How bad malware could be on bitcoin wallet devices

[Oshosondy]

There are different types of malware, the common types are Virus, Trojan horse, Worms, Botnets and rootkits. There are still many other types and they are all deadly to your bitcoin wallet devices. Malware could damage devices that can be used to connect online, they can also steal information on bitcoin wallet devices. That is why they need to be avoided.

Common reason malware need to be avoided
* Malware have been reported to steal information from devices that connect online, keyloggers is a good example.
* Malware have been reported to steal google authntication code even if it is TOTP, google authenticator that is time based as been reported its codes can be known to hackers through malware.
* Malware was reported several times to mine through thousands of devices, a good example is botnets that is used to mine monero.
*  Malware can steal private keys which will be used to zero your wallet balance. It can also be used to know your seedphrase.
*  hackers can use worm and other types to hijack wallet devices, telling victims to pay ransom.
*  Malware can install more malware which can even result to total loss of privacy and risks of losing bitcoin wallet.
*  Viruses can damage the whole bitcoin wallet device.
*  Malware can change recipient address to hackers address and bitcoin sent to hacker unknowingly.

These are just common but few of what malware can do, they are the best way hackers can make someone lose bitcoin or a whole bitcoin wallet device, many people that have million dollar worth of bitcoin can lose at ones in a day because of malware, malware can turn a rich person to a poor person in just in a range of 1 hour to a day, that is why we need to avoid it.

How to avoid malware that can hack bitcoin wallets
Although, malware can be uninstalled by professionals but the best is to still always prevent it, it could be late already before you will know your bitcoin wallet device has malware, this will make me talk about how to prevent it.

* Be it phone, computer, or others, do not use them to browse online, although, it is your choice but it is a good advice.
*  Do not be greedy and not patient
*  Avoid airdrops, cloud mining sites and mining sites, join a reputable mining  pool is better.
*  Do not click on ads, the site can be secure but display malware ads.
*  Be careful of any high yield return sites.

Ways to install malware
Malware are very dangerous but also very easy to avoid, if you know the ways it is installed and follow ways to avoid it, your bitcoin wallet device will be protected. Malware are installed from unprotected sites, any site can be unprotected and be secured. So from the above ways to avoid malware, you can protect your bitcoin wallets.

PS: One of the easiest way of combating this issue is installing antivirus on your device and not just any free ones out there because they too can be corrupted.

[Lucius]

I think it is a well-known fact that prevention is always better than repairing damage, and in case we have malware on our device, sometimes removal is really very difficult or almost impossible. If we associate malware with cryptocurrencies then we have a whole range of potential threats ranging from malware that uses the resources of our device without permission to mine crypto, all the way to that malware that comes in the form of fake crypto software (fake wallets) or clipboard malware that replaces our legitimate addresses with fake ones.

Malware can be avoided by being extremely careful with all the content we download from the Internet (images, videos, movies, software), which means knowing where the danger comes from and how to recognize it in time. For anyone using Windows OS it would be wise to use some antivirus program (although W10 has its own internal Windows Defender), or the very well known Malwarebytes (Premuim version). In case we miss something, such programs can warn us and prevent the device from becoming infected.

Cryptocurrencies are something that is very interesting to hackers, they are always looking for ways to steal it from us - so we need to be at least one step ahead of them - check everything at least three times, separate the fun part of your internet life with crypto, read & learn - knowledge is power.

[boyptc]

Malware can also cause our devices to slow down. And that's one way to determine if ever our devices are infected by a malware, when it became slow down.

* Be it phone, computer, or others, do not use them to browse online, although, it is your choice but it is a good advice.
*  Do not be greedy and not patient
*  Avoid airdrops, cloud mining sites and mining sites, join a reputable mining  pool is better.
*  Do not click on ads, the site can be secure but display malware ads.
*  Be careful of any high yield return sites.

This is true, prevention is better than cure. Unsolicited links shouldn't be clicked as well.

[Latviand]

Malware can also cause our devices to slow down. And that's one way to determine if ever our devices are infected by a malware, when it became slow down.

My old laptop didn't work when malware attacked it due to some unknown link that my siblings clicked. It started to become slower and different ads showed up repeatedly. I'm worried that my files might get corrupted that's why I risk my FD just to backup my files. I don't know where it came from and what damage it can bring to my laptop and suddenly my laptop didn't open.

This is true, prevention is better than cure. Unsolicited links shouldn't be clicked as well.

Never click any ads that is really suspicious.

As much as possible, don't click ads, don't visit any website that is unfamiliar and skeptical because it might contain a malware or any type of viruses that will harm your device.

Cryptocurrencies are something that is very interesting to hackers, they are always looking for ways to steal it from us - so we need to be at least one step ahead of them - check everything at least three times, separate the fun part of your internet life with crypto, read & learn - knowledge is power.

