Hardware wallet
Also · Signing device
A hardware wallet is a dedicated device that keeps private keys off your computer and signs transactions internally, so malware on the host cannot read the keys.
A hardware wallet generates and stores keys in a small device that never exposes them. The computer or phone prepares a transaction, the device displays what it is about to sign, you confirm on its own screen and buttons, and only the signature comes back out. A compromised laptop can propose a transaction but cannot sign one without you.
The device’s screen is the reference, not the computer’s. Compare the full address and amount shown on the device with what the recipient gave you through a trusted channel. The device will faithfully sign a payment to a thief’s address if you approve it. And it does not replace the backup. The seed phrase written at setup is what recovers the funds if the device breaks.
In French · Portefeuille matériel (hardware wallet)