Key takeaways:

• More than $2.4 billion was stolen in the first half of 2025, which has already exceeded the 2024 total.

• Everyday traps like phishing, toxic permissions, and counterfeit “support” cause more harm than exotic exploits.

• Sturdy 2FA, careful signing, sizzling/frigid wallet separation, and pristine devices significantly reduce risk.

• Having a remediation plan in place—including license revocation tools, support contacts, and reporting portals—can turn a mistake into a failure rather than a disaster.

The number of crypto hacks continues to grow. In the first half of 2025 alone, security companies reported over $2.4 billion theft from over 300 incidents, which has already exceeded the total number of thefts in 2024.

One major breach, the Bybit theft attributed to North Korean groups, skewed the numbers upwards but shouldn’t get all the attention.

Most daily losses still come from basic traps: phishing links, malicious wallet approvals, SIM swapping and counterfeit “help” accounts.

The good news: you don’t have to be a cybersecurity expert to improve your security. A few basic habits (that you can implement in minutes) can dramatically lower your risk.

Here are the seven that will be most significant in 2025.

1. Ditch SMS: Operate phishing-proof 2FA everywhere

If you continue to rely on SMS codes to secure your accounts, you’re putting yourself at risk.

SIM swap attacks remain one of the most common ways for criminals to drain wallets, and prosecutors continue to seize millions linked to them.

A safer move is phishing-resistant two-factor authentication (2FA) (think hardware security keys or platform passwords).

Start by locking down your most significant logins: email, exchanges, and password manager.

US cybersecurity agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency emphasize this because it blocks phishing tricks and push-fatigue scams that bypass weaker forms of multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Combine it with long, unique passwords (length outweighs complexity), store backup codes offline and on exchanges, and enable withdrawal approval lists so funds can only be sent to addresses you control.

Did you know? The number of phishing attacks targeting cryptocurrency users increased by 40% in the first half of 2025, with the main vector being counterfeit currency exchange sites.

2. Signing Hygiene: Stop Drains and Toxic Approvals

Most people don’t lose money to cutting-edge exploits; they lose it because of one bad signature.

Wallet scammers trick you into granting unlimited permissions or approving fraudulent transactions. Once signed, they can empty your funds repeatedly without asking you again.

The best defense is to tardy down: read every signature request carefully, especially when you see “setApprovalForAll”, “Permit/Permit2”, or unrestricted “approve”.

If you are experimenting with recent decentralized applications (DApps), exploit a recording wallet for mints or risky interactions and keep your main assets in a separate vault. Periodically revoke unused permits using tools like Revoke.cash – it’s basic and well worth the compact fuel costs.

Researchers are already tracking a pointed enhance in the number of thefts involving dryers, especially when it comes to mobile devices. Good signing habits break this chain before it starts.

3. Heated vs. Cool: Divide your expenses from your savings

Think of wallets the same way you think of bank accounts.

• A sizzling wallet is your checking account – good for spending money and interacting with apps.

• A hardware or multisig wallet is your vault – built for long-term, secure storage.

Keeping your private keys offline eliminates almost all exposure to malware and malicious websites.

For long-term savings, write the phrase down on paper or steel: never store it on your phone, computer or in the cloud.

Before submitting major funds, test your recovery setup by performing a compact restore. If you are confident in your ability to manage additional security, consider adding a BIP-39 password, but remember that losing it means enduring loss of access.

For larger balances or shared vaults, multisig wallets may require signatures from two or three separate devices before any transaction is approved, making theft or unauthorized access much more tough.

Did you know? In 2024, private key disclosures accounted for 43.8% of all stolen crypto assets.

4. Device and browser hygiene

Device configuration is as significant as your wallet.

Updates patch exploits that attackers rely on, so enable automatic updates for your operating system, browser applications, and wallet, and restart your computer as needed.

Keep browser extensions to a minimum – Several high-profile thefts have been the result of hijacked or malicious add-ons. Using a dedicated browser or cryptocurrency-only profile helps prevent cookies, sessions, and logins from leaking into your daily browsing experience.

Hardware wallet users should disable blind signing by default: this hides transaction details and exposes you to unnecessary risk if you get scammed.

If possible, perform sensitive activities on a pristine desktop rather than on a phone filled with apps. Aim for a minimal, updated configuration with as few potential attack surfaces as possible.

5. Check before you send: Addresses, networks, contracts

The easiest way to lose your cryptocurrencies is to send them to the wrong place. Always double-check both the recipient’s address and network before pressing “send.”

For first-time transfers, make a compact test payment (the extra fee is worth the peace of mind). When dealing with tokens or non-fungible tokens (NFTs), verify that you have the correct contract by checking the project’s official website, reputable aggregators like CoinGecko, and explorers like Etherscan.

Look for verified code or ownership tags before entering into any contract. Never enter your wallet address manually – always copy and paste it and confirm the first and last characters to avoid clipboard swapping. Avoid copying addresses directly from your transaction history, as vacuum cleaner attacks or spoofed entries may trick you into reusing a compromised address.

Be especially wary of sites with airdrop claims, especially those that require unusual commits or cross-chain activity. If something is wrong, please stop and verify the link through the official project channels. And if you have already granted suspicious permissions, revoke them immediately before proceeding.

6. Defense through social engineering: romance, “tasks”, impersonation

The biggest cryptocurrency scams rarely rely on code – they rely on people.

Pig busting affairs and schemes build false relationships and exploit counterfeit trading panels to show fabricated profits, then pressure victims to contribute more or pay fictitious “release fees.”

Job scams often start with amiable messages on WhatsApp or Telegram, offering micro-jobs and compact payouts, before morphing into deposit schemes. People impersonating “support staff” may then try to share your screen with you or trick you into revealing your seed phrase.

The information is always the same: True support will never ask for private keys, send you to a lookalike site, or ask for payment via Bitcoin ATMs or gift cards. As soon as you notice these red flags, cut off contact immediately.

Did you know? The number of pig slaughter fraud payments increased by approximately 210% year-on-year in 2024, even as the average payment amount decreased.

7. Readiness to recover: Make mistakes survivable

Even the most careful people make mistakes sometimes. The difference between disaster and recovery is preparation.

Keep a quick offline “smash” tab for your most significant license recovery resources: verified exchange support links, a trusted license revocation tool, and official reporting portals like the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI’s Online Complaint Center (IC3).

If something goes wrong, include transaction hashes, wallet addresses, amounts, timestamps and screenshots in your report. Thanks to the details shared, investigators often connect multiple cases.

You may not get your funds back right away, but having a plan will make a total loss a manageable mistake.

If the worst happens: what next

If you clicked on a malicious link or transferred funds by mistake, act quickly. Move your remaining assets to a recent wallet where you have full control, then revoke elderly permissions using trusted tools like Etherscan’s Token Approval Checker or Revoke.cash.

Change your passwords, switch to phishing-proof 2FA, log out of all other sessions, and check your email settings for any forwarding or filtering rules you didn’t create.

Then escalate: Contact your exchange to flag your target addresses and file a report with IC3 or your local regulator. Include transaction hashes, wallet addresses, timestamps and screenshots; these details support investigators piece together cases, even if recovery takes time.

The broader lesson is basic: seven habits (mighty MFA, signing carefully, separating sizzling and frigid wallets, keeping devices pristine, verifying before sending, staying vigilant against social engineering, and having a recovery plan) block most everyday crypto threats.

Start compact: modernize your 2FA and improve signing hygiene today, and build from there. A little preparation now can protect you from catastrophic losses later in 2025.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.