I used to read the advice that if you are using a hot wallet, do not leave too much bitcoin there, that it will attract the attention of hackers.
My question
Is there a specific means that hackers use to know the wallet that has much coins in it and begin to target it.
Exchanges are known to have huge amount of coins, everyone knows that. Only what hackers will like to do is to create malware than can hack the exchange's hot wallet.
See this DeFi of a thing, see crosschain, hackers can easily know all these DeFi thing. Only what hackers will like to do is to look for means to hack and steal.
Those are the two coomom ones but custodial wallets are not excluded.
About your question, some people are just reckless about their online activities, even without the hackers knowing, there are means hackers can infect several devices of people like that and steal there coins, be it small or large amount. In addition to online safety, offline wallets are best.
See another one, the websites that will demand for seed phrase and people will put in their seed phrase and the coins are stolen.
Some are not even hack, it is your friend that stole it thinking it is hack.