VPN Services: Complete Setup Guide

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address, providing essential privacy protection. Here's everything you need to know about choosing and using VPN services.

🔍 VPN Comparison Table

VPN Service	No-Logs Policy	Cryptocurrency	Price/Month	Jurisdiction	Rating
Mullvad VPN	✓ Verified	✓ BTC/XMR	€5	Sweden	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ProtonVPN	✓ Audited	✓ BTC	$10	Switzerland	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
IVPN	✓ Verified	✓ BTC/XMR	$6	Gibraltar	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
NordVPN	✓ Audited	✗ No	$3.50	Panama	⭐⭐⭐⭐

💡 Why Mullvad VPN is Recommended

Mullvad accepts anonymous payment via Bitcoin and Monero, requires no email for registration, and assigns you a random account number. Their no-logs policy has been independently audited, making it ideal for darknet users.

📝 Mullvad VPN Setup Guide

1

Download Mullvad

Visit mullvad.net and download the client for your OS (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS). Verify the GPG signature if possible.

2

Generate Account

Click "Generate account" to receive a random 16-digit account number. Write it down immediately – this is your only credential (no email/password).

3

Add Time

Purchase subscription time via Bitcoin (BTC) or Monero (XMR) without KYC. Navigate to Settings → Add time → Cryptocurrency. €5/month.

4

Connect & Verify

Select a server location (avoid your country for better privacy). Click Connect. Verify your IP is masked by visiting mullvad.net/check.

⚠️ VPN Limitations

VPNs are NOT sufficient for darknet access alone. Always use Tor Browser in addition to VPN. VPNs protect against ISP surveillance but don't provide full anonymity. Use VPN → Tor (not Tor → VPN).

Tor Browser: Anonymous Browsing

Tor Browser is essential for accessing .onion sites and maintaining anonymity. It routes traffic through three encrypted relay nodes, making surveillance nearly impossible.

🚀 Tor Browser Setup (5 Minutes)

1

Download Official Tor

Visit torproject.org/download. Only download from the official site. Verify PGP signatures using keys from torproject.org/gpg.

# Verify signature (Linux/Mac)
gpg --verify tor-browser-*.asc

2

Install & Configure

Extract and run Tor Browser. Set security level to Safest (disables JavaScript by default). This prevents browser fingerprinting attacks.

3

Test Connection

Navigate to check.torproject.org. You should see "Congratulations. This browser is configured to use Tor."

🔐 Tor Browser Best Practices

Always use Safest mode – Settings → Privacy & Security → Security Level → Safest
Never maximize window – Unique window size = fingerprinting vulnerability
Disable camera/mic permissions – about:preferences#privacy
Clear history on exit – Enabled by default, verify in Settings
Use HTTPS everywhere – Built-in HTTPS-Only mode active
Never login to personal accounts – No Google, Facebook, Twitter while using Tor

📊 Tor vs VPN vs Tor+VPN

Feature	VPN Only	Tor Only	VPN → Tor
Hides IP from ISP	✓	✓	✓
Hides Tor usage from ISP	✗	✗	✓
Access .onion sites	✗	✓	✓
Maximum anonymity	✗	✓	✓✓
Speed	Fast	Slow	Slow

Recommended Setup: VPN (Mullvad) → Tor Browser. This hides Tor usage from your ISP while maintaining full anonymity.

Cryptocurrency Wallets Guide

Cryptocurrency is essential for anonymous darknet transactions. Here's how to set up secure wallets for Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR).

₿ Bitcoin vs Monero: Key Differences

₿

Bitcoin (BTC)

Pros:

Widely accepted
High liquidity
Easy to exchange

Cons:

Transparent blockchain
Requires mixing for privacy
Address reuse = tracking

🔒

Monero (XMR)

Pros:

Private by default
Untraceable transactions
Fungible (all coins equal)

Cons:

Lower liquidity
Fewer exchanges
Larger transaction size

🔧 Electrum Bitcoin Wallet Setup

1

Download Electrum

Visit electrum.org. Download for your OS. Verify GPG signature using ThomasV's key (6694D8DE7BE8EE5631BED9502BD5824B7F9470E6).

2

Create Wallet

Choose "Standard wallet" → "Create a new seed". Write down the 12-word seed phrase. NEVER store it digitally.

3

Enable Tor

Tools → Network → Proxy → SOCKS5, localhost, port 9050. Restart Electrum. This routes all connections through Tor.

4

Enhance Privacy

Tools → Preferences → Enable "Spend only confirmed coins". Use Wasabi Wallet CoinJoin mixing before depositing to markets.

🔐 Monero GUI Wallet Setup

1

Download Monero GUI

Visit getmonero.org/downloads. Download GUI wallet. Verify hashes using sha256sum or shasum -a 256.

# Verify hash (Linux/Mac)
sha256sum monero-gui-*.tar.bz2

2

Create Wallet

Launch GUI → "Create new wallet" → "Create new wallet from scratch". Choose strong password. Save 25-word mnemonic seed.

3

Sync Blockchain

Wait for blockchain sync (may take hours). Use "Simple mode" with remote node for faster setup, or "Advanced mode" to run your own node.

4

Generate Subaddress

Receive → "Create new address". Each transaction should use a unique subaddress for maximum privacy. Never reuse addresses.

⚠️ Critical Wallet Security

Write down your seed phrase immediately and store offline. Lost seed = lost funds permanently. Never share seeds with anyone. Use strong passwords (20+ characters, random). Enable 2FA where available. Consider hardware wallets (Ledger, Trezor) for large amounts.

