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Topic: As a crypto investor, the less app you install the better. - page 2. (Read 562 times)

legendary
Activity: 1932
Merit: 2354
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It is always a good advice to go for the browser version of any service instead of installing the App in your smartphone: the data they are able to collect from you are much less via browser, and it is easier to control which you share. Of course, you have to trust your browser, but I think that they are safer from the design.

And, even better, do the exercise of evaluating which services are worth using and stop using all those you think that are dispensable. Not only from the point of view of security, but for a better use of your time too.
legendary
Activity: 2114
Merit: 2248
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Who told you that they don't have to worry about what they download? What about trying to update the hardware wallet? Most hardware wallets still update only by connecting them to a PC and using a USB cable, are you saying that this is not a risk of using a hardware wallet?
Updating your wallets frequently on an airgapped device is not necessary, unless there is a serious security flaw, you can use the older versions for along time. Furthermore the risks in getting a updated version is nothing compared to having your wallet on your regular device.

What about those Ledger users that got scammed by fake Ledger apps on third-party stores? People still fall victims to this isn't it?
Ledger is not an open source wallet, I recommended you use that for more security.
Getting scammed by fake stores is a whole 'nother discussion which is unrelated to my initial comment.
legendary
Activity: 1974
Merit: 1150
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The main purpose of my topic is for software wallet users not hardware wallet users, many crypto beginners still use software wallets like Electrum and other open source software wallets, not everyone can afford hardware wallet and it's not completely free of scam risks if they can get a hardware wallet too.
Yes, all of this is understandable. There are many bitcoin users who don't have a hardware wallet to store their bitcoin, it's not a big problem and I think it's still okay. The problem is, they have to find a way to properly secure their bitcoins even if it is not completely risk-free. All wallet options have their own level of risk, but at least they know how to be safer by minimizing the risks.

Having a hardware wallet is certainly better in terms of minimizing risks, but it also doesn't completely guarantee that your bitcoins remain safe. However, if you have a large amount of assets, then the best choice is a hardware wallet rather than a software wallet.
hero member
Activity: 1232
Merit: 683
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The image below is mine, I took this screenshot because Unstoppable wallet, a open source crypto wallet is the only crypto wallet that I have on my phone that warned me about using a non default keyboard, and I have many other crypto wallets on my smartphone including metamask and trust wallet.



This shows that all these apps are sensitive to everything we do on our smartphone, I will like to advice beginners to avoid non default keyboards, as they have the potential to collect every data on your phone, the sensitive ones and the less sensitive, even the words we type through them.

This is just a reminder for this new year, if you are just starting your crypto journey avoid doing this with your phone.

Avoid using a non-default keyboard, stick with the default keyboard

Avoid taking screenshot of your wallet seed phrase, somehow this can get to the hands of the wrong ones.

Avoid unlocking your phone bootloader, all OEM security is gone after the unlock, unless you know what you are doing.

My final advice for all smartphone users is that the less apps you install on your phone the better, the less likely you are exposed to data leaking apps or malicious app, and don't use any app store to install apps, directly find their official website, that should direct you to the right apps on stores or direct download.
that's 100% true.I experienced getting hacked 2, 3 times  myself by downloading different software. but mine was in desktop versions. thankfully never had this issue from mobile which is my primary source of wallets.
after experiencing those incidents, I stopped downloading any software program in my laptop.  too afraid to download even trusted software at this point.
As a Crypto user everyone should be careful about these things because hackers are everywhere nowadays.
full member
Activity: 462
Merit: 227
I feel this is a serious warning to most crypto-newbies, who are very reluctant about the security of their crypto-asset, or probably because they don't know the kind of risk that those non-deafult keyboard-Apps can put their asset. Some people like those Keyboards because they have fancy colors and nice design, unknown to them that they can contain some malware that can possibly steal every secret information from their device or grant their device access to hackers.

