Keeping your Crypto Secure
Possibly the most important page in these docs!
Securing your cryptocurrency investments is paramount, given the digital nature of the assets. Below, we've curated a guide to ensure the safety of your crypto assets.
- Public Key: This is like your email address - you can share it with others so they can send you cryptocurrency.
Example:
63FaC9201494f0bd17B9892B9fae4d52fe3BD377
- Private Key: This is like your password to your email. Never share your private key with anyone. Possession of the private key means full control over the associated crypto assets.
Example:
8da4ef21b864d2cc526dbdb2a120bd2874c36c9d0a1fb7f8c63d7f7a8b41de8f
Please do not send any crypto to the public key example, as the private key is published and the account is unsecure.
For large crypto holdings, consider investing in a hardware wallet. These are physical devices that store your private keys offline, ensuring they remain inaccessible to hackers.
- Popular Choices: Ledger Nano S, Ledger Nano X, Trezor.
- Advantage: Immune to viruses and malware, as they never connect to the internet.
Phishers imitate legitimate companies to steal your private keys.
- Always: Check URLs when accessing your digital wallet or exchange.
- Never: Click on suspicious links from emails or social media.
- Always: Double check wallet addresses when sending cryptocurrencies.
Most exchanges and wallets offer 2FA. This is an extra layer of security that requires not only a password and username but also something that only the user knows or has.
- Types: SMS codes, email codes, Google Authenticator, or physical hardware tokens.
- Recommendation: Google Authenticator over SMS codes, as phone numbers can be compromised.
Always backup your wallet to avoid losing access due to device failure or other unforeseen problems.
- Physical Copies: Write down essential passwords and private keys and store them in a secure location.
- Digital Copies: Store in multiple offline environments, like USB drives or external hard drives. Keep them disconnected when not in use.
Keep your wallet software and the software on your devices up-to-date. Developers regularly release security enhancements.
The crypto space evolves rapidly, and threats change. Staying informed about the latest threats and best practices is essential.
- Join: Online forums, newsletters, or groups that discuss cryptocurrency.
- Follow: Influential and trusted figures in the crypto community on platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn.
Last modified 3mo ago