Crypto relevant security

[DEV-MAT1996]

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Nowadays, I heard about how skillful hackers can attack or steal crypto by using some malware.
They can attack a user's PC and steal valuable private data and use it to steal money or forge personal information.
Attackers can even steal cryptocurrency, like TAO, ETH, or other types of tokens, by stealing a mnemonic or seed phrase.
I want to discuss this topic to enhance our PC security.

[TechnicalDeveloper]

You’re absolutely right — most modern crypto theft today happens not through “hacking the blockchain”, but through malware, phishing, and social engineering on the user’s own PC. Once an attacker gets your seed phrase or private keys, the funds are basically gone. So the real battle is endpoint security.

Here’s how these attacks usually happen, and what actually helps in practice:

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1. How crypto is really being stolen today

The most common attack vectors are:

✅ Info-stealers / clipboard malware

Malware that:

• scans your browser for saved wallets,
• grabs clipboard contents (seed phrases, addresses),
• steals session cookies from exchanges.

✅ Fake wallets & browser extensions

Trojan versions of:

• MetaMask,
• Phantom,
• Trust Wallet,
  downloaded from fake sites or ads.

✅ Phishing sites

You think you’re:

• connecting a wallet,
• signing a normal transaction,
  but you’re actually signing a drainer contract.

✅ Screenshot & keyloggers

If you ever:

• type your seed phrase on a PC,
• store it in screenshots, notes, or cloud sync,
  malware will eventually grab it.

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2. What actually protects you (realistic setup)

This is the minimum baseline for serious crypto users:

✅ Hardware wallet (most important)

Ledger, Trezor, Keystone, etc.

If your seed never touches your PC:

• malware can’t steal it,
• even a fully infected OS can’t drain the wallet without physical confirmation.

This alone stops ~90% of real-world attacks.

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✅ Dedicated “clean” crypto environment

Either:

• a separate Windows/macOS user,
• or a Linux VM,
  used only for crypto, no games, no cracks, no torrents.

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✅ Never store seed phrases digitally

❌ No:

• screenshots
• cloud notes
• password managers
• text files

✅ Only:

• paper backup
• metal backup

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✅ Browser hardening

• Separate browser only for crypto
• No random extensions
• UBlock + built-in phishing protection
• Disable clipboard access for unknown pages

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✅ Exchange security (if you use CEX)

• Hardware-based 2FA (YubiKey)
• No SMS 2FA
• Withdrawal whitelist
• Daily withdrawal limits

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3. What DOESN’T really protect you

These give false confidence:

• Antivirus alone
• “I’m careful, I won’t click links”
• Storing seed in encrypted cloud notes
• Copy-paste habits without verification

Most victims were “careful users”.

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4. About attackers stealing mnemonic / seed phrases

Important point:
Attackers don’t brute-force real wallets. They steal backed-up seeds.

If your seed:

• was ever typed on a PC,
• saved in a file,
• photographed,
• synced to cloud,

then malware eventually finds it.

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5. Summary in simple terms

If you want real crypto security:

✔ Hardware wallet
✔ No digital seed storage
✔ Clean environment for crypto only
✔ Separate browser
✔ Strong 2FA on exchanges

If even one of these is missing — your risk grows exponentially.

[TAO-STAR425]

That's terrible.

I wanna say as follow.

If you ask for help and get a PM or call from someone claiming to be a mod or admin, a subnet owner, someone claiming to be a "dev", "support", or a "ticket", (or whatever else they claim to be), it's a scam.

They're going to tell you that you need to "verify/validate your wallet", ask you to connect to a bogus website ("dApp"), the connection will fail, then they'll tell you to "connect manually" and type in your mnemonic phrase, and that's how they steal your keys.

PM == scam. Block and report anyone who sends you a message claiming to be "support" of any kind.