Importance of OEM keyboards

[Somegory]

A Quick Reminder

To all those who are still using hot wallet on their smartphones.

Trust your Virtual Keyboard more than those shinny looking keyboards on app stores.

They can't be trusted, even your favourite crypto wallet avoid your smartphone keyboard and bring up a virtual keyboard because of this reason.

Many keyboards on app stores are storing your words as you type them, and when you open a crypto wallet to insert your recovery seed you might be giving those phrases away.

Always make sure you stick with your OEM Keyboard that comes reinstalled with your phone.

[Nathrixxx]

Many have been scammed and lose their assets as a result of keyboard logger and other functions/features displaying on them with how they look more attractive to the eyes it downloading, maybe if we ever see someone close to us losing their assets as a result of keyboard malicious attack, we may never want to download any one any longer we can also learn from this thread.

How do BTC noobs catch keyboard logger viruses? Two theories
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=831070.0

[Alpha Marine]

Tbh, people are just careless, because your phone literally tells you that this keyboard stores everything you type, but people just go ahead and grant the keyboard permission. I think I talked about this a long time ago. How do people feel comfortable with another party storing everything you type on your keyboard? No sense of privacy or security whatsoever. Confidential information is shared through those keyboards, your password is typed with that same password, and people feel it's okay to just pass that information on to a third party. What level of trust is that?
Even if the owners of the keyboard can't do anything with the information, you don't know that and even if you do, you can't trust them just like that.
Most of the time when people lose money to scam or hack, it is there fault.

[Mhizlove]

The number of people that have been scammed from this. Because the way I see it, is that the security in crypto is not all about attractive tools but it's how you discipline yourself and there are number of people who like this extra features, but those same features can be risky too. Making use of keyboards or apps just to make yourself feel more comfortable that you're safe from scammers came make way for undetected theft.

The safest way from this or to avoid this kind of situation is to reduce your exposure, by only using  default tools that you can trust and make sure you safeguard and keep your information private from the internet because when it comes to crypto you being careful surpass you being convenience over safety or at all cost.

[MagnificentX]

To be sincere, I once was the kind that downloads those flashy keyboards online just to add style to the phone and nothing more but with what I have seen, then I think I was really playing a risky game. Vividly I can remember the days when most android users all wanted to have the CHEETAH KEYBOARD on their phone. Well uhh, I have learnt from this thread and it is also a good thing that over the years, I out grew the mindset of using flashy stuffs and that involves even my keyboard and others. Currently I use the Google keyboard that came with my device and I have become so satisfied with it because it even gives the device this feeling if originality.

Majority of the things we do on the internet space puts our phone and the informations stored in it at risk because if you pay attention to your device sometimes when you try to download or install certain things, the device notifies you about the risk that comes with the application or file but rather we are too stubborn or maybe the importance of the file in question makes us to give a deaf ear to those things. Bottom line is we should be extra careful when using certain applications on our phone most especially modded apps and also should pay attention to notifications our phones give us concerning installation of third party applications.

[Cookdata]

Majority of the things we do on the internet space puts our phone and the informations stored in it at risk because if you pay attention to your device sometimes when you try to download or install certain things, the device notifies you about the risk that comes with the application or file but rather we are too stubborn or maybe the importance of the file in question makes us to give a deaf ear to those things. Bottom line is we should be extra careful when using certain applications on our phone most especially modded apps and also should pay attention to notifications out phones give us concerning installation of third party applications.

If there is any device I'm skeptical about downloads, then it's android. I like devices that support open source projects but within that privilege, there are many bad applications people have on their phone and keyboard is one of them. Some people don't even read about the apps they download if they steal their information or not, there are couple of keyboard on Google play store that indidicates they can modify what you copy and paste and people don't bother to check these things.

Default keyboards whether on phone or PC might look fine and fancy but they are better and safer when you use them the way they are produced and designed. If they are necessary, phones will come with it by default.
There is this PC keyboard they some PC components vendor like to market recently, those sellers love to use this word "ergonomic" this and that with this keyboard that has RGB light, just marketing but I don't know why I don't like them. I love my keyboard, hard and very noisy. 

[Mia Chloe]

If there is any device I'm skeptical about downloads, then it's android. I like devices that support open source projects but within that privilege, there are many bad applications people have on their phone and keyboard is one of them. Some people don't even read about the apps they download if they steal their information or not, there are couple of keyboard on Google play store that indidicates they can modify what you copy and paste and people don't bother to check these things.

