NEW ETHEREUM HARDWARE WALLET WANTS TO END THE BLIND SIGNING -. and prepare for quantum threats.
One of the most dangerous crypto security vulnerabilities is adopting a new hardware-based solution.
AMBIRE unveiled AMBIRE ICE.
It is an open source hardware wallet designed specifically for secure smart accounts and more advanced Ethereum users.
And its biggest selling point isn't just storing private keys offline.
It shows users what they are really signing.
Traditional hardware wallets are effective at protecting private keys.
But complex transactions in smart contracts can still be difficult to understand.
A user may see a sealed transaction request without knowing clearly what permissions or contract actions they are authorizing.
This is known as a blind signature.
And it can be extremely dangerous when attackers trick users into authorizing malicious actions.
Ambire Ice tries to address this with a clear signature.
The device reproduces secure transactions and displays individual operations directly on its screen.
This includes token transfers, confirmations, batch operations and multisig account permission changes.
The hardware also introduces a number of additional security features.
Dual secure elements from NXP and Infineon are designed to protect cryptographic keys.
The AIR-GAP switch supports offline signing.
And users can connect via USB, Bluetooth or QR codes.
But there is another interesting detail.
The hardware and firmware are open source.
Ambire has made its design files available so that developers can test the build of the devices and possibly build their own version.
The device is also described as post-quantum ready.
That is, its architecture is designed to accommodate future quantum-resistant signature methods using the Safes ledger system.
Important: This does not mean that AMBIRE ICE currently provides full post-quantum security.
This functionality depends on future chain and account support.