Academy › Safety checks › Lesson 9
Clipboard hijackers: when the address you paste changes
You copy one address and paste another without noticing.
01How it works
The malware watches the clipboard. When it sees a wallet address, it replaces it with one controlled by the attacker.
02Why it is effective
People rarely read a long address after pasting it, and the fake one looks equally random.
03How to catch it
After pasting, compare the first six and last six characters with the original before confirming.
04Prevention
Keep your system updated, avoid cracked software and use a separate, clean device for larger transfers.
Key pointAlways compare the start and end of a pasted wallet address; clipboard malware changes it silently.