Lol.. you say you can't trust android that's basically open source?? What re you gonna trust then? iOS well if your answer is yes well you might just be an apple fan instead. The OS you use does matter but then again you as the user is gonna always be the one to make it possible for a hack to be successful most times.

Any major thing on your device should and must be default and not from a third party from keyboards to camera to even your launcher most times. It's easy to hit accept permission but really understanding the dangers of those permissions is the real deal.

[Alvin_talk]

Always make sure you stick with your OEM Keyboard that comes reinstalled with your phone.

The truth is even OEM keyboards are not completely safe, I could remember when I was making use of my Tecno spark8 which had a preinstalled system keyboard, it still auto saved and stored new words for future suggestion which means that OEM keyboards can store data you input depending on the setting of your device. The best way to handle this will be to adjust these defaults settings, only so can you fully be sure you are not sharing your information with any third party.

Also, its advisable only to have small amount of your coin in your hot wallet. Hot wallets are convenient but they less secure. Long term holdings should be stored in a more secure setup like cold storage or even hardware wallets IMO.

[Outhue]

Always make sure you stick with your OEM Keyboard that comes reinstalled with your phone.

The truth is even OEM keyboards are not completely safe, I could remember when I was making use of my Tecno spark8 which had a preinstalled system keyboard, it still auto saved and stored new words for future suggestion which means that OEM keyboards can store data you input depending on the setting of your device. The best way to handle this will be to adjust these defaults settings, only so can you fully be sure you are not sharing your information with any third party.

Also, its advisable only to have small amount of your coin in your hot wallet. Hot wallets are convenient but they less secure. Long term holdings should be stored in a more secure setup like cold storage or even hardware wallets IMO.

Every keyboard either OEM or not stored words for future suggestions, the problem starts from cloud storing from third party keyboards which are not safe, what OP failed to add is the permissions that's needed to be granted when you installed a third party keyboards, that's where they get scary.

You will be asked to give permission and if you look carefully you will see read and write, also data collective and cloud backup, this is very scary to be honest, I have seen this many times before, using the OEM one is still way safer than using a flashy keyboard, but I still believe that hardware wallet is the way to go, use hot wallet only if you move coins around alot, hot wallets are good for spending, you shouldn't keep a lot of coins on them.

[Die_empty]

To be sincere, I once was the kind that downloads those flashy keyboards online just to add style to the phone and nothing more but with what I have seen, then I think I was really playing a risky game. Vividly I can remember the days when most android users all wanted to have the CHEETAH KEYBOARD on their phone. Well uhh, I have learnt from this thread and it is also a good thing that over the years, I out grew the mindset of using flashy stuffs and that involves even my keyboard and others. Currently I use the Google keyboard that came with my device and I have become so satisfied with it because it even gives the device this feeling if originality.

The strategy of scammers is to give out cheap and flashy products.  People are easily attracted to products or services that are cheap and looks styly.  Except there are other genuine reasons, I don't see any reason why I should give a third party access to my phone because of an alternative keyboard. Limiting the number of exposures to third parties is important in securing devices.

There is this PC keyboard they some PC components vendor like to market recently, those sellers love to use this word "ergonomic" this and that with this keyboard that has RGB light, just marketing but I don't know why I don't like them. I love my keyboard, hard and very noisy. 

Some of these marketers claim that these marketers claims that these ergonomic keyboard have some medical benefits like prevention of strains. However, I wouldn't sacrifice my security for comfort.

[Lucius]

If you pick up a keylogger somewhere, then it doesn't matter at all which keyboard you use - and besides, hot wallets on smartphones are probably one of the riskiest ways to store private keys. For those who have no other choice, it is definitely recommended to use the original keyboard and to download as few apps as possible to reduce the risk of downloading some malicious app.

[dkbit98]

Physical keyboard is the king.
If operating system of device is not open source than it doesn't matter what type of virtual keyboard app you are using.
Even with totally OEM devices like Samsung and bunch of Chinese devices they are all unsafe, with backdoor, preinstalled apps that can't uninstalled, and created by some government agencies, this is not even a secret anymore.
https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/11/budget-samsung-phones-shipped-with-unremovable-spyware-say-researchers

[sunsilk]

That's a good reminder OP. Because many seemed to be encouraged to download colorful and stylish app keyboards for their smartphones.

But they don't do their research if the app they're downloading is a trusted one. Or let's say that the reviews are fine and positive.

They need to remember that the developers of it can insert something in it, maybe a keylogger that automatically sends data that's being typed in there back to them.

