Ultimate Crypto Security Guide: How to Protect Your Coins and Avoid Scams

With time you realize something important in crypto:

It is not just about making money.
What really matters is not losing it.

And losing money is much easier than you think if you ignore security.

You would not walk around with a 500 € bill hanging out of your pocket.
So why would you leave your crypto exposed?

In this guide I share the lessons I have learned over the years in Web3 so you can start improving your security today.

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1. Not your keys, not your coins

You have probably heard this a thousand times, but it is true.
If you do not control the keys, you do not control the coins.

When you leave your crypto on a centralized exchange (CEX), you are trusting that:

• They will not get hacked
• They will not mismanage funds
• They will not shut down overnight

FTX is the perfect example of what can go wrong.

My personal approach:

• I use some CEX without KYC only as a temporary bridge
• I go in, do what I need, and withdraw
• I never leave more than I am willing to lose

And remember: DEX come with risks too.
If your funds are locked inside a smart contract, you are also exposed to contract risk.

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2. Use an operating system that is not your enemy

Windows is the most popular system and also one of the most targeted.

My recommendations:

• Linux for maximum control and security
• macOS as another solid option

Whatever you use:

• Keep it updated
• Use some kind of antivirus or regular scans
• Avoid shady software and pirated programs

Many attacks begin long before they reach your wallet.

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3. Do you need a VPN?

Not mandatory, but highly recommended.

A good VPN:

• Encrypts your connection
• Protects you on public networks
• Adds a layer of privacy

Use it especially when:

• You are in hotels, airports, cafes or public Wi-Fi
• You are managing large amounts
• You are logging in to CEX or sensitive services

Avoid free VPNs.
If it is free, you are probably the product.

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4. Separate your everyday browsing from your crypto browsing

Simple trick, big impact:

• One browser for everyday life
• One browser dedicated only to crypto

Example:

• Firefox for social networks, email, general browsing
• Brave only for DeFi, wallets and dApps, with very few vetted extensions

This keeps your “crypto environment” much cleaner and reduces attack surface.

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5. Use wallets that clearly show what you are signing

One of the most common mistakes is signing without reading.

Some wallets do a poor job of explaining what you are about to sign. Others, like Rabby on EVM, are much clearer:

• What token
• Which amount
• Which address
• What kind of permission you are giving

A good wallet interface can save you from many scams.

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6. Always install wallet extensions from official websites

When you install wallet extensions in your browser:

• Always start from the project’s official website
• Or from their official X account
• Avoid searching “wallet name extension” in the store and clicking the first result

There have been many cases of:

• Fake extensions with the same name and logo
• As soon as you import your seed, your wallet is drained

Ten extra seconds of checking the source can save your entire portfolio.

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7. Security extensions that really help

Some browser extensions act as an extra security radar for your transactions.

Useful examples include:

• Pocket Universe (@PocketUniverseZ)
• Wallet Guard (@wallet_guard)
• Revoke.cash (@RevokeCash)
• DeFi Llama (@DefiLlama) to find verified dApps and protocols

They do not replace your judgment, but they can warn you when something looks suspicious.

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8. Follow accounts that warn about hacks and scams

In crypto, staying informed is part of your security strategy.

Accounts like:

• @peckshield and other security researchers

Often share alerts about:

• Ongoing hacks and exploits
• Malicious contracts
• Fake websites
• Phishing campaigns

Having notifications enabled for a few of these can give you critical minutes to react.

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9. Contract approvals are not just a formality

On EVM chains, to use a token in a dApp you usually need to approve it first.

Most users approve unlimited amounts for convenience. That is very risky:

• If a contract can spend all of your USDC
• And that contract is compromised
• Your funds can be completely drained

My suggestion:

• Approve only what you need
• If you swap 100 dollars, approve 105 at most
• Yes, it means more approvals in the future, but for much lower risk

The extra click is worth it.

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10. Revoke approvals regularly

Reviewing token approvals is a must.

You can use:

• https://revoke.cash
• Rabby Wallet
• Other revocation tools depending on the chain

My routine:

• Once a week I review active approvals
• I remove permissions for dApps I no longer use

Each revoke costs gas, but it is incredibly cheap compared to getting hacked.

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11. Do not access dApps by searching them on Google

Search results can include:

• Fake ads
• Cloned websites
• Domains that look almost identical to the original

Do not type the name of a dApp into Google and click the first result.

Instead, use:

• Links from the project’s official X account
• DeFi Llama
• Your own verified bookmarks

And always check:

• HTTPS lock icon
• Correct domain
• Valid certificate

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12. Be careful with unverified contracts

On most networks (Ethereum, Solana, Sui and many others) you can check:

• Whether a contract is verified
• If the code is public
• Which address is the official one

When interacting with:

• New tokens
• Airdrops
• Unknown dApps

Always verify:

• That the contract address matches the one shared by the project
• That it is not a malicious copy

If in doubt, skip it.

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13. A cold wallet is your personal vault

If you hold a meaningful amount of crypto, you need a hardware wallet.

It is your long term vault.

I personally use Ledger, but there are other options like Trezor or Tangem. The key points are:

• Your private keys never leave the device
• You store your seed phrase safely offline
• You use it mainly for storage and important moves

If you want to support my work and upgrade your security at the same time, you can get your Ledger using my referral link:

👉 Get your Ledger using my referral link

It costs you the same, and by using this link you help me keep creating guides, content and real test strategies for the community. Thank you very much for the support.

Recommended setup:

• One cold wallet for long term storage
• One or several hot wallets for daily activity

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14. Split your funds across multiple wallets

Do not keep everything in a single address.

You can separate by purpose:

• Main wallet
• Farming wallet
• Testnet wallet
• High risk wallet for memecoins or experiments

If one gets compromised:

• The rest of your funds remain safe
• The damage is limited

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15. Diversify across protocols too

Even if you use a hardware wallet, once you deposit into DeFi:

• You are trusting a smart contract
• That contract might have vulnerabilities
• It could be exploited at any time

So:

• Do not put everything into one single protocol
• Spread risk across several platforms and strategies
• Prefer audited and battle tested protocols

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16. Not everything has to be farming

Part of staying safe is having liquidity available.

• Keep some funds in your wallet, not all in farms
• Holding some stables ready lets you react faster
• Sometimes it is better to earn less than to overexpose yourself

Many times the smartest move is to sit on your hands.

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17. Conclusion: Crypto is a jungle, and you need to be prepared

Crypto is a jungle:

• Full of opportunities
• Full of predators
• Full of traps, bait and fake safe paths

And in that jungle, you are the prey if you do not know how to protect yourself.

Even after years in this space, I have made mistakes:

• I have signed scam transactions by being on autopilot
• I have had funds on CEX and DEX that got hacked
• I have trusted projects that turned into rugpulls
• I get scam attempts every day via DM, email and Telegram

Sometimes I got lucky and recovered something.
Other times, the money is gone forever.

That is why I wrote this guide.
Because I know how it feels to see an empty wallet and not understand what happened.
And I know how hard it is to rebuild trust afterwards.

🔒 Crypto security is not optional.

It is a mindset.
It is a habit.
It is how you take care of what is yours.

The earlier you adopt it, the better you will sleep.

If this guide helped you, share it.
You never know who you might be protecting.

Conco 🫡