On-chain Interaction Security Guide: Protect Your Web3 Assets

With the continuous development of the blockchain ecosystem, on-chain transactions have become an indispensable part of the daily operations of Web3 users. User assets are migrating from centralized platforms to decentralized networks, and this trend gradually shifts the responsibility for asset security from the platform to the users themselves. In an on-chain environment, users need to take responsibility for every interaction, including importing wallets, accessing DApps, signing authorizations, and initiating transactions. Any careless operation may pose security risks, leading to serious consequences such as private key leakage, authorization abuse, or phishing attacks.

Although mainstream wallet plugins and browsers have gradually integrated features such as phishing detection and risk alerts, relying solely on passive defenses of tools is still difficult to completely avoid risks in the face of increasingly complex attack methods. To help users better identify potential risks in on-chain transactions, we have organized a comprehensive list of high-risk scenarios based on practical experience, and combined protective recommendations with tool usage tips to develop a systematic on-chain transaction security guide, aimed at helping every Web3 user establish a "self-controllable" security barrier.

Core principles of secure trading:

1. Refuse to sign blindly: Do not sign transactions or messages that you do not understand.
2. Repeated verification: Before conducting any transaction, be sure to verify the accuracy of the relevant information multiple times.

1. Safe Trading Recommendations

The key to protecting digital assets lies in secure transactions. Research shows that using secure wallets and two-factor authentication (2FA) can significantly reduce risks. Here are specific recommendations:

1. Choose a secure wallet: Prioritize reputable wallet providers, such as hardware wallets or well-known software wallets. Hardware wallets offer offline storage capabilities, effectively reducing the risk of online attacks, making them particularly suitable for storing large amounts of assets.

2. Carefully check the transaction details: Before confirming the transaction, be sure to verify the receiving address, amount, and network (such as ensuring the correct blockchain network is used) to avoid losses due to input errors.

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): If the trading platform or wallet supports 2FA, it is highly recommended to enable it to enhance account security, especially when using hot wallets.

4. Avoid trading in public Wi-Fi environments: Do not conduct transactions on public Wi-Fi networks to prevent phishing attacks and man-in-the-middle attacks.

2. Safe Trading Operation Guide

A complete DApp transaction process involves several steps: wallet installation, accessing the DApp, connecting the wallet, message signing, transaction signing, and post-transaction processing. Each step carries certain security risks, and the following will outline the precautions to take during actual operations.

1. Wallet Installation:

   • Download the wallet plugin from the official app store to avoid using versions provided by third-party websites.
   • Consider using hardware wallets in combination to further enhance the security of private key management.
   • When backing up the seed phrase, store it in a secure physical location, away from digital devices.

2. Access DApp:

   • Be cautious of phishing attacks on websites, especially phishing applications that lure users to visit under the guise of airdrops.
   • Confirm the correctness of the URL before accessing the DApp:
     • Avoid accessing directly through search engines
     • Do not click on unknown links in social media.
     • Verify the accuracy of the DApp website from multiple sources.
     • Add the secure website to the browser favorites
   • After opening the DApp webpage, check the security of the address bar:
     • Verify the authenticity of the domain name and website
     • Ensure the use of an HTTPS connection, the browser should display a lock icon

3. Connect Wallet:

   • Pay attention to the risk warnings of the wallet plugin.
   • Be wary of unusual behavior that frequently requests signatures, as it may be a characteristic of phishing sites.

4. Message Signature:

   • Carefully review each signature request and reject blind signing.
   • Understand the purposes and risks of common signature types (such as eth_sign, personal_sign, eth_signTypedData).

5. Transaction Signature:

   • Carefully check the recipient address, amount, and network information.
   • For large transactions, consider using offline signing methods.
   • Pay attention to the reasonableness of gas fees.
   • Technical users can further examine the interaction target contract through the blockchain explorer.

6. Post-transaction processing:

   • Check the transaction on-chain status in a timely manner to confirm whether it is consistent with expectations.
   • Regularly manage ERC20 token authorizations, adhere to the principle of minimizing authorizations, and promptly revoke unnecessary authorizations.

3. Capital Isolation Strategy

Even with adequate risk prevention measures in place, implementing effective fund isolation strategies remains crucial to reduce capital losses in extreme situations. The following strategies are recommended:

• Use multi-signature wallets or cold wallets to store large amounts of assets
• Use a plugin wallet or a regular EOA wallet for daily interactions
• Regularly change hot wallet addresses to reduce address exposure risk.

If you unfortunately encounter a phishing attack, it is recommended to take the following measures immediately:

• Use professional tools to revoke high-risk authorizations
• If a permit signature has been signed but the asset has not been transferred, a new signature can be initiated immediately to invalidate the old signature.
• If necessary, quickly transfer the remaining assets to a new address or cold wallet.

4. Safely Participate in Airdrop Activities

Although airdrop events are a common promotional method for blockchain projects, they also carry risks. Here are some safety tips for participating in airdrops:

• Conduct in-depth research on the project background, confirming that the project has a complete white paper, publicly available team information, and a good community reputation.
• Use a dedicated address to participate in airdrops, isolating it from the main asset account.
• Be cautious with links, only obtain airdrop information through official channels, and avoid clicking on suspicious links on social platforms.

5. Selection and Use of Security Plugin Tools

Choosing reliable security plugin tools is crucial for assisting in risk assessment. Here are specific recommendations:

• Use widely recognized wallet extensions, such as Metamask for the Ethereum ecosystem.
• Before installing a new plugin, check the user ratings and installation numbers; high ratings and a large number of installations usually indicate that the plugin is more reliable.
• Regularly update plugins to get the latest security features and bug fixes.

6. Conclusion

By following the above security trading guidelines, users can interact more confidently within the complex blockchain ecosystem, effectively enhancing their asset protection capabilities. Although blockchain technology's core advantages are decentralization and transparency, this also means that users need to independently face multiple risks, including signature phishing, private key leakage, and malicious DApps.

To achieve true secure on-chain operations, it is crucial not to rely solely on tool alerts, but to establish a systematic awareness of security and operational habits. By using hardware wallets, implementing fund isolation strategies, regularly checking authorizations, and updating plugins, as well as adhering to the principles of "multi-verification, refusal of blind signing, and fund isolation" in transaction operations, we can truly achieve "freely and securely going on-chain."