Key Takeaways
- Hardware wallets store private keys offline, preventing exposure to online threats.
- A strong PIN and a securely stored recovery phrase are essential for protecting access.
- Adding cryptocurrencies requires installing official apps, generating addresses, and verifying transactions on the wallet.
- Hardware wallets sign transactions internally, keeping private keys safe even when connected to a device.
Hardware wallets are known in crypto for their strong security, providing a safe way to store digital assets.
However, they have also become a target for hackers. In recent attacks, like the Bybit hack, attackers compromised a warm wallet—a wallet connected to the internet—while it was being used to process transactions from a hardware wallet. This vulnerability allowed them to intercept funds during the transfer.
While hardware wallets keep private keys offline, improper use or exposure of the recovery phrase can still put funds at risk. Additionally, their security depends on the wallet provider’s cybersecurity measures since they are commercial devices.
Understanding how to set up and use a hardware wallet correctly is essential for anyone serious about protecting their crypto.
This guide explains how hardware wallets work and each of the steps for setting them up to keep funds safe.
What Is a Hardware Wallet
A hardware wallet is a physical device that stores cryptocurrency private keys offline. By staying disconnected from the internet, it protects a user’s digital assets from hacking, malware, and phishing attacks.
Unlike software wallets, also known as hot wallets, which operate online and store private keys on devices connected to the internet, hardware wallets keep keys isolated, reducing exposure to cyber threats.
It is important to point out that hardware or software wallets do not store cryptocurrency but the private keys that allow users to access and manage their assets.
The most important feature of a hardware wallet is that it always keeps private keys inside the device. It signs transactions internally, preventing sensitive data from being exposed to online threats.
1. Choosing the Right Hardware Wallet
Many hardware wallets offer different security features, compatibility, and usability. Some options include Ledger, Trezor, and BitBox. Before purchasing, users must ensure the wallet comes from an official source, such as the manufacturer or an authorized reseller, to avoid counterfeit risks. Third-party sellers may be risky, as they could modify the device.
2. Setting Up a Hardware Wallet
Setting up a hardware wallet can seem daunting, but it is usually straightforward and requires users to follow clear instructions included with the device.
Hardware wallets typically come in the form of a USB device or a compact unit that connects to a computer or mobile device using a cable or Bluetooth. Before proceeding, users must check that the package is intact and verify its authenticity to ensure that no one has altered it.
The specific steps involved in the setup include:
- Connecting the wallet to a computer or mobile device.
- Installing the manufacturer’s official software is usually done through an app (e.g., Ledger Live, Trezor Suite).
- Following prompts on the screen to initialize the device.
3. Creating a PIN Code
Creating a PIN code adds the first layer of security to a hardware wallet. Users must choose a strong, difficult-to-guess PIN. It is a general recommendation to avoid dates of birth, weak combinations with one or two numbers, or sequential numbers like 1,2,3,4.
If a user enters the wrong PIN multiple times, the wallet automatically resets to prevent hacking attempts. Users must have their seed phrase to regain access. The next step is to generate the recovery phrase, a user’s magic spell, to access their funds.
4. Generating a Recovery Phrase
A recovery phrase, also called a seed phrase or mnemonic phrase, is the most critical step when setting up a hardware wallet. Users must write down the 12-, 18-, or 24-word recovery phrase on paper and store it in a secure, offline location. It is not a safe practice to keep a seed phrase online.
Some users take extra precautions by engraving the seed phrase on a metal plate to protect it from fire or water damage. Others store parts of the phrase in different locations to reduce the risk of theft or loss.
This phrase acts as a backup if the device is lost or damaged, so it is an essential combination of unrelated words that must be entered in a specific sequence to access the wallets’ funds. For this reason, it is very important not to share it with anyone.
5. Adding Supported Cryptocurrencies
Hardware wallets require users to add supported cryptocurrencies before they can store or manage them. Each model supports different assets; some require installing specific apps or updates. The manufacturer’s official software provides a list of supported coins and tokens.
- Checking compatibility: Users can verify which cryptocurrencies the wallet supports by opening the official software.
- Installing required apps: Some cryptocurrencies need a separate app or module before the wallet can store them.
- Generating a receiving address: The wallet creates an address for each supported cryptocurrency to receive funds securely.
Each cryptocurrency runs on its own system, so it’s essential to install the correct app and verify the receiving address.
6. Receiving Cryptocurrency
Before receiving cryptocurrency, users must generate a valid receiving address. This address is unique for each transaction and should be double-checked for accuracy.
- Generating an address: The wallet’s software provides a receiving address for the selected cryptocurrency.
- Sharing the address: Users can provide it to the sender or input it on an exchange.
- Verifying accuracy: The address displayed on the wallet should match the one on the connected device.
Ensuring the correct address prevents sending funds to the wrong location.
7. Sending Cryptocurrency
Sending cryptocurrency requires verifying the recipient’s address and confirming details on the hardware wallet. This step prevents errors and unauthorized transactions.
- Initiating the transaction: The wallet’s software allows users to select a cryptocurrency and enter the recipient’s address.
- Confirming the details: The wallet prompts users to review the transaction amount and address.
- Authorizing the transaction: The hardware wallet signs the transaction before broadcasting it to the blockchain.
Confirming all details on the wallet’s screen ensures security before completing the transfer.
Does Connecting a Hardware Wallet to a Computer Put It at Risk?
While the hardware wallet connects to a computer or mobile device during setup, it does not expose private keys online. The key security feature of hardware wallets is that private keys never leave the device, even when connected. Here’s why the process remains safe:
- The wallet is only used to sign transactions internally: The private keys remain inside the hardware wallet and never interact with the computer or the internet.
- The software acts as an interface: The manufacturer’s official software helps users manage their assets, but it does not store or control private keys.
- The recovery phrase is generated offline: Even though users follow instructions from the software, the device itself generates the recovery phrase, keeping it secure.
- Firmware updates do not compromise security: Users may need to install firmware updates, but the process is designed to prevent external access to private keys.
So, while the wallet is technically connected during setup, it is not online like a software wallet. The security risk comes only if users install unofficial software or connect the wallet to an untrusted device.
Conclusion
Using a hardware wallet is one of the most secure ways to protect cryptocurrency. Unlike software wallets, which keep private keys online, hardware wallets store them offline, minimizing exposure to hacking and phishing attacks.
Setting up a hardware wallet involves installing the manufacturer’s official software, creating a PIN, and generating a recovery phrase. Users must carefully store the recovery phrase, as it is the only way to restore access if the device is lost or reset.
After setup, users can add supported cryptocurrencies, receive funds using a generated address, and send transactions by confirming details on the wallet’s screen.
The device signs transactions internally, ensuring private keys remain secure. While a hardware wallet connects to a computer or mobile device during use, it does not expose private keys online, making it a trusted option for securing digital assets.
FAQs
What happened in the Bybit hack? Did attackers compromise hardware wallets?
The Bybit hack did not involve hacking hardware wallets. Instead, attackers compromised private keys stored elsewhere, most likely through a breach in exchange security. Hardware wallets keep private keys offline, making them resistant to remote attacks. However, if users store their recovery phrases online or fall victim to phishing, their funds can still be at risk.
What happens if a hardware wallet stops working?
Users can restore access to their funds using the recovery phrase on a new compatible hardware wallet. Users cannot lose their private keys if they keep their recovery phrase secure.
Can hardware wallets store all cryptocurrencies?
Not every hardware wallet supports all cryptocurrencies. Before sending funds, users must check the manufacturer’s official software to see which assets are compatible.
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