Hardware Wallet Hacking: Glitching & Forensic Tools

When to use Hardware Hacking?

In some cases, password recovery alone isn’t enough. More so when dealing with hardware wallets that are damaged, PIN-locked, or unresponsive. In these situations, we deploy a range of advanced hardware hacking tools and techniques to extract data directly from the secure element or microcontroller. This process requires deep technical expertise, precise timing, and specialized equipment. It’s notable that mistakes when engaging in hardware hacking can destroy the wallet or permanently lock its contents as

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What is involved?

One of the most critical methods we use is voltage glitching: a technique that momentarily disrupts the power supply to a chip at a precise moment to bypass authentication or trigger unintended behavior. To pull this off successfully, we rely on our own homegrown multiplexers and custom glitch injection boards. We use these in conjunction with with tightly timed scripts written for known vulnerabilities in STM32 and similar architectures. These methods can allow temporary or permanent bypass of PIN checks, key export blocks, or other protections baked into the wallet's firmware.

Nanosecond Timing

Precise timing is everything in hardware fault injection. That's why we use oscilloscopes to analyze signal behavior, clock cycles, and voltage irregularities. By observing the waveform outputs of the device under attack, we can align our glitch pulses with the microcontroller's instruction pipeline. We also use tools like the SEGGER J-Link for JTAG/SWD debugging, which allows us to halt execution, read registers, and inspect memory if the device isn't locked down completely. In devices where the debug interface is still partially accessible, this can be the most surgical and effective way to pull secrets out safely.

These tools and techniques aren't guesswork. They are part of a methodical process we have refined across hundreds of cases. At Praefortis.us, we combine electrical engineering, firmware reverse engineering, and real-world recovery experience to perform hardware wallet extractions that would be impossible with software alone.

DIY Hardware Hacking vs. Professional Extraction

While DIY hardware hacking might seem appealing, the risks are enormous: one wrong pulse or solder bridge can permanently destroy access. At Praefortis.us, we've handled hundreds of hardware wallet recoveries without ever losing a customer’s funds. We use calibrated tools, methodical extraction protocols, and secure key handling environments to ensure success where DIY often ends in permanent loss.

  
      Factor / Risk
      DIY Attempt
      Professional Recovery (Praefortis.us)
    
      Required Equipment Cost
      💸 $15,000+ (glitcher, scope, debug tools)
      ✅ Included in service
    
      Technical Skill Level
      ⚠️ Very High (EE + firmware + fault injection)
      ✅ Team of specialists
    
      Success Rate
      ⚠️ Extremely low for non-experts
      ✅ High — no customer wallet lost to date
    
      Risk of Permanent Bricking
      ❌ High (glitching at wrong moment)
      ✅ Fully mitigated with staged testing
    
      Oscilloscope Tuning & Timing
      ⚠️ Requires sub-10ns precision tuning
      ✅ Calibrated lab setups + automated triggers
    
      Safe Key Extraction
      ❌ Difficult (volatile memory issues)
      ✅ Expert-controlled extraction flow
    
      Debugging Interface Handling
      ⚠️ Risk of locking down chip further
      ✅ Custom J-Link scripts + forensic staging
    
      Chip Removal / PCB Work
      ⚠️ Requires micro soldering, reballing
      ✅ Clean lab conditions + microscope soldering
    
      Post-Recovery Handling
      ❌ Often insecure (keys exposed)
      ✅ Secure rekeying, signing, and cold transfer
    
      Legal Chain of Custody
      ❌ None
      ✅ Full documentation for estate & fiduciary cases