Dear, you raised a good point about "fancy keyboards" These kinds of applications that provide such kinds of styles to the user keyboards are open-source applications because most of them are available on Google websites. I used to avoid downloading any open-source applications from Google But I remember when I was the newbie in the crypto space I used to make these kinds of mistakes and when I came to know about these things I started to avoid them. Most of the applications were movie applications but I deleted all of them later when I came to know about it.
sr. member
Activity: 658
Merit: 441
Having so many apps on your phone with a good portion of your funds is not advisable, it exposes you to more risk. Fake applications can avoided by verifying the signature before downloading, but to save yourself the stress, just get a hardware wallet and keep your coins or use your device to create an airgapped wallet. When you do this, you'll be less worried about a malware such as keylogger that can take record of your key strokes and send it to the scammer.
legendary
Activity: 2072
Merit: 4265
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You can simply boil this entire post down to one conclusion: if you are a crypto investor, do not store your funds on your phone. Some amounts are needed for certain operations, but the entire amount should not be trusted, even with a pure iPhone or an Android.
Just buy yourself a device that will not come into contact with the Internet or a hardware wallet that has only one purpose: to keep your crypto safe.
sr. member
Activity: 812
Merit: 315
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As a crypto investor, you should invest in a good open source hardware wallet or keep your coins on an airgapped device. This way you don't have to worry about what you download on your mobile or desktop cause it's not linked to your holdings.

If you have to use a regular mobile device, you have to take necessary precautionary measures.
• Don't use third party keyboards,
• Don't use closed source wallets like trustwallet,
• Don't store passwords or seed phrases on the device,
• Don't click on unsolicited links.

Who told you that they don't have to worry about what they download? What about trying to update the hardware wallet? Most hardware wallets still update only by connecting them to a PC and using a USB cable, are you saying that this is not a risk of using a hardware wallet?

What about those Ledger users that got scammed by fake Ledger apps on third-party stores? People still fall victims to this isn't it? You are talking as if once they buy the hardware wallet all risks are over.

As a hardware wallet owner, you still need to write down your recovery seed in a safe location, isn't it? A lost recovery seed makes a hardware wallet useless, as funds can be moved out, just like when your softer wallet is compromised, tell me that hardware wallet is risk free...

The main purpose of my topic is for software wallet users not hardware wallet users, many crypto beginners still use software wallets like Electrum and other open source software wallets, not everyone can afford hardware wallet and it's not completely free of scam risks if they can get a hardware wallet too.
member
Activity: 1165
Merit: 78
The image below is mine, I took this screenshot because Unstoppable wallet, a open source crypto wallet is the only crypto wallet that I have on my phone that warned me about using a non default keyboard, and I have many other crypto wallets on my smartphone including metamask and trust wallet.
Although you can import the wallet into your Unstoppable wallet and never use the Trust wallet again because you no longer require it, I'm amazed that you still have the Trust wallet given the capabilities and functionality of the Unstoppable wallet.
There's no need to have many apps on the phone, or operating system you use for your crypto.
legendary
Activity: 3024
Merit: 2148
As crypto investor, you should have separate environments for your investment activities and for your other stuff. If you are trading thousands of dollars worth of coins, you should just get a cheap laptop for trading instead of using apps on your phone which is always online and does whatever it wants on the Internet. And for your wallet you should have a hardware wallet or a cold storage PC/laptop. Mobile wallets should be only for tiny daily expenses.
hero member
Activity: 952
Merit: 555
It's not about making installations because you will at the long run needed some apps to be installed for one or two purposes, but the advice I will give in this condition is to make use of a different device for your wallet which may not even have an Internet connection at all, this will help prevent you from using the google to browse or make downloads of apps that may be risky to your system, treat your wallet on a different device not accessible to everyone.
hero member
Activity: 770
Merit: 538
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I feel this is a serious warning to most crypto-newbies, who are very reluctant about the security of their crypto-asset, or probably because they don't know the kind of risk that those non-deafult keyboard-Apps can put their asset. Some people like those Keyboards because they have fancy colors and nice design, unknown to them that they can contain some malware that can possibly steal every secret information from their device or grant their device access to hackers.
full member
Activity: 462
Merit: 227


I was aware of it already because those applications that you install from Google are open-source applications that may have loopholes in them which can help scammers or hackers to scam your information or money. I used to install these kinds of applications before and when I came to know about them I deleted them at all. Those applications were movie applications that I used to use in my spare time. So these kinds of applications may cause to compromise of your data. My suggestion is to avoid them all. Espacially do not install any open source application in the device where you hold your personal data or crypto assets.
legendary
Activity: 1974
Merit: 1150
Your crypto is your responsibility, meaning you are the first person who is fully responsible for whatever assets you own. Storing all your assets on your smartphone especially in an online wallet is a risky choice, but if you understand it and are able to bear all the consequences then it is good for you.