Hackers will do anything just to make easy money, and these viruses are their tools to enter someone's devices and still those money in their wallet. Being aware with these kinds of software will make us safe from those hijacking of devices that can result to losses.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

Quick question though, using laptop as a point of discussion, we all know you can create two or more adminstrative account on your laptop like one for work and another for public used. Assuming the one for public used was used to browse and probably gotten affected with some malware, will it have an effect on just that account or it'll also have an effect when you tried using other account.

Like lets say your sensitive information like bitcoin wallet aren't visible on the public administrative account but only accessible when you're using your work account. If the laptop get affected when you were logged in the public account, will it also affect information only accessible via work administrative account ?.

PS: One of the easiest way of combating this issue is installing antivirus on your device and not just any free ones out there because they too can be corrupted.

[Insanerman]

Ways to install malware
Malware are very dangerous but also very easy to avoid, if you know the ways it is installed and follow ways to avoid it, your bitcoin wallet device will be protected. Malware are installed from unprotected sites, any site can be unprotected and be secured. So from the above ways to avoid malware, you can protect your bitcoin wallets.

have you ever know that most malwares are so fast in stealing evrything it needs? Once it had access to your device or any of device you use in your bitcoin wallet, it can take your data, email, private keys (if you downloaded a phishing app that was injected with a little code), and of course some of your pins and passwords as well. And no, malware nowadays aren't easy to avoid, as even a single picture you've downloaded and viewed on your device can secretly run a code that steals information, and no wonder that it will soon can attack bitcoin wallets as well (depending on what wallet you use).

Here's a little thread I've read that talks about a little hacking (somehow helpful with the malware topic):
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5250120.0

[Findingnemo]

Quick question though, using laptop as a point of discussion, we all know you can create two or more adminstrative account on your laptop like one for work and another for public used. Assuming the one for public used was used to browse and probably gotten affected with some malware, will it have an effect on just that account or it'll also have an effect when you tried using other account.

Like lets say your sensitive information like bitcoin wallet aren't visible on the public administrative account but only accessible when you're using your work account. If the laptop get affected when you were logged in the public account, will it also affect information only accessible via work administrative account ?.

PS: One of the easiest way of combating this issue is installing antivirus on your device and not just any free ones out there because they too can be corrupted.

Not sure this will help or not but I think it might save from few hack attempts.

But incase if our system was injected with a keylogger then I don't think it will help because they are going to get whatever we write on the keypad.

PS. Better we can use virtual keyboards while entering login details of our crypt wallet to save from key loggers.

[rodskee]

Malware can also cause our devices to slow down. And that's one way to determine if ever our devices are infected by a malware, when it became slow down.

* Be it phone, computer, or others, do not use them to browse online, although, it is your choice but it is a good advice.
*  Do not be greedy and not patient
*  Avoid airdrops, cloud mining sites and mining sites, join a reputable mining  pool is better.
*  Do not click on ads, the site can be secure but display malware ads.
*  Be careful of any high yield return sites.

This is true, prevention is better than cure. Unsolicited links shouldn't be clicked as well.

Being responsible to any possibilities of being infected, you need to
keep working with your knowledge
Securing your devices to any potential attacks, never to trust site
that you don't have full information.
Keep your devices away to any kind of potentials origins of malware
attacks.
If possible use separate  devices, keep your things to it's purpose
and make sure to have protections.
Better than being sorry, once the this virus enters your device it
will be a disaster.

[pakhitheboss]

Malware can only enter your device if you are using the internet. Cryptocurrency cannot operate without the internet. Then, how can you stop a malware?

• Use a browser that prevents javascript and stops advertisement like Brave and Firefox browser
• Do not click on any link which you do not know and also do not download any thing from the internet
• Use a hardware wallet to store cryptocurrency
• Always update your device and its firewall

[blue Snow]

Ways to install malware
Malware are installed from unprotected sites, any site can be unprotected and be secured.

How to know the website unprotected?, maybe image below as example unprotected site, I see this when clicking the website where we don't know malware has in the button.

[bitsurfer2014]

Quick question though, using laptop as a point of discussion, we all know you can create two or more adminstrative account on your laptop like one for work and another for public used. Assuming the one for public used was used to browse and probably gotten affected with some malware, will it have an effect on just that account or it'll also have an effect when you tried using other account.

Like lets say your sensitive information like bitcoin wallet aren't visible on the public administrative account but only accessible when you're using your work account. If the laptop get affected when you were logged in the public account, will it also affect information only accessible via work administrative account ?.

In using different accounts, most likely, malware infections are confined to the folders or files of the infected account since different user account levels e.g. ( administrator, guest, standard) have different access privileges especially if the admin know how to tweak his or her system to further increase its security.

Likewise, it is not always guaranteed that the infection will not go to other files or folders of other accounts since it also depends on the level of sophistication of the malware that has gotten into the system. So I think the best way is not to be complacent with our own security.

