Software wallets (like MetaMask, Trust Wallet, or Phantom) are applications that run on your computer or mobile phone. They do not hold coins; they hold your private keys and present a graphical interface to interact with the blockchain.
### Browser Extension Wallets
Browser extensions run inside browser processes (Chrome, Brave, Firefox).
* **Convenience:** They are highly convenient for interacting with Decentralized Apps (DApps).
* **Risks:** Because they are inside your browser, they share process spaces. If you install a malicious browser extension or visit a compromised website containing zero-day scripts, your wallet keys could be exposed.
### Mobile App Wallets
Standalone mobile wallets run as native applications on iOS or Android.
* **Sandbox Security:** Mobile operating systems use strict ‘sandboxing’ rules that prevent one app from reading another app’s memory space. This makes mobile wallets generally safer than desktop browser extensions.
* **Biometrics Protection:** Mobile wallets leverage secure elements on the device (FaceID / Fingerprint) to encrypt key files.