This deck explains what Trezor Bridge is, how it works, safe handling practices, step-by-step installation and troubleshooting guidance, and how to keep your private keys secure. It is written for security-conscious users and IT administrators who manage hardware wallets in an organization.
Trezor Bridge is a lightweight background application that enables secure communication between a Trezor hardware wallet and desktop or web-based wallets and services. It acts as a translator between the USB interface and web protocols, making it possible for supported wallets and browsers to send safe commands to the device.
Unlike software wallets, a hardware wallet like Trezor keeps private keys inside isolated hardware. Trezor Bridge minimises attack surface by ensuring that applications never access keys directly — instead they submit signing requests which the user confirms on the device. This slide highlights the assumptions and threat model:
Download the official installer, run it with admin privileges, and allow the driver to be installed. After installation, confirm Bridge is running in the system tray and connect your Trezor device. Open your wallet or go to wallet.trezor.io.
Download the .dmg or installer. On first launch you may need to allow the app in Security & Privacy settings. Connect the device and accept any prompts.
Install the Bridge package for your distribution or use the generic tarball. Ensure udev rules are installed so the device is accessible to your user account.
Keep the device in a protective case when travelling. Never leave your device unattended while connected to a public computer. Check packaging seals when you first receive the device to ensure it's genuine.
Only download Bridge from the official Trezor website. Keep Bridge updated and uninstall older versions. Do not install third-party drivers that claim to interact with the device.
Use a strong PIN. For extra protection enable a passphrase (hidden wallet). Treat the passphrase like a password—do not type it on untrusted devices.
When multiple people need access to funds, adopt policies: keep single-purpose devices, rotate custodians, and implement multi-signature setups where feasible. Never share recovery seeds or PINs. Use hardware wallets with separate passphrases for testing vs production.
Use an isolated machine to provision seeds, record them on durable medium, then lock the device in secure storage.
Define who can connect devices to Bridge-enabled hosts. Use physical presence requirements to approve transactions.
Check cable and USB port, restart Bridge, and try another host. Confirm udev/driver rules are applied on Linux/Windows.
Reinstall from official source, check firewall or antivirus for blocking, and confirm no conflicting apps are monopolising USB access.
Always verify on-device details (amount, recipient address) before confirming. If anything looks wrong, cancel and reconnect on a trusted host.
Firmware updates should be performed only via official channels and ideally on an isolated machine. For developers integrating with Bridge, use the published APIs and follow security headers: sign requests where necessary, and avoid storing sensitive data on the host.
Official resources and recommended next steps for follow-up:
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