Hardware security modules can protect Nostr keys. A hardware key like YubiKey or Ledger could store your nsec. Signing happens on the device, and the key never leaves protected hardware.

This is higher security than a file on disk. Even if your computer is compromised, the attacker can't extract the key. Support is limited, and not all clients work with hardware keys. Integration often requires custom tooling.

For most users, a remote signer like Signet provides good security without specialized hardware. For high-value keys or high-threat environments, hardware adds another layer. Match security tools to your actual risks.