What is a hardware purse for crypto currency?
A hardware purse for crypto currency is an electronic device designed for the needs of crypto currency holders. These needs are mainly in the mentioned security and convenience: "so that no one is stolen" and "so that you can easily pay off" - something that interests most users.
In appearance, hardware wallets are a cross between a flash drive and a small smartphone - with a bias in one direction or another. To make transactions connect to the computer via USB, but sometimes they can independently go online via Ethernet, Wi-Fi and so on.
From a security standpoint, they are comparable to a separate laptop, which only has a purse program and security software installed - from a firewall and antivirus to encrypted "traces" of programs.
Software (a purse program and applications that provide access to the wallet and its protection) can be installed by the manufacturer, but more often the developer offers to download it from his site and install it himself.
In recent versions, the shortcomings of the past are corrected, potential vulnerabilities are eliminated, new crypto currency support is added, and so on. The software generates keys and some access codes, so it's worth to be attentive to it - at least not to download from anywhere.
Keys and access codes, as a rule, are several:
PIN-code for access to the device itself (as on the phone);
private key for access to the purse, generated by the above program on a random basis;
seed-phrase - 24 secret words to restore access if the key is lost.Sometimes additional keys are added, for example, the "factory" key supplied with the device. It is important that there are several levels of protection, and experts can check how random the generated keys are.
A weighty argument in favor of this or that device is the number of supported crypto-currencies. Developers try to take this into account and add coins that are in demand. And unpopular currencies are unlikely to be stored in a hardware purse: they simply will not be supported.
How to avoid scammers?
[/b][/size]
On the one hand, which is much easier: any search engine will issue a request for a set of sites where the device can be ordered. On the other hand, there are scammers who often resolve the issue of stealing money before the purse falls into the hands of the future victim.
Some, for example, issue wallets-counterfeits. A well-known company or, say, its "branch" may be indicated on the site. The site can be designed allegedly for a "new model" of a well-known company, which in reality did not produce anything like that.
In fact, these will be unnamed purses without any protection and with software that will transfer the private key and / or seed-phrase to the fraudster as soon as the victim places a certain amount on the wallet.
Others do not hide behind well-known brands, but produce something of their own under a new name. Such hardware wallets are usually cheaper than others. Work on the same scheme.
Ledger
In the official market today are several varieties of wallets. The most popular devices are companies Trezor, Ledger and Keep Key. Of the less popular - Digital Box, Bitlox, Pi Wallet and others.
Leading Ledger - due to the variety of models and a large number of supported currencies.
Among the supported currencies other than the leading currencies are Stratis, Komodo, Dogecoin, NEO, Dash Qtum, Ubiq, Posw, Sealthcoin, Viacoin, Vertcoin, Expense, PIVX, ARK.
Models are developed for the requests of different users. Thus, the wallet Ledger Wallet has increased protection, which combines:
Cryptographic system developed for bank cards (EAL5 +);
Algorithm for confirming all actions;
Presence of a "factory" key;
The presence of the operating system Ledger, designed to store crypto and, of course, protected much better than standard Windows, Mac and Linux.
