DeFi Safety: Wallet Hygiene for Everyday Users
A practical checklist for secure DeFi use—separate wallets, approvals, hardware signing, and phishing defenses.
Hygiene Rules
Segregate wallets: Long-term vault (hardware), hot wallet (daily), experimental burner.
Use hardware signing for any meaningful value.
Check approvals: Periodically revoke unlimited token allowances.
Simulate transactions when possible; read contract method names.
Verify contract addresses from official sources; beware look-alikes.
Protect seed/keys: Never type your seed into a website; sign only on device.
Custom RPCs: Use trusted endpoints; avoid random pop-ups to "switch networks."
Phishing defense: Bookmark official sites; ignore DMs/airdrops.
Gas buffer: Keep native gas token for emergency exits.
Mobile caution: Prefer desktop + hardware for complex actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reuse one wallet for everything?
You can, but it raises correlated risk.
Are browser extensions safe?
Keep them minimal and updated.
What if I signed a bad approval?
Revoke the allowance ASAP and move funds.