Trezor Bridge is a crucial software component that facilitates secure communication between your Trezor hardware wallet and your web browser. Unlike browser extensions or plugins, Trezor Bridge operates as a background service that establishes a direct connection between your wallet and the supported web interface, such as Trezor Suite or third-party applications. This connection ensures that transactions and other operations involving your cryptocurrency are processed securely, without exposing your private keys to potential online threats.
The architecture of cryptocurrency wallets is designed with the understanding that the internet is inherently insecure. The moment your private keys, which are the cryptographic keys that grant access to your funds, are exposed to the internet, they become vulnerable to hacking, phishing, and other cyber threats. A hardware wallet like Trezor stores these keys offline, but it still needs to interact with online services to sign transactions and manage your portfolio.
Previously, Trezor users relied on browser plugins to establish this connection. However, these plugins came with limitations and security concerns. For instance, browser updates could disrupt the functionality of these plugins, or they could be targeted by malicious software. Trezor Bridge was developed to overcome these challenges by providing a stable, secure, and browser-agnostic solution that operates independently of the browser environment.