After spending a long time in the crypto space, you'll realize a harsh reality—everyone is focused on "how to make money faster," but very few truly understand "how to protect it more securely."

A friend once complained to me that 3 million U.S. dollars disappeared in an instant. He didn't get liquidated, the platform didn't run away, and he didn't perform any unauthorized operations—yet at that moment, he watched helplessly as his wallet balance dropped to zero. The subsequent police report was even more absurd; the police simply casually said "it might have been a family member's mistaken operation."

When I helped him review the case, I realized how ironic the whole story was. All the vulnerabilities were hidden in daily habits: an outdated operating system not updated in three years, a WiFi password that hadn't been changed in seven years, financial apps filled with pop-up ads installed on his phone—most deadly of all, he directly screenshot his seed phrase into his phone's notes.

It's like hanging the key to your safe openly on the doorknob. No matter how sturdy your security door is, it's useless.

I've been paying close attention to the methods of crypto hackers and have encountered many such cases. Every time, I want to tell newcomers the same thing: entering the crypto world, the first lesson isn't "how to buy the dip," but "how to lock the door properly." Too many people are obsessed with hundredfold returns but put their assets behind a "paper-thin wall."

**Overlooked Security Details**

The moment you generate your private key or seed phrase, a lifelong journey of security begins. There are three common mistakes:

First is **seed phrase storage**. This is the key to all your assets, yet some store it in WeChat, notes, or even take photos and save them in their phone albums. You think this is convenient and quick, but in reality, you're inviting hackers in. The correct method is to write it by hand on paper and store it separately in two different places—one at home, and another in a safe or at a friend's place. Paper records are isolated from any network device, and that is true "isolation."

Second is **device separation**. If your assets are substantial, the smartest approach is to prepare a dedicated device for cold wallet operations—nothing installed, no links clicked, avoid public WiFi. Old devices are riddled with vulnerabilities, and security patches are long outdated. A clean device is the only way to safeguard clean assets.

Lastly is **network habits**. Regularly change your home WiFi password and keep your router firmware up to date. Many overlook this point, but hackers often infiltrate through these "side doors." They don't necessarily need to attack your wallet address directly; just compromising your network environment makes everything else easier.

**Rules for Survival in the Crypto World**

In this field, security is never a multiple-choice question; it's a pass-or-fail survival test. Some say "to make money, you must dare to gamble," but I want to say "to earn steady income, you must first learn to protect."

Stories of assets vanishing in an instant often start from a small habit. Maybe an accidental click, maybe a "very convenient" app, or just a plaintext stored seed phrase. Then hackers get their chance.

So next time you're excited about a coin's price surge, take a moment to review your security habits. Update your system, change your passwords, clean your devices, isolate your private keys—these tasks may seem boring and tedious, but they are the real ways to safeguard your wealth.

In the crypto world, making money depends on vision and luck, but protecting your money depends on discipline and habits. To achieve stable profits, security is always the first lesson.