Presentation • Detailed overview • Architecture • Security • Integration • 10-part slideset
This presentation explains the purpose, architecture, security model, installation, troubleshooting and integration best practices for Trezor Bridge, a lightweight local connector that allows Trezor hardware wallets to communicate securely with web applications and desktop clients. Designed for product teams, developers, security auditors, and user-education writers, this deck offers practical guidance and a conceptual framework for understanding how Trezor Bridge fits into the modern web3 ecosystem.
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Trezor Bridge is a small, platform-specific daemon that runs on the user’s machine to facilitate secure communications between a Trezor hardware wallet and client applications (web or desktop). Unlike browser extensions or direct USB access that rely on privileged browser APIs, Bridge runs as a local service, exposing a limited HTTP API on localhost secured to only accept connections from authorized origins. This design balances usability with minimal attack surface.
Trezor Bridge plays a critical role in preserving the offline security guarantees of hardware wallets while offering a user-friendly integration point for decentralized applications, exchanges, and tooling. Because the private keys never leave the Trezor device, Bridge's function is to transmit commands and responses; any hardening here reduces the likelihood of interception, spoofing, or unauthorized transactions.
Key adversaries include local malware attempting to intercept USB traffic, malicious web pages attempting to initiate transactions, and network-level attackers attempting to spoof local endpoints. Trezor Bridge assumes the hardware wallet is the root-of-trust and that the user's machine may be partially compromised; it therefore enforces user confirmations on-device for all sensitive operations and employs strict origin checks.
An application constructs an operation (example: "sign transaction"), sends it to Bridge with an origin header and optional session token. Bridge validates the origin, forwards the low-level APDU to the Trezor device via USB, receives the response, and returns it to the calling application. The user must confirm transactions on the device, ensuring a human is always in the loop for sensitive actions.
Trezor Bridge typically supports major desktop platforms: Windows (including WSL caveats), macOS, and Linux distributions. Installers are distributed as platform-specific binaries or packages and can be included with desktop wallet installers for seamless setup.
On Windows, ensure driver signing is correctly configured and document known antivirus false positives. Provide a diagnostic mode that can output logs to a file for troubleshooting.
Bridge enforces origin checks: applications must present an origin that matches the one the user previously approved, preventing unauthorized web pages from initiating actions. Pairing flows bind specific browser profiles or applications to a Bridge session.
The Bridge process runs with minimal privileges required to access USB devices. When possible, processes are sandboxed and isolated from other user processes to limit lateral movement in case of compromise.
Updates to Bridge should be cryptographically signed and validated prior to installation. Automatic updates are helpful for patching vulnerabilities, but must be balanced with the user's choice and clear changelogs.
Use official client libraries when possible. The libraries abstract away transport details, provide transparent session handling, and expose high-level APIs for signing, key derivation, and device management. Always check the library's compatibility matrix with the Bridge version you expect your users to run.
1) Detect whether Bridge is running. 2) If not, prompt user to install. 3) Open a secure handshake and request the device list. 4) Ask the user to confirm on the device for any sensitive operation. 5) Handle error states gracefully and provide actionable messages.
Bridge should expose a log file location and a diagnostic flags mode. Logs must avoid writing any sensitive material (private keys, mnemonic phrases, or raw signing material). Instead include metadata, timestamps, and non-sensitive error traces to aid debugging.
When end-user troubleshooting fails, provide a secure method for users to share sanitized logs with support. Offer step-by-step reproducible test cases and, when possible, reproducible minimal examples for developers to replicate issues in-house.
Because Bridge operates with sensitive actions, every step that could result in fund movement or device configuration should include explicit user prompts, clearly worded descriptions, and on-device confirmation. Avoid jargon in user-facing flows and include clear, localized fallback instructions.
Ensure screen-reader compatibility for installer UIs and error messages. For keyboard-only users, provide fully accessible installers and application prompts. Maintain color contrast ratios that meet WCAG AA or higher for all visual text and controls.
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