Welcome to Ledger.com/Start — the official on-ramp designed to help individuals and institutions begin their cryptocurrency journey with confidence. This guide explains clear, formal steps to set up your Ledger hardware wallet, highlights the robust security features protecting your assets, and lists practical recommendations to keep your account and devices resilient against common threats.
Obtain and verify your device
Begin by obtaining an authentic Ledger device only from Ledger.com or an authorized reseller. Unboxing should reveal tamper-evident packaging; if the packaging appears altered, do not proceed. During first-time setup, create a strong PIN and record your 24-word recovery phrase exactly as displayed. Store that recovery phrase offline in a secure location — never capture it with a photo or enter it on a web page. Ledger devices never request your recovery phrase by email, phone, or in-browser prompts; treat any such request as fraudulent.
How Ledger secures keys
Ledger’s security model relies on a secure element chip and on-device verification. Private keys never leave the device and signing occurs locally; this significantly reduces exposure to remote compromise. Additionally, Ledger Live software uses encrypted communication channels and digital signatures to verify firmware authenticity and application updates. Always confirm firmware updates on the device screen before approving.
Web and hosting security guidance
To protect your web interactions, access Ledger.com/Start over HTTPS and verify the SSL certificate in your browser. For organizations hosting documentation or onboarding pages, implement strict security headers — for example: HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS), Content-Security-Policy (CSP), X-Frame-Options, and X-Content-Type-Options. These headers help eliminate common web attack vectors such as clickjacking, MIME-type confusion, and mixed-content injection. Use Subresource Integrity (SRI) for any externally hosted scripts or stylesheets.
Operational best practices
Use a dedicated, updated computer for wallet setup, enable automatic updates for firmware and companion software, and avoid public Wi-Fi networks during setup. Consider hardware-backed enterprise key management and multi-signature policies for organizational custody.
Developer note: Embed a restrictive CSP and include nonce or hash-based script allowances to prevent XSS. Configure secure cookies with the attributes HttpOnly, Secure, and SameSite=Strict. HSTS and X-Frame-Options must be configured via server response headers.
Availability & continuity
Ledger.com/Start emphasizes availability and continuity. Host the site behind a reputable CDN, enable DDoS protection, and configure health checks and failover to minimize downtime. Maintain clear contact channels and publish a status page for transparency during incidents. Regularly perform authenticated penetration tests and independent security audits to validate defenses.
User privacy and incident guidance
Always bookmark Ledger.com/Start after verifying the URL to avoid phishing websites that mimic legitimate onboarding pages. Beware of unsolicited offers, installation help, or recovery assistance; legitimate Ledger support will never ask for your recovery phrase. If you suspect compromise, move funds to a newly initialized device using a securely stored recovery phrase. Maintain records of firmware versions and device identifiers when needed.
Ledger.com/Start is designed to pair cautious user behavior with strong technical controls so users may manage digital assets securely and with long-term confidence.