Wherever you keep your assets (any wallet), just know, don't tell anyone except people you trust. You never know who will take it from you, whether it's a hacker or a robber, so it's best to avoid it. Here we can only give you advice, but the best practices are in your own hands.
hero member
Activity: 770
Merit: 482
Most mobile phones have second space or Dual user mode these days. You should not use the same user to do everything. Use the default user interface for your daily use and use another interface just for crypto-related things. It would be better if you could use a completely different device for crypto currency alone. But, you have to think if it's worth it.

You don't have to buy another device just because you want to safe your $50 crypto. You should go for a hardware wallet or a different device if you are an investor yourself. Even though I do use my regular device for crypto as well, I am planning to have dedicated device for crypto only.
sr. member
Activity: 798
Merit: 364
Avoid taking screenshot of your wallet seed phrase, somehow this can get to the hands of the wrong ones.


My final advice for all smartphone users is that the less apps you install on your phone the better, the less likely you are exposed to data leaking apps or malicious app, and don't use any app store to install apps, directly find their official website, that should direct you to the right apps on stores or direct download.

Do people still use crypto wallet that allows taking screenshot? I don't know for others but right from setting up a wallet, if I discover that it allows taking screenshot of keys phrases, I will instantly discard it without a second thought because it is a sign of weak security protocol from the developers. On the aspect of keyboard, I don't know what third party keyboards offer that phone built in keyboard doesn't offer which makes people to use them despite knowing the risk involved nowadays. I remember back then when I used third party keyboard but whenever I enter any site or app that requires typing of password or other sensitive information, my phone will automatically switch to phone built in keyboard. That's how things are supposed to be but I don't know what's wrong this days. Some of these security threats can be avoided by us using simple measures but we choose to overlooked it until it causes harm.
hero member
Activity: 826
Merit: 583
My final advice for all smartphone users is that the less apps you install on your phone the better, the less likely you are exposed to data leaking apps or malicious app, and don't use any app store to install apps, directly find their official website, that should direct you to the right apps on stores or direct download.

For security, yes, I agree with you. because most applications require permission to access location, contacts on the smartphone, and even access our files. they don't steal, but we allow the app to access it all.
So all of us need to minimize these risks. If possible, use a special smartphone that is not used for activities other than opening a wallet.
Not only applications but sometimes we are too curious about advertisements or emails sent to our devices. We must be careful and vigilant in using our devices.
legendary
Activity: 2114
Merit: 2248
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I didn't say a hardware wallet is the solution to all problems, there's isn't a singular security advice that offers 100% security neither is there a best advice, rather we have an application of several precautions and security tips which we are constantly learning and improving.

Combining a hardware wallet and a airgapped device deters majority of online threats like clipboard malwares or seed stealers.
legendary
Activity: 3234
Merit: 5637
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Yes, this is the best advice. This takes me to my point earlier. 3rd party apps on mobile devices are like family. They are filled with so many tracking software that the user is oblivious of. On the other hand, even if you use a desktop wallet, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is up to date with the anti-virus and firewall.

AV and firewall make sense, but only the paid ones. I won't say that they do their job perfectly and don't spy on the user, but all those AVs that are free are very bad at their job and collect all possible data from your computer that they can get their hands on. However, if you already have such software on your computer, you don't need to worry too much about updates, because everything is set to be updated automatically - whether it's about antivirus definitions or upgrading the program itself.
sr. member
Activity: 1288
Merit: 231
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Most people don't reason what would be the gain of most mining app to the developer.  Most mining app aim is to gathe Most individual personal information (personal data) with all means mostly with the used of kyc. The only wallet have installed in my device for multiple coins are trust wallet and meta mask while for my BTC I'm just using electrum and bluewallet.
That why before thinking of installing any app you should make proper research concerning that app. Because they are also Decentralized mining app but they are few.
Most wallet developers don’t even need your KYC before getting your personal information just the moment when you install the app in device and you grant them access to your phone they will automatically be extracting any information they they need from your phone without your knowledge from your pictures down to your contact.

Even when you want to install the crypto wallet which you want to use always make sure you are getting them from the direct source because downloading crypto wallet from random sites are also very dangerous as it can expose your wallet to hack and you don’t know what that one you downloaded is capable of aside from your crypto being stolen they can also do some other danger to the wallet.
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