Key takeaways:
In the first half of 2025, over $2.4 billion was stolen, already exceeding the total thefts of 2024.
Common threats like phishing, unsafe approvals, and fake “support” cause more harm than advanced exploits.
Implementing strong two-factor authentication, careful signing practices, wallet segregation, and using clean devices significantly mitigates risk.
Establishing a recovery plan with revocation tools, contact information for support, and reporting mechanisms can turn errors into setbacks instead of calamities.
Crypto hacks are still escalating. In the first half of 2025, security firms documented over $2.4 billion in losses across 300+ incidents, surpassing the previous year’s total.
A single significant breach, the Bybit theft linked to North Korean groups, inflated these figures, but it shouldn’t be the sole focus.
Most everyday losses result from simple pitfalls: phishing links, harmful wallet approvals, SIM swaps, and counterfeit “support” accounts.
The good news is that you don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to enhance your safety. A few essential habits (which you can establish in minutes) can drastically lower your exposure to risks.
Here are seven crucial habits for 2025.
1. Move away from SMS: Implement phishing-resistant 2FA universally
If you still depend on SMS codes for account security, you’re vulnerable.
SIM-swap attacks continue to be a prevalent method for criminals to drain wallets, with authorities seizing millions in related cases.
The safer alternative is using phishing-resistant two-factor authentication (such as hardware security keys or platform passkeys).
Begin by securing your most essential logins: email, exchanges, and your password manager.
U.S. cybersecurity agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency highlight this practice as it prevents phishing attempts and “push-fatigue” scams that exploit weaker forms of multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Combine it with long, unique passphrases (length is more crucial than complexity), keep backup codes offline and on exchanges, and activate withdrawal allowlists so funds can only go to addresses you control.
Did you know? Phishing attacks targeting crypto users surged by 40% in the first half of 2025, mainly driven by fake exchange sites.
2. Signing hygiene: Stop drainers and harmful approvals
Most individuals don’t lose funds due to high-tech exploits; they lose them from a single careless signature.
Wallet drainers deceive you into granting unlimited permissions or approving fraudulent transactions. Once you sign, they can repeatedly access your funds without further consent.
The best defense is to slow down: Examine every signature request meticulously, especially when you see “setApprovalForAll,” “Permit/Permit2,” or “unlimited approve.”
If you’re trying out new decentralized applications (DApps), use a burner wallet for mints or risky interactions, keeping your primary assets in a separate vault. Regularly revoke unused approvals using tools like Revoke.cash — it’s straightforward and worth the minimal gas cost.
Researchers have already reported a significant rise in thefts driven by drainers, particularly on mobile devices. Good signing practices can break that cycle before it begins.
3. Hot vs. cold: Distinguish between spending and savings
Think of wallets the same way you think of bank accounts.
A hot wallet acts like your checking account — suitable for spending and app interactions.
A hardware or multisig wallet serves as your vault — designed for long-term, secure storage.
Keeping your private keys offline mitigates almost all exposure to malware and harmful websites.
For long-term savings, record your seed phrase on paper or steel: Never store it on a phone, computer, or cloud service.
Test your recovery setup with a minor restoration before transferring significant sums. If you’re comfortable managing added security, you might consider a BIP-39 passphrase, but keep in mind that losing it translates to losing access permanently.
For larger balances or shared assets, multisig wallets can mandate signatures from two or three distinct devices before authorizing any transaction, making unauthorized access far more challenging.
Did you know? In 2024, private key breaches accounted for 43.8% of all stolen crypto assets.
4. Device and browser hygiene
Your device setup is just as crucial as your wallet.
Updates patch the very vulnerabilities attackers exploit, so enable automatic updates for your operating system, browser, and wallet applications, and restart when necessary.
Limit browser extensions — several notable thefts have resulted from hijacked or malicious add-ons. Using a dedicated browser or profile specifically for crypto helps prevent cookies, sessions, and logins from leaking into your regular browsing.
Hardware wallet users should disable blind signing by default: It conceals transaction details and poses unnecessary risks if you are misled.
Whenever possible, execute sensitive actions on a clean desktop rather than on a phone loaded with apps. Strive for a minimal, updated setup with the fewest possible attack surfaces.
5. Verify before sending: Addresses, chains, contracts
The simplest way to lose crypto is by sending it to the wrong place. Always double-check both the recipient address and the network before clicking “send.”
For first-time transfers, perform a small test payment (the additional fee is worth the reassurance). When dealing with tokens or NFTs, confirm that you have the correct contract by reviewing the project’s official site, trusted aggregators like CoinGecko, and explorers such as Etherscan.
Look for verified code or ownership badges before engaging with any contract. Never manually input a wallet address—always copy and paste it, then confirm the first and last characters to avoid clipboard swaps. Steer clear of copying addresses directly from your transaction history, as dusting attacks or falsified entries can mislead you into reusing a compromised address.
Exercise extra caution with “airdrop claim” sites, especially those demanding unusual approvals or cross-chain transactions. If something seems off, pause and verify the link through official project channels. If you’ve already granted dubious approvals, revoke them immediately before continuing.
6. Social engineering defense: Romance, “tasks,” impersonation
The largest crypto scams seldom depend on code — they exploit human vulnerabilities.
Romance and pig-butchering schemes construct fake relationships and employ counterfeit trading dashboards to showcase fabricated profits, then pressure victims to invest more or pay fraudulent “release fees.”
Job scams usually start with friendly messages on WhatsApp or Telegram, presenting micro-tasks and small payouts before evolving into deposit schemes. Impersonators posing as “support agents” may urge you to share your screen or trick you into divulging your seed phrase.
The indicator is always the same: Genuine support will never ask for your private keys, redirect you to a lookalike site, or insist on payment via Bitcoin ATMs or gift cards. The moment you identify these warning signs, cease contact immediately.
Did you know? The volume of deposits into pig-butchering scams increased by roughly 210% year-over-year in 2024, despite a decline in the average deposit amount.
7. Recovery readiness: Make mistakes manageable
Even the most cautious individuals may make errors. The key difference between a catastrophe and a recovery is foresight.
Keep a concise offline “break-glass” card with your key recovery resources: verified exchange support links, a reliable revocation tool, and official reporting platforms like the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
If something goes awry, include transaction hashes, wallet addresses, amounts, timestamps, and screenshots in your report. Investigators often connect multiple cases through these shared details.
You may not recover your funds immediately, but having a strategy transforms a total loss into a manageable mistake.
If the worst happens: Next steps
If you’ve clicked a malicious link or mistakenly sent funds, act promptly. Transfer any remaining assets to a new wallet you wholly control, then revoke old permissions using trusted tools like Etherscan’s Token Approval Checker or Revoke.cash.
Change your passwords, switch to phishing-resistant 2FA, log out of all other sessions, and inspect your email settings for forwarding or filtering rules that you didn’t establish.
Then escalate: Notify your exchange to flag the destination addresses and file a report with IC3 or your local regulatory body. Include transaction hashes, wallet addresses, timestamps, and screenshots; these details assist investigators in linking cases, even if recovery takes a while.
The overarching lesson is straightforward: Seven habits (strong MFA, careful signing, separating hot and cold wallets, maintaining clean devices, verifying before sending, remaining vigilant against social engineering, and having a recovery plan) can block the majority of everyday crypto threats.
Start small: Upgrade your 2FA and refine your signing hygiene today, then build upon that foundation. A bit of preparation now can save you from significant losses later in 2025.
This article does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading action involves risks, and readers should conduct their own research before making decisions.
