Build good habits before you connect a real wallet.
LET’S PICTURE IT
Treat an unfamiliar wallet request like an unfamiliar document asking for your signature. Understand the permission before you agree.
SEE IT FOR YOURSELF
From a public address to a verified signatureStep 1 / 4
An address is public receiving information. It is not the private key that authorizes actions.
An address is public receiving information. It is not the private key that authorizes actions.The local signing system uses secret authorization material. It produces a signature; the private key is not sent along with it.A verifier checks the signed request under the account’s rules. A valid signature does not by itself prove that the action is safe.Balances belong to network state. A wallet is an interface and signing system, not a box containing coins.
Animated local teaching model. No wallet, RPC or live blockchain data. Some labels and hashes are abbreviated for readability.
Keep secrets out of websites
Your recovery phrase and private keys control your accounts. Never put them into a converter, support chat, form, or tutorial. EtherTools does not ask for them. Practice here uses public addresses and sample values; you never need to connect a wallet.
Approvals are permissions
An ERC-20 approval can let a specific spender move tokens within an allowance. Approving a huge allowance is different from sending one small payment. A malicious app may ask for more power than its visible action suggests. Learn token allowances and review spender addresses.
A valid address is not a trustworthy person
A checksum catches some typing mistakes. It does not detect every scam. Copying an address from transaction history can fail if an attacker has planted a lookalike. Confirm the full destination, network, asset and amount before a real transfer.
Slow down around urgency
Fake support agents, surprise airdrops and guaranteed returns are warning signs. A testnet lets you practice without using real ETH, but its keys still deserve care if reused elsewhere. Keep learning about signatures before signing unfamiliar messages.
QUICK CHECK · NO PRESSURE
A checksum-valid address proves what?
A checksum is a formatting check, not an identity check or a safety guarantee.