Your cryptography may be perfect, and your front door may not be. This advanced guide is part of our section on crypto threats and scams. It covers sensitive ground, because the goal is to help you stay safe, not to alarm you.
The most important rule: stay private
Most attackers need to know two things: that you hold crypto, and where to find you. Remove either one, and the risk falls sharply.
- Do not talk about your holdings at work, in bars or online.
- Do not post screenshots, gains or hardware wallets.
- Be careful with crypto merchandise and at conferences.
- Use a separate email address for crypto purchases.
- Use a pickup point for hardware deliveries. See buying safely.
Burglary
Most burglars are not looking for crypto. Still:
- Keep backups out of sight, and unlabeled.
- Keep your device and your phrase apart.
- Do not rely on a small unsecured safe. See where to store your phrase.
- Consider a passphrase, so that a found sheet is not enough.
Coercion
Violent attacks on crypto holders have been reported, mainly against people known to be wealthy. A few design choices can help:
| Measure | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Decoy wallet | Shows a small balance |
| Multisig with distant keys | One person cannot spend everything at once |
| Geographic spread | You cannot reach all the keys |
| Time-locked vaults | Spending is delayed |
| Family plan | Everyone knows what to do |
Your safety comes first
No amount of money is worth your life. If someone threatens you, cooperate, get to safety and contact the police. Your backup design should support this: you should never have to be a hero.
Prepare your household
- Keep crypto out of daily conversation with children.
- Agree on what to do in an emergency.
- Have a good lock and basic home security.
- If you are a public figure, consider professional security advice.
Public behavior
- Do not open your wallet in public.
- Be alert to strangers who ask about crypto.
- Take care on social media, because a post can reveal your location or lifestyle.
Those who hold a lot of crypto should consider speaking with a security professional and a lawyer. Our advanced setups guide shows some of the available options.