In the first half of 2025, the amount stolen exceeded $24 billion, surpassing the total for the entire year of 2024.
Everyday traps such as phishing, harmful authorizations, and fake "support" caused more damage than complex exploitations.
Strong two-factor authentication, cautious signing, cold and hot wallet separation, and clean devices can significantly reduce risks.
Having a recovery plan—including revocation tools, support contacts, and reporting portals—can turn mistakes into setbacks rather than disasters.
According to security company records, cryptocurrency hacking incidents continued to rise in the first half of 2025, with stolen amounts exceeding $2.4 billion, involving over 300 incidents, surpassing the total for the entire year of 2024.
According to relevant investigations, a significant incident attributed to a North Korean group involved the Bybit theft, which inflated the overall data but should not be the sole focus.
The vast majority of everyday losses still stem from simple traps: phishing links, malicious wallet authorizations, SIM card swaps, and fake "customer service" accounts.
Fortunately, ordinary users do not need to become cybersecurity experts to effectively enhance security. A few core habits (which can be set up in just a few minutes) can significantly reduce risks.
Here are the seven key security habits to focus on in 2025.
If you are still protecting your account with SMS verification codes, the security risk is extremely high.
SIM card swap attacks remain a common method for criminals to steal wallets, with prosecutors continuously seizing millions of assets related to this.
A safer option is to use anti-phishing two-factor authentication (2FA), such as hardware security keys or platform passkeys.
Prioritize protecting the most critical login points: email, exchanges, and password managers.
According to U.S. cybersecurity agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, this move can prevent phishing and "push fatigue" scams, thereby bypassing weaker multi-factor authentication (MFA).
It is recommended to use long and unique passphrases (length is more important than complexity). Store backup verification codes offline and set up withdrawal whitelists on exchanges, allowing funds to be transferred only to addresses you control.
Notably, phishing attacks targeting crypto users increased by 40% in the first half of 2025, with fake exchange websites becoming the primary channel.
Most people lose funds not due to high-end vulnerabilities but because of a single erroneous signature.
Wallet thieves entice you to grant unlimited permissions or approve deceptive transactions. For example, "setApprovalForAll," "Permit/Permit2," or unlimited "approve." Once signed, hackers can repeatedly transfer funds without needing further authorization.
The best defense is to slow down operations: carefully read each signing request, especially in the aforementioned situations.
When trying new decentralized applications (DApps), consider using a temporary wallet for minting or high-risk operations, while keeping main assets in a separate vault. Regularly revoke unused authorizations with tools like Revoke.cash, which is simple to use and incurs minimal fees.
According to researchers, theft cases caused by thieves have sharply increased, especially on mobile devices. Good signing habits can effectively block the risk chain.
Managing wallets should be done like managing bank accounts.
Hot wallets are like checking accounts—suitable for daily spending and application interactions.
Hardware wallets or multi-signature wallets are like vaults—designed for long-term secure storage.
Storing private keys offline can virtually eliminate all malware and dangerous website threats.
For long-term savings, write down your mnemonic phrase on paper or steel: never store it on your phone, computer, or in the cloud.
Before transferring large amounts of funds, test the recovery process with a small amount to ensure security. If you can manage higher security, consider adding a BIP-39 password, but losing the password means permanent loss of access.
For large assets or funds managed by multiple people, multi-signature wallets can require two to three independent devices to co-sign to approve transactions, significantly enhancing security.
Notably, in 2024, private key leaks accounted for 43.8% of all cryptocurrency asset theft cases.
Device configuration is as important as wallet security.
System and application updates can fix vulnerabilities exploited by attackers; enable automatic updates for your operating system, browser, and wallet applications, and restart as needed.
Minimize the number of browser plugins—many major theft incidents have occurred due to hijacked plugins or malicious plugins. Using a dedicated browser or independent browser configuration for crypto operations helps prevent cookies, sessions, and login information from leaking into your daily browsing environment.
Hardware wallet users should default to disabling blind signing features, as this function hides transaction details and can pose unnecessary risks if deceived.
Additionally, try to handle sensitive operations on clean desktop devices, avoiding phones with many installed applications. Aim for the simplest, latest device configuration to minimize the attack surface.
The easiest way to lose cryptocurrency assets is to send to the wrong address. Always double-check the recipient address and network before sending.
For the first transfer, it is advisable to test with a small amount (paying a bit more in fees can bring peace of mind). If it involves tokens or non-fungible tokens (NFTs), verify the contract through the project's official page, authoritative aggregators like CoinGecko, and blockchain explorers like Etherscan.
Before interacting with any contract, prioritize checking the code or ownership certification identifiers. Never manually enter wallet addresses—always copy and paste, and verify the first and last characters to prevent clipboard tampering. Avoid copying addresses directly from transaction history, as dust attacks or forged records may tempt you to reuse compromised addresses.
Be especially cautious of "airdrop claiming" websites, especially those requesting unusual authorizations or cross-chain operations. If in doubt, pause and verify the link through official project channels. If you have authorized a suspicious contract, be sure to revoke the authorization immediately before proceeding.
The biggest crypto scams often rely on human nature rather than technology.
Romance and "pig butchering" scams create fake relationships and showcase false profits from trading platforms, enticing victims to continuously invest more or pay fictitious "unlock fees."
Job scams typically start with friendly messages on WhatsApp or Telegram, initially attracting with micro-tasks and small rewards, then evolving into deposit scams. Scammers impersonating "customer service representatives" may ask you to share your screen or trick you into revealing your mnemonic phrase.
The method of discernment remains consistent: real customer service will never ask for your private key, will not guide you to visit counterfeit websites, and will not require payment through Bitcoin ATMs or gift cards. If you detect these risk signals, immediately sever contact.
Notably, in 2024, the number of recharge instances in "pig butchering" scams increased by about 210% year-on-year, but the average amount per recharge decreased.
Even the most cautious can make mistakes. The difference between disaster and setback lies in preparation.
Keep an offline "emergency card" that lists key recovery resources: verified exchange customer service links, trusted authorization revocation tools, and official reporting channels, such as the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
If issues arise, the report should include transaction hashes, wallet addresses, amounts, timestamps, and screenshots. According to investigators, this information is often used to link multiple cases.
While funds may not be immediately recoverable, having a plan can help keep losses within manageable limits.
If you accidentally click a malicious link or send funds incorrectly, act quickly. Transfer remaining assets to a new wallet that you fully control, then use trusted tools like Etherscan Token Approval Checker or Revoke.cash to revoke old permissions.
Change your password, switch to anti-phishing 2FA, log out of all other sessions, and check your email settings to confirm there are no unusual forwarding or filtering rules.
Then upgrade your handling: contact the exchange to flag the target address and submit a report to IC3 or local regulatory authorities. The report should include transaction hashes, wallet addresses, timestamps, and screenshots. According to investigators, this information helps link cases, even if recovering funds takes time.
The core lesson is clear: the seven key security habits (strong MFA, cautious signing, cold and hot wallet separation, device security, pre-transfer verification, vigilance against social engineering, and recovery plans) can prevent the vast majority of everyday crypto risks.
Start small: first upgrade your 2FA and optimize your signing habits, gradually improving. Today's preparations can help you avoid catastrophic losses in 2025.
Related: Solana ETF competition heats up: Bitwise makes a serious move with a 0.20% ultra-low fee.
Original article: “2025 Cryptocurrency Security Guide: 7 Easy Ways to Prevent Hacks and Scams”
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