Back to the Basics: 10 MEW Tips for Ethereum Beginners

3 min read

1. Check the URL to make sure it says ‘MyEtherWallet.com’.

• Keep us bookmarked for future use.
• Phishers are tricky, so make sure there are no dots or accents on any of the letters.
• If you find a phishing site, send it to us so we can take it down!
• Download EAL, PhishFort, or Cryptonite for up-to-date alerts when visiting known phishing sites.

2. Use the checksummed version of your address.

• This is the version of your address that includes both capital and lowercase letters.
• Check out our article for more information on checksummed addresses.

3. Send a small amount first, to test the waters.

• We cannot reverse, cancel, or refund transactions. Make sure you know the process inside and out!
• Read our user-guide all about sending transactions.

4. Keep your information off the computer.

• Write down everything in physical backups.
• Pen and paper is highly underrated. No one can hack your notebook!
• However, you can lose your notebook – so make extra copies.
• Use MEW offline for extra security!

5. Do not share your private information with anyone.

• Including us! We will never ask for your private key, keystore file, or recovery phrase.

6. We will never email you first.

• If you got an email from us without emailing us first, it’s not us.

7. Google can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

• Do your research and remain skeptical!
• Before sending to a third-party or using a new service, Google the service name + ‘scam’ or ‘reviews’.

8. Pay very close attention to the address you’re sending to.

• Sending to a wrong address can mean the permanent loss of your funds. Make sure you know who you’re sending to.
• Double and triple check everything. Even one wrong character will make a difference and lead to loss of funds.
• Never hand type anything. Copy & paste is your best friend!
• Make sure you’re not sending to a contract address! Funds sent directly to a contract address can not be recovered.

9. Buy a hardware wallet.

• Hardware wallets are generally around ~100 USD and offer the best protection for your crypto assets.
• Ledger and Trezor are two great options we highly recommend!

10. Ask for help.

• This is still a very new field, but it has a strong community to back it up.
• Social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter are filled with real people who live and breathe crypto, ourselves included!
• Reach out to our support team directly if you’re ever confused or have concerns. We can be reached at support@myetherwallet.com.