Don't let them steal your cryptocurrencies! Learn to keep them safe
With the growing popularity of cryptocurrencies in recent years, the number of wallet robberies has also increased, causing many people to lose their savings.
Fortunately, there are several ways in which you can protect your savings from hackers. Today, we will talk about some methods that will allow you to keep your cryptocurrencies safe.
Hackers have improved their techniques to steal cryptocurrencies, from those people who are not cautious enough.
Cryptocurrencies with a decentralized protocol, this means that if they rob you cannot claim anyone, the same happens if you lose your seed phrases, they hack you or anything else.
You are solely responsible for your cryptocurrencies, that is why you must know the different ways you have to be able to protect them at all times.
Your cryptocurrencies will never be completely safe, however, you will be able to keep them as safe as possible by following some simple tips.
Don't leave your cryptocurrencies on the exchanges
Many people usually leave their cryptocurrencies in the different exchanges that are on the network. Although the security of exchangers like binance or coinbase are usually quite robust, there is a maxim in the world of cryptocurrencies that says "they are not your keys, they are not your cryptocurrencies".
When you create a wallet, it will generate some seed phrases, with these you will be able to recover your coins at any time you want.
You will even be able to load your wallet in another wallet, and you will have your coins. However, in exchanges this does not happen and in the event that something happens, they will not guarantee your crypto assets.
That is why it is not recommended leaving your savings in an exchange, although this may seem much simpler and more practical, the truth is that the ideal is to have complete control of your cryptocurrencies.
Use hardware wallets
If you are in the world of cryptocurrencies, it is likely that you have already heard about hardware wallet. This type of wallet has the advantage that they are not directly connected to the internet, so a hacker cannot access them.
The most popular wallets today are Ledger and Trezor, this hardware wallet is ideal for keeping your cryptocurrencies completely safe at all times.
These devices are not too expensive and if you look at all the benefits they have, they are completely worth it.
So, if you handle a good volume of cryptocurrencies, using hardware wallets to store your savings are the best alternative to keep your cryptocurrencies safe.
Choose a good wallet
Traditional wallets or "hot wallets" are those that give you total control of your coins thanks to the fact that they give you the seed phrases.
However, from the moment you open a wallet, you are fully responsible for the security of the cryptocurrencies that are there.
There are many wallets, some of the best are Exodus, Coinomi, TrustWallet, Metamask, among others. Actually, the main change that these wallets have is the amount of commission they charge and the cryptocurrencies they support.
In any case, the ideal is that you choose the one that meets your needs. Any wallet is good as long as you know how to use it correctly. Having a good wallet is not going to protect you from hackers, but it is a first step.
Use an old device as a wallet
If you do not have the money to buy a hardware wallet, a very good option is to use an old device as a wallet. This device must be used solely and exclusively to save your coins and must always be disconnected from the internet. Just connect it to the network when you go to make a transaction and then disconnect it again.
This can be very useful, since you will not have to spend money, however, it can be cumbersome to carry out the transactions.
In any case, this method is ideal to save those cryptocurrencies to which you are HODL or your savings. By keeping them disconnected from the internet, the chances of being hacked are greatly reduced.
Store your seed phrases in a safe place
One of the things people often fail at is when storing their seed phrases.
You may find it tempting to take a photo of them, write them down in your mobile's notes app, save them in a ".txt" file, or save them in your Google Drive or Dropbox folder. This is a serious mistake, having your seed phrases on your computer or in the cloud makes them highly prone to being stolen.
It is recommended that you write it down, either on paper, in a notebook or in any other physical place that is totally disconnected. Of course, you need to know exactly where this place is when the time comes when you need the seed phrases.
Today there are several options available to you to store your seed phrases.
Some people buy a metal capsule in which you can keep a paper with your phrases, this keeps you away from everything, including rodents or bugs that can damage the paper. On the web there are many more options that may be of interest to you.
Trust nobody
Maybe a friend helps you create your first wallet, or you have created a wallet, and you have not been alone in the place.
This can be a very big mistake, the ideal is that you create a new wallet being completely sun or, nobody should know your seed phrases, especially if you save a good amount of money.
Use multiple wallets
A very good option to protect your cryptocurrencies is to use several wallets.
For example, you can have a wallet to carry out your transactions, a wallet to hodl, and a wallet to store your savings. This will mean that in the event that your wallet is hacked, you cannot have access to all your capital.
The wallets are free, so you can do whatever you think is convenient to safeguard your money. The saying that you shouldn't keep all your eggs in the same basket applies here.
Beware of phishing
One of the main tactics hackers use to steal your cryptocurrencies is using phishing.
It is a practice that consists of stealing personal information in various ways. That is why you must be attentive to any website you access, especially if you are in the world of NFT games, and you must connect your wallet.
Many hackers usually create identical sites to the originals, so if you are not completely sure what you are doing, they may end up stealing your personal information.
Similarly, beware of suspicious emails that ask for personal information or seed phrases.
Similarly, if you have to connect your wallet to a website, make sure it is a reliable website, since if it is a scam site you may be giving it permission to spend your cryptocurrencies.