Trezor.io/Start: The 1400-Word Essential Security Blueprint

The setup process begins not with software, but with physical security. Your Trezor device is shipped with specific security seals designed to guarantee that the hardware is pristine and has not been tampered with or modified by malicious actors during shipping.

1.1 Critical Seal Inspection

• Trezor One: Carefully examine the holographic seal placed over the USB port. This seal should be perfectly intact, clear of any tears, wrinkles, bubbles, or residue that suggests it was peeled and reapplied.
• Trezor Model T: The Model T box utilizes a specialized magnetic holographic seal. This seal is engineered to shatter or tear irreversibly upon opening the box. Ensure the seal is unbroken and looks exactly as it should.
• External Box Check: Beyond the seals, inspect the entire packaging for signs of punctures, unauthorized tape, or signs of heat treatment.

1.2 Contents Inventory

Confirm the presence of all components: the Trezor device, the official USB cable, and the blank recovery seed cards. Proceed only if the physical security checks pass with 100% confidence.

Once the physical integrity is confirmed, you must install the official firmware using the recommended management software, Trezor Suite.

2.1 Trezor Suite and Connection Protocol

• Official Source Only: Download and install the Trezor Suite application ONLY from the official website: suite.trezor.io. Malicious actors frequently publish fake versions on third-party sites.
• Initial Connection: Connect the Trezor to a trusted computer using the official USB cable. Trezor Suite will detect the uninitialized device and prompt the next steps.

2.2 Installing and Verifying Firmware

Your device arrives without firmware—a key security feature. The firmware must be installed through the Trezor Suite.

• On-Device Confirmation: The firmware download is managed by the Suite, but the actual installation execution must be confirmed on the physical Trezor screen, preventing software manipulation.
• Firmware Fingerprint Check: After installation, the Trezor screen displays a unique cryptographic hash (the fingerprint). You MUST visually compare this hash against the fingerprint displayed in Trezor Suite. This verifies that the installed code is the correct, digitally signed software from SatoshiLabs.

The Recovery Seed (12, 18, or 24 words based on the BIP39 standard) is the master backup. It is the key to restoring your wallet if the Trezor device is lost, damaged, or stolen. This process must be performed offline and with absolute focus.

3.1 Generation Protocol

• Offline Visibility: The seed words are displayed ONLY on the physical Trezor screen. They never touch the connected computer's display, protecting against malware like keyloggers and screen scrapers.
• Manual Transcription: Use the provided blank recovery cards. Write down the words carefully, numbered sequentially. Use permanent ink and ensure no spelling errors. The Trezor employs words from a standardized 2048-word list.
• Backup Confirmation: The Trezor Suite will prompt you to confirm a few randomly selected words from your list. This crucial step verifies that you have transcribed the sequence correctly before the wallet is fully initialized.

3.2 Advanced Storage Best Practices

• Environmental Separation: Store the recovery seed card in a fireproof, waterproof location, physically separate from the Trezor device itself. This protects against catastrophic loss (e.g., house fire or localized theft).
• Longevity: For true long-term storage, consider transcribing the seed onto a non-perishable material like etched metal. Paper is vulnerable to degradation and fire.
• Digital Prohibition: Never store the seed on any digital device, including phones, cloud services, email, or password managers. If your computer is ever compromised, the attacker must not find your seed phrase.

The PIN adds a necessary layer of physical security, preventing unauthorized access if your Trezor device is stolen. The PIN is required every time you unlock the device or perform a transaction.

4.1 The Dynamic PIN Entry System

• Randomized Layout: When you connect your Trezor, the numbers 1 through 9 are displayed in a unique, randomized 3x3 grid on the Trezor's physical screen.
• Blind Entry: The computer screen (Trezor Suite) shows only a blank 3x3 input field. You must map the position of the number on the device screen to the corresponding position on the Suite interface to input your PIN sequence.
• Security Benefit: Because the numbers are randomized and never appear on the computer screen, keylogging and visual surveillance (shoulder surfing) are entirely defeated.

4.2 PIN Best Practices and Brute-Force Resistance

Choose a PIN between 4 and 9 digits. The length is crucial for security.

• Avoid Patterns: Do not use simple sequences (1234), repeated digits (1111), or dates (birthdays). The PIN should be memorable but non-obvious.
• Lockout Mechanism: Trezor implements a mandatory, progressively increasing time delay after each incorrect PIN attempt. This makes physical brute-force attacks on the device technologically infeasible.

The Passphrase, or "25th word," is an optional, highly advanced security feature recommended for users with significant holdings. It provides an unmatched level of security by creating a completely separate, "hidden" wallet.

5.1 The Hidden Wallet Principle

• Cryptographic Derivation: The Passphrase is a user-defined word or sentence added to the 12/24 word Recovery Seed. This combined phrase generates an entirely new set of private keys, completely separate from the standard wallet.
• Plausible Deniability: You can keep a small, decoy amount of crypto in your standard wallet (PIN only access). Your primary funds are kept in the hidden wallet, which requires the PIN *plus* the Passphrase. If coerced, you only reveal the PIN, protecting your major assets.

5.2 Risks and Management of the Passphrase

• No Recovery: The passphrase is never stored on the device or recoverable via the 12/24 word seed. If you forget or lose the passphrase, all funds secured by it are permanently inaccessible.
• Storage Strategy: Since the passphrase must be remembered (or stored non-digitally and separately from the Recovery Seed), it requires maximum security commitment. Treat it as a completely independent, high-value secret.

With initialization complete, your Trezor is ready. However, ongoing security requires adherence to strict protocols.

6.1 Testing the Backup (Dry Run Recovery)

It is highly advisable to use the "Check Recovery" or "Dry Run" feature in Trezor Suite. This process allows you to input your written seed phrase to verify its accuracy against the device's cryptographic engine without exposing the full seed to the computer environment. This step confirms your backup is valid before you commit large amounts of crypto.

6.2 The Transaction Golden Rule

Before confirming any transaction on the Trezor device, you must visually verify two things: the amount being sent AND the recipient address. Malware can silently swap the recipient address displayed on your computer screen; the address shown on the physical Trezor screen is the only trustworthy source.

6.3 Post-Setup Device Hygiene

• Disconnect: Always disconnect the Trezor when you are not actively using it to sign a transaction.
• Firmware Updates: Only perform updates via the official Trezor Suite, always verifying the firmware fingerprint afterwards.