📊 Wallet Comparison

Wallet	Cryptocurrency	Tor Support	Hardware Wallet	Difficulty
Electrum	Bitcoin	✓ Built-in	✓ Yes	Easy
Wasabi Wallet	Bitcoin	✓ Built-in	✓ Yes	Medium
Monero GUI	Monero	✓ Built-in	✓ Yes	Medium
Cake Wallet	Monero, BTC	✓ Built-in	✗ No	Easy

PGP Encryption: Secure Communications

Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) provides end-to-end encryption for messages and files. Essential for secure vendor communication on darknet markets.

🔑 GnuPG (GPG) Setup Guide

1

Install GnuPG

Windows: Download Gpg4win from gpg4win.org
Mac: brew install gnupg
Linux: sudo apt install gnupg

2

Generate Key Pair

gpg --full-generate-key
# Choose RSA and RSA (1)
# Key size: 4096 bits
# Validity: 0 (never expires)
# Enter name & email (can be fake)
# Set strong passphrase

3

Export Public Key

gpg --armor --export your@email.com > pubkey.asc
# Share this with vendors

4

Encrypt Message

# Import vendor's public key
gpg --import vendor_key.asc

# Encrypt message
gpg --encrypt --armor -r vendor@market.onion message.txt

📝 PGP Best Practices

✅ Do's

Always verify fingerprints – Compare key fingerprints through multiple channels
Use strong passphrases – 20+ characters, random words
Backup private key securely – Store offline, encrypted backup
Encrypt shipping addresses – Never send plaintext addresses to vendors
Verify signatures – Check vendor PGP signatures on messages

❌ Don'ts

Never share private key – Only public key should be shared
Don't use web-based PGP tools – They may log keys/messages
Don't use real identity – Name/email in key can be pseudonymous
Don't skip passphrase – Stolen key without passphrase = compromised

OPSEC: Operational Security

Operational Security (OPSEC) is about protecting your identity through careful habits and procedures. One mistake can compromise years of careful anonymity.

🛡️ Essential OPSEC Rules

Category	✅ DO	❌ DON'T
Accounts	Use unique usernames for each market	Reuse usernames from clearnet
Devices	Use dedicated device for darknet	Access darknet from work/school devices
Location	Use public WiFi (café, library) with VPN+Tor	Access from home without VPN
Communication	PGP-encrypt all messages	Discuss real names, addresses in plaintext
Payment	Mix Bitcoin or use Monero	Send directly from KYC exchange to market
Shipping	Use drop addresses (P.O. Box, vacant homes)	Ship to your registered home address

📋 OPSEC Checklist

✓ Before Accessing

VPN connected and verified
Tor Browser in Safest mode
Camera/microphone disabled
Tor circuit refreshed (New Identity)
Wallet seed backed up offline

✓ While Browsing

Never maximize Tor Browser window
Don't click external links
Verify .onion URLs carefully
Don't download unnecessary files
Clear cookies regularly (New Identity)

✓ After Sessions

Close Tor Browser completely
Disconnect VPN
Clear system RAM (restart)
Delete downloaded files securely
Review transaction history

⚠️ Critical OPSEC Violations

These mistakes WILL compromise you:

Logging into personal accounts (Gmail, Facebook) while using Tor
Posting photos with EXIF metadata containing GPS coordinates
Reusing usernames from your clearnet identity
Discussing darknet activities on social media under real name
Sending cryptocurrency directly from KYC exchange to market
Shipping packages to your registered home address repeatedly

Advanced Privacy Tools

💿

Tails OS

Live operating system that routes all traffic through Tor. Runs from USB, leaves no trace. Essential for maximum security.

Download: tails.boum.org

🔐

VeraCrypt

Full-disk encryption software. Encrypt USB drives and containers. Protects data if device is seized.

Download: veracrypt.fr

📱

Signal Messenger

End-to-end encrypted messaging. Better than SMS/WhatsApp. Use for 2FA backup codes.

Download: signal.org

🌐

Brave Browser

Privacy-focused browser with built-in Tor. Good for clearnet browsing, but use Tor Browser for .onion sites.

Download: brave.com

Quick Reference Card

    
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  DARKNET SECURITY QUICK REFERENCE
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

1. SETUP (Do Once)
   □ Install Mullvad VPN (mullvad.net)
   □ Install Tor Browser (torproject.org)
   □ Install Electrum BTC wallet (electrum.org)
   □ Install Monero GUI wallet (getmonero.org)
   □ Install GnuPG for PGP (gnupg.org)
   □ Generate PGP key pair (4096-bit RSA)
   □ Backup all seeds/keys offline

2. BEFORE EACH SESSION
   □ Connect to VPN (verify IP at mullvad.net/check)
   □ Launch Tor Browser in Safest mode
   □ Verify Tor connection (check.torproject.org)
   □ Refresh Tor circuit (New Identity)

3. DARKNET ACCESS
   □ Only use verified mirrors from torzon-official.site
   □ Check PGP signatures on announcements
   □ Never click external links
   □ PGP-encrypt all shipping addresses
   □ Use escrow for all transactions

4. CRYPTOCURRENCY
   □ Generate unique addresses per transaction
   □ Mix Bitcoin via CoinJoin (Wasabi Wallet)
   □ Use Monero for maximum privacy
   □ Never send directly from KYC exchange
   □ Wait 3+ confirmations before finalizing

5. AFTER SESSION
   □ Close Tor Browser (clears all data)
   □ Disconnect VPN
   □ Restart device to clear RAM
   □ Securely delete downloaded files

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