What the extension really does for you
The Lace wallet extension works as a bridge between your browser and the Cardano blockchain. After you set it up, your keys stay on your own device, websites have to ask permission before they can see your addresses, and every transaction waits for your approval before anything moves.
For most people that second point is the real value. A decentralised application can suggest a transaction, but it cannot sign one. Reading the details first — the destination address, the amount, the network fee — is the security feature, and it is the step people skip when they are in a hurry. If something looks unfamiliar, decline and check again from a second source.
Self-custody brings responsibilities too. Keep your recovery phrase offline and never type it into a website, a form or a support chat: legitimate teams never ask for it. Check where any installation link came from before you click it, because a search result is not a trusted source.
Used that way, the extension turns an intimidating idea into a routine: connect, read, approve, record. Start small, keep a written note of what you approve, and the confidence follows on its own.