Air Gap

An air gap is a security technique where a device is kept entirely offline, with no connection to any network, especially the internet. This strict separation helps shield sensitive devices from cyber attacks like hacking, malware, or data breaches.

In the world of Bitcoin, air-gapped systems are commonly used for cold wallets. Here, the private keys are stored on a device that has never gone online, making unauthorized access much more difficult. When information needs to move in or out of an air-gapped wallet, it’s done physically, using devices like USB sticks or external drives, rather than through a network connection.