Security

Start with a clear model of seed phrases and private keys

When working with seed phrases and private keys, separate the wallet interface from the network record and any third-party service involved. imtoken can help present information or initiate an action, but the final result depends on the relevant network and contract state. Details such as offline backup and phishing should be checked in context rather than trusted because a screen looks familiar.

A useful workflow is prepare, verify, execute, and review. Prepare by identifying the intended network and outcome. Verify malicious signatures and device security before proceeding. Execute only a request you understand, then review the transaction hash, explorer record, or permission state afterward. This creates several opportunities to catch a mismatch before it becomes costly.

What to check

• Confirm seed phrases and private keys matches your intended task
• Review the source and scope of offline backup and phishing
• Verify malicious signatures and device security after the action

Handle offline backup and phishing as separate decisions

A prompt involving offline backup may represent simple account visibility, a wallet connection, a transaction signature, or a lasting token permission. Those requests do not carry the same consequence. The same is true for phishing: its meaning depends on the selected network, contract, and the exact action being requested.

If the request is hard to understand, the source does not match what you intended, the domain looks unusual, or the permission is broader than necessary, reject it and restart from a trusted entry point. There is rarely a good reason to rush an on-chain action, especially when a large value, unlimited approval, or unfamiliar contract is involved.

Useful boundaries

• Do not treat offline backup as a generic confirmation
• Check whether phishing belongs to the intended network
• Reject requests you cannot explain

Verify the outcome of malicious signatures

After the action completes, confirm that malicious signatures reached the expected state. A success message in the interface may only indicate that the front-end flow progressed. For transfers, review the transaction hash, sender and recipient, network, amount, and confirmations. For approvals, check the spender and allowance that remain on-chain.

If something looks wrong, avoid repeatedly submitting the same action without understanding the cause. Check whether the network is correct, the transaction is still pending, gas was sufficient, the contract reverted, or the asset exists on another network. Blind retries can create additional fees or duplicate outcomes if the original action later confirms.

Post-action review

• Use verifiable records to check malicious signatures
• Confirm device security did not change unexpectedly
• Investigate before retrying

Make device security part of routine security

device security should not be reviewed only after a problem. Build it into regular wallet maintenance by checking active networks, DApp connections, and token permissions, removing access you no longer use, and keeping devices and browsers updated. Sensitive actions should be avoided on shared computers or untrusted networks.

Keep seed phrases and private keys under your own control. Official staff will not ask for them, and they should not be sent to anyone. Check the address, network, and amount before a transfer; review each DApp signature independently; and consider revoking permissions that are no longer needed. On-chain transactions usually cannot be unilaterally reversed by a wallet, so prevention matters more than recovery.

Routine checklist

• Keep seed phrases and private keys offline and private
• Check address, network, and amount before sending
• Review every signature and approval on its own merits
• Remove connections and permissions you no longer need

Common misconceptions and safer alternatives

A familiar interface, a lookalike domain, or a high search ranking does not prove authenticity. Another common misconception is that a successful screen means seed phrases and private keys or offline backup cannot create later risk. Network state, contract permissions, and asset prices can continue to change, so the right verification method depends on the operation.

A stronger default is to perform only actions you understand, sign only after checking the source and network, grant only the permissions required for the current task, and keep the transaction hash or on-chain record available for review. When a situation cannot be explained, stop creating new actions and investigate the network, address, contract, and approval state first.