Saying about getting an airgapped device...
Is one automatically exposed to risk of hack and malware when they are connected to the internet?
I think one needs to visit some malicious sites, click random links or share private information before they could be hacked.
I have a backup phone I use for only my wallets and I have my mobile wallet there. I only go online with it to search information or visit my social media handle. I do not click links and I do not install any other things in the phone.
Am I still at risk?
I believe something points the attention of hackers to my device and if I avoid those things that point their attention to my device I am safe.
Am I getting it totally wrong?
I am not sure but from my experience I think you are wrong.
I don't open weird emails either and it still looks like I was a victim of some sort of hack. You could be browsing on any normal website, click on "play" of any video you wish to see, have a pop up appear and it is already too late.
I keep getting calls from foreign countries. Random people who seem to have my phone nr. This has been happening for a while. Obviously I do not answer.
A few months ago when Roger Federer retired from tennis, I commented on facebook that I would like to attend his last game. I did this with a fake account that is not linked to my real name. Half an hour later I received a phonecall from the UK where that game was played (I do not live there) and the day after I got 2 more. So somehow people on the dark web can even link a fake facebook account to my real name and my real phone number. I'm not an expert but I assume this is based on the IP address being used by both accounts (the real FB account and the fake one)
A month prior to that someone had made a 1000 British pound payment in London with my visa card, that is inside my house and I had used exactly 1 time online. No details were shared with anyone. I was a whole battle with the insurance company to get it back. I had done nothing wrong.
So no I do not feel safe online.
With regards to hackers, I believe that one of the most important safety measures is to make sure that NOBODY knows you invested in BTC or ETH.
Eventually if the word speads, it will catch the attention of bad people. I don't know what they can do to your internet connection, but I believe they have options just by knowing your name and address.
To get a better idea, this website allows you to enter your email address and immediately tells you if there have been security breaches https://haveibeenpwned.com/
Mine has 10 of them, and it also says when and where it happened
Ensuring digital safety is paramount! I recently discovered the importance of a separate phone for added security. Speaking of data protection, I highly recommend checking out Setapp's guide on extracting data from corrupted ZIP files at https://setapp.com/how-to/extract-data-from-corrupted-zip. It's a game-changer for safeguarding valuable information. Kudos to Setapp for empowering users with such invaluable tools!
I can relate to your concerns about online safety. Despite being cautious, I too fell victim to hacks. The incident with a fake Facebook account and subsequent phone calls is chilling.