Bitcoin Security Guide — Protecting What's Yours

Most Bitcoin isn't stolen by hackers breaking cryptography; it's stolen from people through simple mistakes and social engineering. This is the checklist that matters.

The custody ladder

Exchange to non-custodial mobile to hardware or cold wallet. Move up as holdings grow.

Seed phrase best practice

Write it on paper or steel (never a photo, never cloud), store in two locations, never type it into any website, no legitimate service ever asks for it.

The five scams that empty UK wallets

Fake support calls, seed-phrase "verification", clipboard-malware address swaps, giveaway scams, phishing emails after exchange data leaks. Learn the pattern for each so you recognise the shape.

If something goes wrong

Move remaining funds immediately, check transaction history, report to Action Fraud (the UK's fraud reporting service).

Where to buy safely

Regulated on-ramps, small test transactions first.

For more, see our custody hub, our best Bitcoin wallets UK guide, and our node hub.

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