Trezor Bridge® — Presentation

Slide 1 — Title & Purpose

Title: Trezor Bridge® — Secure Communication Layer for Trezor Hardware Wallets

Purpose: Introduce Trezor Bridge, explain why it exists, how it enables secure communication between Trezor hardware devices and host apps (web and desktop), and outline best practices for installation, usage, and troubleshooting. This presentation is intended for product teams, support staff, and technically curious users.

Slide 2 — What is Trezor Bridge?

Trezor Bridge is a small, platform‑specific background application that creates a secure communication channel between a user’s Trezor hardware wallet and web applications or local desktop software. It handles USB transport, device enumeration, and message framing so that the Trezor device can be used from modern browsers and apps without requiring low‑level USB access in the browser.

Unlike browser extensions or direct USB plugins, Bridge runs as a native helper on the host machine. It listens on a localhost port and mediates API calls between the host application and the connected Trezor device, providing stable, cross‑platform device access.

Slide 3 — Why Bridge? The problem it solves

• Browsers historically lacked consistent, secure access to USB HID/CTAPHID functionality; Bridge abstracts this complexity away.
• Bridge avoids the need for browser plugins and reduces surface area for compatibility issues across operating systems.
• It centralizes device drivers and updates, enabling the Trezor ecosystem to ship feature and compatibility fixes independently of browser releases.

Slide 4 — How Bridge works (high level)

1. Bridge runs as a system application and listens on a secure localhost endpoint.
2. A web or desktop client connects to the Bridge endpoint using HTTP/WebSocket calls to exchange JSON‑RPC messages.
3. Bridge translates those messages into USB HID frames and communicates with the Trezor device at the transport layer.
4. Responses are forwarded back to the client; sensitive signing operations are confirmed on the Trezor device itself.

Slide 5 — Supported Platforms & Compatibility

Trezor Bridge is designed to run on major desktop platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux. Installers and packaging ensure the Bridge runs as a background service on boot or when a user logs in. Browser compatibility is achieved because Bridge exposes an HTTP/WebSocket API that standard JavaScript clients can call, so it works with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and other modern browsers.

Slide 6 — Installation & First Run

Installation is intentionally simple:

1. Download the Bridge installer from the official Trezor website.
2. Run the installer and follow platform prompts (admin permissions may be required on some systems).
3. Open a web app or desktop Suite and the Bridge will automatically be detected; the client establishes a secure localhost connection.

Tip: Always download Bridge from the official source to avoid malicious copies. Many support cases are resolved by ensuring users installed the correct, up‑to‑date Bridge build.

Slide 7 — Security model

Trezor Bridge itself does not access or store private keys. All cryptographic secrets remain on the Trezor device. Bridge only transports messages and ensures reliable delivery. Key security aspects include:

• Localhost only: Bridge listens on localhost interfaces by default, minimizing remote access risk.
• User confirmation: Any operation that signs a transaction or exposes sensitive data requires explicit confirmation on the Trezor device.
• Integrity of the host: Bridge assumes the host OS is not compromised; users should maintain OS security to preserve overall safety.

Slide 8 — Common usage flows

1. User installs Bridge and opens a web wallet or the official Trezor Suite.
2. The app detects Bridge and requests device enumeration.
3. User selects their Trezor device, unlocks with PIN, and optionally enters passphrase for a hidden account.
4. Signing requests show human‑readable transaction details on the Trezor screen for confirmation.

Slide 9 — Troubleshooting & Support

Common issues and fixes:

• Bridge not detected: Restart the Bridge service, reconnect the device, or reinstall Bridge from the official website.
• Permission errors on Linux: Ensure udev rules are installed and that the current user has access to USB devices.
• Conflicting software: Other USB‑managing services or virtualization software can interfere; temporarily disable them to test.

Provide users with step‑by‑step logs and request the Bridge version and platform details to expedite support.

Slide 10 — Best practices for organizations

• Distribute Bridge from a centralized, verified source (internal mirrors or curated package managers) to ensure version control.
• For managed environments, create verified installation scripts and configure udev/driver settings ahead of time.
• Educate users to verify downloads and to keep Bridge updated; include Bridge checks in security posture assessments.

Slide 11 — Privacy & enterprise considerations

Bridge communicates over the local machine and does not transmit user transaction data to third parties. However, enterprise deployments should consider:

• Network policies that block localhost traffic or firewall rules affecting Bridge.
• Logs and telemetry: ensure any logging does not leak sensitive identifiers and adheres to privacy policies.
• Change management processes to vet Bridge updates before broad deployment.

Slide 12 — Demo script (recommended)

1. Show installing Bridge on a fresh machine (briefly), highlight download verification step.
2. Open a browser web wallet, demonstrate device detection and unlocking with PIN.
3. Prepare a small test transaction and show the confirmation on the Trezor device screen.
4. Walk attendees through a common troubleshooting scenario (e.g., reinstalling Bridge) and how to capture logs for support.

Slide 13 — FAQs

Q: Does Bridge collect or send my private keys?
A: No. Private keys remain on the Trezor device. Bridge only relays messages.

Q: Can I use Trezor without Bridge?
A: Some native applications or platforms may offer alternatives, but Bridge provides the most reliable cross‑platform support for web apps and Suite.

Slide 14 — Closing and resources

Bridge is a lightweight, security‑oriented helper that bridges the gap between modern host applications and secure hardware wallets. It simplifies integration and reduces compatibility issues while preserving core Trezor security guarantees.

Resources to include in the presentation handout:

• Official Bridge download page (trezor.io/bridge)
• Support articles and troubleshooting guides
• Developer docs covering the Bridge API and transport protocol