I used to think hardware wallets were safe but right now after the recent news I realize there are retailers who can and will tamper with original hardwallets to turn them into spyware. So I am completely on the ropes when it comes to such wallets.
But even so, the same can be said about your laptop, phone, whatever device you connect to the internet... They can all be tampered with in such a nefarious way to steal your coins.
Nothing is 100% safe.
There were enough people who were feeling the same about hardware wallets because they were doing good, but suddenly things are coming on a level where there is no guarantee about anything because spyware with the help of AI is not entering into a level where handling all is never been easy for anyone. People need to do their own way of staying secure, even though it's also not easy because anyone can enter into any place, which is a challenge. Not everything is going to be tampered with, it's really stressful for people who do not have enough knowledge of technology and things that they are having in their life, for their future more challenges are coming because it's always on the way of having more difficulties and issues for us.
Honestly, everything seems not to be guaranteed anymore. I can still remember when I could beat my chest and say my bitcoin is secured since I have them in my hardware wallet. Now, with the recent hacks, it reminds us that if you do not protect your wallet, your bitcoins will not be safe. Similarly, if you for some reasons won't buy from the official website, you put yourself at the the risk of buying a compromised device.
Also, people should normalise not buying fairly used devices, most of those devices are compromised before they get to the user.
Investing in bitcoin comes with alot of responsibilities irrespective of how and where you store your bitcoins.
