PIN and Passphrase Protection

PIN and passphrase protection are layered authentication mechanisms used to access and unlock hardware wallets. The PIN acts as a primary defense against unauthorized physical access to the device.

If the wrong PIN is entered multiple times, the device typically wipes its data to prevent brute-force attacks. The passphrase, often referred to as a 25th word, acts as a secondary layer that is not stored on the device itself.

Even if an attacker gains physical access to the device and the seed phrase, they still cannot access the funds without the passphrase. This creates a powerful combination of something you have and something you know.

The passphrase allows for the creation of hidden wallets, which are invisible to anyone without the exact passphrase. This is an essential tool for protecting assets under duress.

Together, these measures provide a multi-layered defense strategy. They are vital for securing the physical device against theft or coercion.