Why Updating Your Firmware Matters

At Ledger, our hardware wallets use applications and firmware for managing your crypto. Today, we’ll take a deeper dive into the importance of updating your firmware.

A new world opens up

The crypto space is a quickly evolving world, where those providing services for it need to be able to adapt quickly. To make sure that you can have access to the latest innovations, we’ve made sure that your device’s firmware and applications can be updated for this purpose.

Did you know that Ledger hardware wallets were one of the first to implement Native SegWit integration to enable lower Bitcoin transaction fees? This wouldn’t have been possible without updating your Bitcoin application.

As a matter of fact, many features and crypto assets would not have been supported yet if we didn’t provide firmware updates.

Without firmware updates, cryptocurrencies such as Cardano (ADA) and Ziliqa (ZIL) couldn’t have been added since new signatures schemes were needed.

Improving on the best security in the market

By combining the best hardware with a team consisting of the best security experts, we’re able to provide the most secure experience in the cryptocurrency hardware wallet market. We’re not stopping there though – we believe that security should always be challenged and improved upon. Our internal security lab, the Ledger Donjon, is consistently trying to break into our devices and elevate our hardware wallets’ security to new highs.

This includes providing new security features for applications and firmware updates.

A great example can be found in firmware update 1.4.2, where your PIN code was extended to a maximum of 8 characters, rather than the previous 4. This could even be applied to potential vulnerabilities if needed. To make sure your device is as secure as possible, we recommend using the latest firmware and application versions.

Bug fixes

There’s always a chance that a new version of your computer or smartphone’s Operating System could create a brand-new bug. Our dedicated teams focus specifically on this to make sure these issues are resolved as quickly as possible. One possible way of doing this is through application or firmware updates.

A great example of this is when a new version of Windows 10 came out and caused problems for using your Ledger device with a lot of third-party wallets. With the latest app versions, this is no longer an issue. 

We’re always working hard on making sure that you’re getting the best crypto experience possible. By updating your firmware, you allow us to ensure that you can get the most out of your Ledger device.

Keep learning! If you enjoy getting to grips with crypto and blockchain, check out our School of Block video How to Keep Your Crypto Safe