What is a VPN, and what does it actually do? VPNs have become a familiar privacy tool, but their capabilities are often misunderstood. Some people turn one on only to access a blocked website, others expect complete anonymity, and some install the first free VPN they find and use it for their primary accounts. A …
How Coldcard Was Hacked — and Why a Firmware Update Won’t Fix Your Seed
On July 30, 2026, a series of thefts began from Bitcoin wallets whose seeds had been created on vulnerable versions of Coldcard firmware. During the first major incident, 1,082.65 BTC was drained from 1,196 addresses in just 41 minutes. The attackers did not need physical access to a Coldcard, phishing, or a transaction signed by …
Using a Smartphone as a Cold Wallet: Why It’s a Bad Idea
Why is using a smartphone as a cold wallet a bad idea? We look at the numbers, reports, and CVE records to explain why ZachXBT’s advice to replace a hardware wallet with a dedicated iPhone does not hold up from an architectural perspective. On July 16, 2026, on-chain investigator ZachXBT wrote on Telegram that all …
#Safepal tutorial. SafePal S1 shows no balance: why that’s normal and where to check your funds
SafePal S1 shows no balance on its screen: someone has sent you cryptocurrency, the funds appear in SafePal App, but the S1 displays no balance or shows zero. Your first thought may be that the device is faulty or the coins are gone. Neither is true. This is how the S1 is designed to work. …
#Tutorial. Lost your seed phrase but your wallet still works: what to do
Lost your seed phrase but your wallet still works? You still have the hardware wallet, you remember the PIN, and the balance is visible—but the sheet containing your seed phrase has disappeared. Perhaps it was lost during a move or renovation, or thrown out with old paperwork. At this point, how it happened no longer …
#Safepal tutorial. SafePal S1 not detecting upgrade.bin: causes and fixes
SafePal S1 not detecting upgrade.bin? You downloaded the firmware, copied the file to the device and selected “Upgrade,” but the S1 reports that it cannot find the firmware file. Or the update simply does not start. In most cases, this does not mean that the device is faulty or that the file is corrupted. The …
#Safepal tutorial. How to update SafePal firmware on the S1, S1 Pro and X1: step-by-step guide
How to update SafePal firmware on the S1, S1 Pro and X1: the SafePal S1 and S1 Pro do not connect to the internet or a computer during normal use, while the X1 communicates with a phone over Bluetooth. That makes firmware updates less familiar than on many other devices: instead of tapping a button …
#Trezor tutorial. Trezor passphrase wallet is empty: why it happens and how to find your coins
Trezor passphrase wallet: a common situation is that you connect your Trezor, enter the passphrase, and see a zero balance with no transaction history in Trezor Suite. Your first thought may be that the coins have been stolen. In most cases, the funds are still there—you have simply opened a different wallet. Below, we explain …
#Tutorial. Restored your wallet but the balance is zero: what to check
If the wallet balance is zero after recovery, it does not necessarily mean your funds are gone. You may have restored a hardware wallet after a reset, set up a new device, or moved to a different model, only to open the app and find no coins or transaction history. In most cases, the app …
