HARDWARE ONBOARDING PROTOCOL
Hardware wallet initialization & companion setup
Follow the zero-trust initialization sequence before transferring digital assets. Cryptographic authenticity is verified locally on the secure enclave.
01
PHYSICAL AUDIT
Physical tamper inspection & unboxing
Verify the holographic security seal intactness across all packaging edges. Confirm that no pre-printed recovery phrase sheets or configured credentials exist within the container. Hardware must arrive in an absolute factory-pristine state.
02
CRYPTOGRAPHIC ATTESTATION
Secure desktop companion app pairing
Download and verify the SHA-256 signature of the ColdVault desktop companion application. Connect the hardware unit using the certified high-shielding data link to initiate an automated cryptographic challenge confirming genuine micro-controller firmware.
03
ACCESS CONTROL
Configuring high-entropy PIN codes
Establish an 8-digit hardware PIN directly on the device physical keypad. The device enforces rate-limiting and initiates an automatic secure wipe after three invalid sequential authentication attempts to guarantee protection against hardware extraction.
04
SEED GENERATION
Offline entropy & backup validation
Generate your 24-word standard BIP-39 recovery mnemonic using internal true random number generation (TRNG). Transcribe the words onto industrial titanium backup plates and verify exact word order sequentially before completing initial sync.
SECURITY NOTE: Never store recovery mnemonics in digital formats or cloud-connected environments.
COLDVAULT SECURE OS V4.8
Protocol Guidelines
Actionable Security Checklist
Rigorous operational standards for 24-word recovery phrase management, cold storage air-gapping, and routine disaster recovery drills.
Phase 01
Physical Backup Integrity
Engrave your 24-word seed phrase onto marine-grade stainless steel plates. Never store digital photographs, cloud notes, or printouts on paper susceptible to water and fire degradation.
Requirement: AISI 316 Stainless Steel Plate
Phase 02
Offline Storage Isolation
Configure a distinct BIP-39 optional passphrase (25th word) to establish plausible deniability. Store secondary steel backups across separate geographic jurisdictions within tamper-evident pouches.
Requirement: Multi-Site Geo-Distribution
Phase 03
Emergency Recovery Drills
Conduct bi-annual simulated recovery exercises using standalone air-gapped test hardware. Verify full cryptographic derivation pathways without exposing primary vault keys to online environments.
Requirement: Bi-Annual Dry-Run Protocol
Setup FAQ