3. Connecting SW and HW wallets

Jan 24, 2023

After creating a software wallet (SW) and setting up a hardware wallet (HW), we will show how to link them. In our case, we are working with the MetaMask software wallet and the Ledger Nano X hardware wallet.

Linking these two wallets will only take us a few minutes and will also help us ensure maximum protection of our digital assets.

All transactions that go through our software crypto wallet will still need to be confirmed physically on our hardware wallet. So if someone manages to gain access to our SW wallet, they cannot steal our digital assets without a confirmation on our HW wallet.

In order for our wallets to communicate with each other, they need to be linked.

Let's take a look at this step-by-step

We have the MetaMask wallet installed with a preconfigured chain (mainnet) on Ethereum and the HW wallet is already set up. So we will show how to pair Ledger + MetaMask on the Ethereum mainnet.

In this step, select the Ledger option. Connect the Ledger to your computer and select Ethereum mainnet on the Ledger. In MetaMask, click Continue.

We freely choose one of the addresses that Ledger offers us. Confirm by clicking on the 'Unlock' button. We have now created a wallet on Ledger Nano X, which we can control via MetaMask. Transactions are still confirmed physically via the Ledger hardware wallet buttons.

You should have your wallets linked now. From this point on, if you enter a transaction through MetaMask, you will need to have your Ledger hardware wallet linked as well, as you will not be able to execute the transaction without it.

In the next step, we will show you how to add individual mainnets (chains) to our MetaMask cryptocurrency wallet. This will enable users of the wallet to ensure access to different assets that they may be receiving at the same address on different chains.

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Analyst opinion

In any case, be very careful of your seeds for both wallets. Never give them to anyone. Don't keep seeds stored on your computer, use a good antivirus program, and don't visit questionable websites. If you are not sure about the security of the website, never connect your wallet to that site.

If a thief gains access to your seed, he will have unrestricted access to that wallet and its content and linking the compromised wallet to another HW or SW wallet will not stop potential loss of your assets.

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