[nakamura12]

This is a good reminder since the default keyboard of devices can also store data and those apps that have new designs on keyboard could also be a cover to gather data and resulted in crypto funds getting emptied. People should be careful on what apps that should be installed because even the default isn't completely safe at all. I guess some people really do want to have a flashy phone like keyboard designs or even the logo designs.

[promise444c5]

Well, I don’t know if I should even trust my OEM keyboard so I just disable its network connection on my Android(Gboard), just only the keyboard connection btw. On IOS there’re bunch of settings that could be turned off too. Don’t think they will be that interested in what’s being typed by everyone unless such person is a target..

The point is that, you can’t trust any device that connects to internet, talk more of the software running on it. Mobile phones are no exception, there’s always possibility to mitigate but you can’t completely eradicate it .

[Patikno]

The keyboard is a very sensitive thing, and we should not need to fiddle with the keyboard display, whether by trying to install a keyboard application that looks good or has unique features. You should avoid it, we should use the default keyboard on your computer or phone.

There are so many keyboard applications that can be downloaded on phones or computers (specifically Windows), and all of them may seem interesting to try, but you should avoid them, especially if your computer or you have a personal wallet on your computer (basically all devices are computers). We don't know what will happen if we install them, and there could be some kind of malware, or a keylogger that has been infiltrated, and the Play Store, App Store, or MS Store could be caught out. The point is, don't try anything that is not important in it, and don't install many other applications on your phone or computer that contain crypto in them, it is very risky, and your other important data could be at risk. Cmiiw.

[Amphenomenon]

Every keyboard either OEM or not stored words for future suggestions, the problem starts from cloud storing from third party keyboards which are not safe, what OP failed to add is the permissions that's needed to be granted when you installed a third party keyboards, that's where they get scary.

You will be asked to give permission and if you look carefully you will see read and write, also data collective and cloud backup, this is very scary to be honest, I have seen this many times before, using the OEM one is still way safer than using a flashy keyboard, but I still believe that hardware wallet is the way to go, use hot wallet only if you move coins around alot, hot wallets are good for spending, you shouldn't keep a lot of coins on them.

Hardware wallet are more secured but devices are still needed to interact with it and if this isn't considered one can fall victim even if they are using a secure device to store their coins. A simple mistake can cost so much than one can ever imagined and the crypto space have taught us this a lot of times.

[ABCbits]

Trust your Virtual Keyboard more than those shinny looking keyboards on app stores.

Generally it's good suggestion, since few virtual keyboard app caught recording and sending what you type[1]. But you also need to trust your phone company/manufacture, since there are claim some phone company steal their user data have history of security vulnerability related with virtual keyboard[2].

This is also reason why some application force you to use their own virtual keyboard, while using their app.

[1] https://www.phonearena.com/news/GO-Keyboard-apps-could-be-spying-on-over-200-million-Android-users_id98312
[2] https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/over-a-billion-users-could-be-at-risk-from-keyboard-logging-app-security-flaw

[Mia Chloe]

Generally it's good suggestion, since few virtual keyboard app caught recording and sending what you type[1]. But you also need to trust your phone company/manufacture, since there are claim some phone company steal their user data have history of security vulnerability related with virtual keyboard[2].

Well I think the base of the discussion is that it's way easier for a single app to get bugged with whatever data stealing malware or clipboard virus than an entire device OS. Android even if it's open source is gradually placing a lot of limitations to how much stuff you can do backend without rooting the device.

To add to this most of these bugs may be forced not to install as an app except you probably have developers option turned on. For apple devices you just have to trust apple is totally keeping you safe.

[sokani]

Tbh, people are just careless, because your phone literally tells you that this keyboard stores everything you type, but people just go ahead and grant the keyboard permission. I think I talked about this a long time ago. How do people feel comfortable with another party storing everything you type on your keyboard? No sense of privacy or security whatsoever. Confidential information is shared through those keyboards, your password is typed with that same password, and people feel it's okay to just pass that information on to a third party. What level of trust is that?
Even if the owners of the keyboard can't do anything with the information, you don't know that and even if you do, you can't trust them just like that.
Most of the time when people lose money to scam or hack, it is there fault.

Even if it is stated in the terms of agreement that the third-party keyboard does not store users data, I wouldn't trust it. Scammers are a deceitful set of persons. The keyboard may be designed to steal users data, and yet they can lie about it. It is best to just stay clear of third-party keyboard applications to avoid having one's sensitive info compromised.