As the popularity of cryptocurrencies grows, so does the level of activity of cybercriminals who seek to steal crypto in any way possible, by launching phishing attacks, finding vulnerabilities in the source code, or impersonating people who work for companies to obtain confidential user information such as private keys, passwords, seed phrases, and more.

The biggest challenge in securing your crypto is considering the variety of attack vectors and layers of protection that are necessary to truly ensure your funds are safe. There are three primary layers of security to consider when protecting cryptocurrency funds:

Navigating all of these issues can be very challenging, but the good news is there are a growing number of practices and tools designed to help users secure their coins. There are two crucial practices in particular every user should familiarize themselves with: self-custody and cold storage.

As a crypto holder and investor, keeping your crypto safe is all what you should care about and what your primary job should be. If you understand the risks and learn how to control them, you are set to succeed. Securing your crypto is not complicated but requires a bit of knowledge about how crypto wallets work and how they are used to store your assets. In simple words, when you own crypto, what you really own is a private key that is connected to your crypto on blockchain.

Being sloppy with passwords or sensitive information could get you hacked or become another casualty of phishing. Most people who lost their crypto shared/exposed their private key (something that should never be done) or if they kept their crypto on exchanges, they used the same passwords too long on too many accounts and maybe they didn't have 2FA enabled as well.

So what should you do? Let's take it step by step:

Email:

Step 1) Remain calm, before you do anything analyze the email. NEVER click on any links that the email has. Always go to your browser and type the official website by yourself.

Step 2) Check the sender and the email. Attackers will also try to mimic emails similar to the legitimate one.

Step 3) Check the language. Most of the times phishing emails are rushed and loaded with spelling errors.

Quick tips for emails:

Passwords / PINs:

Reputable Password Managers: KeePass BitWarden LastPass 1Password

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):

Crypto Wallets

Private keys - The most important thing

Browsers:

Phone:

Other General Safety Tips:

Actual hacks in the crypto world are rare, and the most common ways to steal cryptocurrencies are phishing and fraud. Often, users themselves provide private information, not suspecting that there is an intruder in front of them. For example, you can't “hack” cold wallets, only if you give out your private keys and fall a vicim of a phishing scam or you have saved your private keys online and hackers steal your information.

Security isn't a chore, it's an opportunity. We often find good security measures to be a burden, but the better mindset to have is one where you view security as an opportunity to bring yourself peace of mind in an uncertain and turbulent world. Whatever you chose, think critically about your threats and ensure that you aren’t the reason that your cryptocurrencies suddenly vanish. Stay safe.