safely store and manage complex passwords, automatically fill, convenient and safe.

• SMS verification code: After opening, in addition to the password, the login wallet also requires the verification code received by the mobile phone to increase login security.

• Authenticator applications: such as Google Authenticator and Authy, generate dynamic verification codes without relying on SMS to prevent SMS interception risks.

• Biometric technology: If the device supports it, such as fingerprint recognition and facial recognition, it can further ensure the security of the wallet after it is turned on.

• No sharing: Private key is the core of the wallet and will never be disclosed to anyone, including the so-called "customer service" and "technical support".

• Avoid network storage: do not store private keys on network platforms such as cloud disk, email, and social software to prevent hackers from stealing them.

• Paper backup: Handwritten private keys or mnemonic words are stored on paper in a safe place that is waterproof, fire-proof and loss-proof, such as a safe.

• Multi-site backup: The private key or mnemonic word can be divided into several parts and stored in different safe locations to reduce the overall risk of loss.

• Be careful about links: Do not click on unknown links in emails, text messages, or social media at will, especially those involving wallet operations and transactions.

• Verify the URL: Log in to your wallet or trading platform, manually enter the official website, or enter from your favorites to prevent entry into the phishing website.

• Anti-counterfeiting applications: Only download the wallet application from the official application store, view developer information and user reviews before downloading, and anti-counterfeiting applications.

• Identify phishing emails: Be vigilant about emails that require private keys, passwords, verification codes, or claim that account abnormalities need to be handled urgently, and the official agency will not do so.

• Install antivirus software: Install well-known antivirus software on computers, mobile phones and other devices, regularly update the virus database and scan the entire disk.

• Turn on the firewall: The firewalls of computers and routers can block some hackers' attacks, and enable and properly configure relevant rules.

• No public Wi-Fi: Avoid operating cryptocurrency wallets under Wi-Fi in public places such as cafes and airports. If you have to use them, you can encrypt the network connection via VPN.

• Update the system and software in a timely manner: Updates to operating systems, wallet applications and other related software often fix security vulnerabilities, set up automatic updates or updates manually regularly.

• Backup frequency: Back up wallet data at least once a month. If transactions are frequent, you can back up weekly.

• Multi-way backup: In addition to mnemonics, you can also back up wallet files and store them on external hard disk, USB flash memory and other devices.

• Test recovery: Restore wallet regularly with backup data to ensure that the backup is effective and avoid the inability to recover assets when really needed.

• Daily viewing: Check wallet transaction records every day or regularly to promptly discover abnormal transactions, such as transfers and expenses that are not operated by yourself.

• Set reminder: Some wallets support setting transaction reminders, such as large-scale transaction reminders, remote login reminders, etc., to enable them to detect abnormalities in a timely manner.

• Timely response: If you find an abnormality, modify your password immediately, contact the wallet customer service, call the police if necessary, and provide relevant evidence to assist in the investigation.

• Do not borrow devices: Do not use other people's computers or mobile phones to operate cryptocurrency wallets to prevent the device from being implanted with malware.

• No public computers are needed: Computers in public places such as Internet cafes and libraries may have security risks and no wallet-related operations may be carried out.

• Pay attention to Bluetooth and USB: When connecting external devices, ensure the device is safe and do not connect Bluetooth devices or USB devices from unknown sources at will to prevent data theft.

• Pay attention to industry trends: Pay attention to cryptocurrency industry news and forums to learn about the latest security threats and prevention methods.

• Participate in training: If possible, you can participate in cryptocurrency security training courses to systematically learn security knowledge and operation skills.

• Exchange experience: Exchange security experience with other cryptocurrency investors, share problems and solutions, and jointly improve security awareness.