I believe that the only way to be protected in crypto is to use CEX and trade only top altcoins or Bitcoin.
Are you joking here or are you serious. Not your keys, not your coins, your funds must be stored in a self custodial wallet, that is the first point in safely storing your coins. If you have your coins stored in a centralized exchange, i recommend you move it out immediately and put it in your own custody.
Not, I am not joking. You dont need to educate me with "not your keys" and safety measure stories. If you have your own experience with exchanges, that is great, but I have my own. Since 2017 I had zero issues with top CEX, and never lost a cent there. Dont forget that we talk about scams here, not hacks. There is only a tiny, very tiny chance that scam altcoin will get listed on CEX, or clicks or connection of your own wallet would get you into troubles.
Or you think that if I deposit money on Binance for example, I would get scammed and my money would be gone? Or if I buy BTC there it will be a crap copycat token on Polygon blockchain with name BTC ? Or if I an altcoin there, within an hours its value will drop to zero and dev would disappear?
If we get back to "not your keys, not your funds" - can you remind us when was the last time you were scammed by top cex exchange?