[pooya87]

Ways to install malware
Malware are installed from unprotected sites, any site can be unprotected and be secured.

How to know the website unprotected?, maybe image below as example unprotected site, I see this when clicking the website where we don't know malware has in the button.

that button in address bar is just showing you that your communication with the website is not protected by SSL encryption. and that only matters if you are trying to log-in that site, send sensitive data that could be susceptible to MITM attacks,... but it has nothing to do with malware installation.

[Lucius]

Quick question though, using laptop as a point of discussion, we all know you can create two or more adminstrative account on your laptop like one for work and another for public used. Assuming the one for public used was used to browse and probably gotten affected with some malware, will it have an effect on just that account or it'll also have an effect when you tried using other account.

One device + two or more accounts in terms of security it is mainly used so that two or more different users can have their own separate work environment within the operating system. If one user has infected the device with malware, it is very likely that all other users or their accounts will be infected. However, it all depends on what kind of malware it is, the operating system and the permissions that each user has set on their account.

Even if someone uses two different devices on the same network, the infection can spread from one device to another via a shared folder.

[Lordhermes]

Ways to install malware
Malware are installed from unprotected sites, any site can be unprotected and be secured.

How to know the website unprotected?, maybe image below as example unprotected site, I see this when clicking the website where we don't know malware has in the button.

Unprotected sites are ones without padlock and also not displayed as https. It's advisable to aviod such sites as its a suspect of phishing sites that is involved with malware, attaching with virus destroying devices and changes bitcoin addresses.

[Charles-Tim]

Unprotected sites are ones without padlock and also not displayed as https. It's advisable to aviod such sites as its a suspect of phishing sites that is involved with malware, attaching with virus destroying devices and changes bitcoin addresses.

Security means the connection to the site is safe but that does not mean the site itself is free of malware, there are many sites with the padlock but contain malware. if you see the padlock, then it will be https. Getting antialware is very important and also not click links and ads, I have seen a link/ads from safe sites that will direct someone to malware sites and malware installation unknowingly follows.

[boyptc]

Malware can also cause our devices to slow down. And that's one way to determine if ever our devices are infected by a malware, when it became slow down.

My old laptop didn't work when malware attacked it due to some unknown link that my siblings clicked. It started to become slower and different ads showed up repeatedly. I'm worried that my files might get corrupted that's why I risk my FD just to backup my files. I don't know where it came from and what damage it can bring to my laptop and suddenly my laptop didn't open.

With your description probably your sister got it through clicking pop up ads. It's an adware that you got but regardless of the description as long as it's causing harm to our computers, malware, adware, spyware or any of them, they really are annoying.

This is true, prevention is better than cure. Unsolicited links shouldn't be clicked as well.

Never click any ads that is really suspicious.

As much as possible, don't click ads, don't visit any website that is unfamiliar and skeptical because it might contain a malware or any type of viruses that will harm your device.

I've been practicing that for years and so far so good.

[Peanutswar]

No kind of viruses will enter on your device if you do not make anything to your devices because this cannot move at its own still it need to have a user to make an activity.

These are just simple things to avoid a suspicious virus comes to your device.

• 1. Avoid clicking suspicious links.
• 2. Avoid visiting an untrusted website.
• 3. Stop sharing your information online.
• 4. Avoid sharing devices.
• 5. Avoid connecting to public Wifi.
• 6. Use Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Also if you want to keep your device safe if there is a virus connected to your offices especially viruses avoid getting connected on those networks.

[Kong Hey Pakboy]

No kind of viruses will enter on your device if you do not make anything to your devices because this cannot move at its own still it need to have a user to make an activity.

These are just simple things to avoid a suspicious virus comes to your device.

• 1. Avoid clicking suspicious links.
• 2. Avoid visiting an untrusted website.
• 3. Stop sharing your information online.
• 4. Avoid sharing devices.
• 5. Avoid connecting to public Wifi.
• 6. Use Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Also if you want to keep your device safe if there is a virus connected to your offices especially viruses avoid getting connected on those networks.

Indeed. If everyone will just simply follow all of these guidelines, they only have a less chance to receive a malware or any virus for them not to get hacked in their devices. But the common reason how people get hack is by just clicking suspicious links and visiting untrusted websites because they always get curious and amuse from the click baits that sometimes pops up.

[AakZaki]

There is one more tip that must be added to be able to avoid malware attacks on the devices we use, namely the use of antivirus. Install the recommended antivirus to ward off malware attacks that can happen at any time. Antivirus becomes the main line that will secure the device. very risky if surfing the internet without using an antivirus.

[khaled0111]

Your device can be infected by malwares not only by visiting malicious websites, it can be infected too if you connect to random public wifi, plugging in unscanned flash drives/CDs/DVDs, not updating regularly your softwares/apps.
Using a hardware wallet or saving your private keys on an air gapped device are the best ways to keep your coins safe.
You can create a watch-only wallet on other devices that you use on a regular basis.