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Hardware Wallet Security

Presentation • 10 slides • Colorful

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Trezor Bridge — The Secure Gateway to Your Hardware Wallet®

Overview & purpose

h3 Introduction: Trezor Bridge is the communication layer that allows your Trezor hardware wallet to interact securely with desktop browsers and wallet interfaces. It runs locally and provides a standardized channel for signing, transaction construction, and firmware verification while minimizing attack surfaces.

Why this matters

Bridges the device and browser without exposing private keys.
Enables cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux).
Allows wallet apps to communicate with your Trezor with robust security guarantees.

Quick facts

Secure Runs locally; does not send keys over the network.
Open-source Components reviewed by the community.
Compatibility Works with Trezor Model T and Model One.

Official links

Trezor Official
Trezor Bridge documentation

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How Trezor Bridge Works

Architecture

h3 Core idea: Trezor Bridge acts as a local HTTP API server and native connector. Wallet apps send requests via the Bridge; Bridge forwards them to the Trezor device over USB (or WebUSB when available). The Bridge implements protocol parsing, message framing, and device enumeration.

Communication flow

Browser-based wallet detects Bridge availability.
App sends JSON-RPC or Trezor protocol call to Bridge API.
Bridge forwards request to the Trezor device, waits for user confirmation on the device screen.
Device signs data or provides requested output; Bridge returns the response to the app.

Security checkpoints

Device PIN and passphrase protection stays on-device.
Bridge only relays messages — cryptographic operations happen inside the Trezor.
Certificate checks and firmware-signature verification remain device responsibilities.

Useful for developers

Developers can use the Bridge API to test integrations, build desktop wallet UIs, or automate signing flows (with user confirmations).

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Installation & Setup

Step-by-step guide

Step 1 — Download Bridge

Visit the official Trezor site to download the latest Bridge package for your OS. Avoid third-party downloads to reduce the risk of tampered installers.

Step 2 — Install & run

Run the installer and start the Bridge service. It will often run in the background and expose a local endpoint (e.g., http://127.0.0.1:21325).

Troubleshooting

If the browser cannot detect your device, ensure the Bridge service is running and the device is unlocked.
On Linux, check udev rules for USB access.
Firewall or antivirus software may block the Bridge; allow local connections.

Safe install checklist

Download from https://trezor.io only.
Verify release notes and checksums if provided.
Restart browser after installation to ensure detection.

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User Experience & Workflow

Typical user flow

Users launch a web wallet or desktop app → connect Trezor → Bridge detects device → user reviews and approves actions on the device screen → transaction signed and broadcast.

On-device confirmations

The most critical safety mechanism is the on-device screen and physical buttons. Confirm each transaction detail (amount, address, fee) on the Trezor before approving.

UX best practices

Show clear human-readable descriptions of actions in your app.
Ensure users see both raw and formatted address strings before confirmation.
Give an option to re-check or cancel requests quickly.

Accessibility

Make sure the wallet UI remains keyboard-navigable and screen-reader friendly — the Bridge itself is transparent to accessibility tools, but the wallet UI must be accessible.

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Security Considerations

Threat model & mitigations

Bridge-specific risks

Because the Bridge listens on localhost, a local malware process could try to interact with it. Mitigations include OS-level process isolation, signed installers, and requiring explicit user confirmations for sensitive actions.

Device-first security

Private keys never leave the Trezor device. The Bridge cannot extract keys; it only transports signed requests and responses.

Recommended security habits

Keep your OS and Bridge updated to latest versions.
Install Bridge only from official source and verify signatures if provided.
Use strong PINs and optional passphrases on your hardware wallet.
Monitor for unexpected Bridge activity and kill service if suspicious.

Enterprise considerations

In managed environments, enforce software whitelisting and distribute Bridge through trusted channels (MDM) to reduce supply-chain threats.

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Developer Integration

API and libraries

Developers integrate with Trezor Bridge through well-defined APIs and client libraries. Typical actions include retrieving public keys, constructing signatures, and performing firmware checks.

Best practices for integrators

Always display the request summary to the user before invoking the Bridge.
Handle device disconnects gracefully and provide retry options.
Log only non-sensitive metadata — never logs keys or raw signatures with private payloads.

Testing & CI

Use emulators and hardware-in-the-loop tests where possible. Because Bridge runs locally, automated test environments may need to mock or stub the Bridge endpoints.

Open-source resources

Explore Trezor's SDK and community projects for sample code snippets and integration patterns. Follow semantic versioning and test across OS variants.

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Common Issues & Fixes

Troubleshooting checklist

Many connectivity problems come from driver issues, permissions, or the Bridge not running. Below are quick actions to resolve 90% of cases.

Quick fixes

Restart Bridge service and browser.
Reconnect device and check cable integrity.
Allow USB permissions on Linux (udev rules).
Temporarily disable third-party firewall/antivirus to test connectivity.

When to reach support

If the device shows firmware corruption warnings or Bridge fails to update, contact Trezor support and follow official guidance. Do not install unofficial patches.

Useful logs

Collect Bridge logs for developers/support — these typically exclude key material but include timestamps, API calls and error codes helpful for root-cause analysis.

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Advanced Use Cases

Enterprise & programmatic signing

Organizations can integrate Trezor and Bridge for multi-signature setups, cold-storage workflows, and automated signing pipelines that still require manual on-device confirmations for final approvals.

Multi-user key management

Bridge can be part of a larger signing infrastructure that coordinates across multiple devices. Carefully design policies to require multiple hardware confirmations for high-value transactions.

Automation with guardrails

Use transaction templates and allow only pre-approved destination addresses where feasible.
Require explanations and human approvals logged in a separate audit trail before signing.

Regulatory considerations

For some jurisdictions, auditable signing practices and controlled software distribution are required — consult legal/compliance teams when designing enterprise key workflows.

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Privacy & Data Handling

What Bridge sees (and doesn't)

Bridge mainly acts as a conduit for messages. It may see metadata like request types and timestamped API calls, but it does not derive private keys or seed phrases. Privacy-conscious users should still practice good host hygiene (avoid compromised machines).

Minimizing data leakage

Prefer air-gapped setups for cold storage use-cases.
Limit the amount of transaction metadata sent to third-party services.
Use deterministic derivation paths deliberately and avoid exposing unnecessary account indices to online services.

Open-source transparency

Community audits of Bridge components increase trust. Check repositories and changelogs when possible to see what changes have been made.

Privacy checklist

Install Bridge from official sources only.
Limit wallet integrations to trusted apps.
Be mindful of browser extensions that may access local endpoints.

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Conclusion & Resources

Key takeaways

h3 Summary: Trezor Bridge is an essential, local bridge that enables secure communication between your hardware wallet and desktop/browser applications. It preserves device-centric security guarantees while adding convenience and cross-platform support.

Action steps for users

Download Bridge from the official site and keep it updated.
Verify device prompts on the Trezor screen before approving anything.
Use strong PINs and consider passphrase protection for high-value holdings.

Useful links & next steps

Get started with Trezor
Trezor Support
Bridge docs & downloads

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