Keeping your wallet secure

Your wallet might not contain your actual coins, but it’s the gateway to those funds. Coins are sent to a public + private key combination, and if that combination is lost (by, say, accidentally uninstalling your desktop wallet), you will never be able to match those transactions to yourself, and all your digital currency will be lost.
So how do you make sure you keep your coins? By keeping your wallets secure.

Employ standard best practices

Wallets are built to be secure. They are almost completely unhackable and the weakest link is most often the user. So make sure to follow standard security best practices when using a computer on which you have a desktop wallet installed or when accessing an online/smartphone wallet:
  • Always use strong usernames and passwords
  • Install antivirus and anti-malware software (and keep them up-to-date)
  • Set up a secure firewall
  • Never install software developed by companies you don’t trust
  • Only use verified and trusted wallets
  • Update your wallet software as soon as possible
  • Double-check your public address when giving it to users sending you money
  • Double-check your recipient’s public address when sending money
  • If accessing an online wallet, make sure the address is secure (https://)
  • Never access online wallets from public Wi-Fi
If you’re using a desktop, smartphone or online wallet, and follow these best practices, your coins should stay safe.

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