TOR

and the Darknet

This book includes:

TOR: Access the Dark Net, Stay

Anonymous Online and Escape NSA
Spying
Bitcoin: How to Get, Send, and
Receive Bitcoins Anonymously – A
Darknet Guide

By Evan Lane
 Contents

TOR
Chapter 1 What is Tor?
Chapter 2 Browsing the Internet Anonymously with a VPN
Chapter 3 Using Tor for Online Anonymity
Chapter 4 How to use Tor Without Getting Caught
Chapter 5 Using Bitcoins to Remain Anonymous
Chapter 6 Web Levels and Pseudonyms
Chapter 7 Tor Weaknesses
Chapter 8 Staying Concealed While Using the Internet
Chapter 9 Encryption and Supercookies
Chapter 10 Tor and Hacking
Chapter 11 Using Tor to Avoid Marketers or Debt Collectors
Chapter 12 Using Tor to Avoid the NSA or Spies

Bitcoin
Introduction
Chapter 1 What is a Bitcoin?
Chapter 2 How to Mine in Bitcoin
Chapter 3 How to Use Your Bitcoin and Still Remain Anonymous
Chapter 4 Getting Your First Bitcoin
Chapter 5 Making Purchases with the Darknet Marketplace
Chapter 6 How to Get Tipped, Earn from Interest Payments, and Trading with
Bitcoin
Other Books by Author
 TOR
Access the Dark Net

Stay Anonymous Online and Escape NSA

Spying

Evan Lane
Copyright 2017 – Evan Lane. All rights reserved.
Printed in the USA
The information in this book represents only the view of the author. As of the
date of publication, this book is presented strictly for informational purposes
only. Every attempt to verifying the information in this book has been done and
the author assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this
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The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is
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The trademarks that are used are without any consent, and the publication of
the trademark is without permission or backing by the trademark owner. All
trademarks and brands within this book are for clarifying purposes only and
are the owned by the owners themselves, not affiliated with this document.
 Chapter 1
What is Tor?

Tor is an internet browser comprised of several networks of servers that can

conceal online activities from anyone who may be watching. Tor (The Onion
Router), is operated solely by volunteers dedicated to protecting the privacy of
internet users all over the world. Tor uses a series of virtual tunnels making it
nearly impossible for anyone to see what websites or products one may be
searching online. There is no direct connection to any IP address or webpage
keeping your virtual identity a complete secret. Any information one might
share online via social media, blogs or anything of the like will not need to
worry about invasion of privacy. Users of Tor will have access to websites
they may not otherwise have access to. This is especially useful for those
traveling abroad or living in countries that limit access to certain websites.
Tor helps to protect against online surveillance, which is also referred to as
traffic analysis. Traffic analysis works by keeping track of the websites you
visit and then advertises to you specifically. Have you ever noticed that ads to
a website you visited previously will appear on the right-hand side of your
email inbox or other websites you might be visiting? That is because of traffic
analysis. Companies pay for traffic analysis so they can figure out who to
target in the way of advertisement. Anything searched over a public network is
subject to traffic analysis. The use of Tor eliminates this kind of analysis and
allows users to roam freely without those pesky advertisements popping up at
every turn.
There are several different destinations and sources of traffic occurring on
the internet that allows others to track interests and behaviors. Not only does
this make it easy for marketing companies to send ads to you based on your
searches, but it also makes it easier for hackers to access your searches. This
is a criminal activity in which they look into your social media accounts to see
if you are on vacation so they can rob the home. Hackers can also literally
wreak havoc by destroying credit scores and discovering an exact location.
While the Dark Net sounds daunting, it is really a great place for people to
browse the internet and post freely without having to fear being monitored.
Use of a public internet like Internet Explorer, Firefox or Google Chrome
makes it easy for data to be collected in what are known as packets. Internet
analysis occurs when the packets are broken down. From there comes the
payload, which is the data that was collected as well as the header that directs
traffic online. Payload information is what is embedded through emails, audio
files or standard webpages. The payload is usually encrypted, but the traffic
analysis tends to expose the majority of the information of what is being
explored on the internet. The header is what traffic analysis focuses on because
it will show the source, time, ultimate destination (webpage you ended up on)
and the size of files discovered on the internet.
Downloading Tor is a very simple process. There is no program to
purchase nor is there any lengthy instructions to follow. If one wishes to use the
Dark Net, all they need to do is download the Tor browser. This can be done
easily by visiting www.torproject.org/download.download. Once you’ve
arrived at the webpage, it will provide all sorts of useful information on how
to properly use the Dark Net and any system requirements necessary for proper
use of the browser. Once the Tor browser has been downloaded, simply do
what you have always done on the internet except now you can do so worry
free!
Tor can be used the minute the download is complete. Tor is one of the most
secure browsers in the world and it is good to know that there are government
agencies all over the world who keep an eye on Tor. The Federal Bureau of
Investigation is included. As a matter of fact, the FBI admittedly attempted a
malware attack on Tor, which was unsuccessful.
Naturally, as with anything, there are also weaknesses with the Tor
browser. However, to this day, it has not been penetrated or taken down by any
malicious attack. When used properly, any activity online will be hidden by the
hidden networks utilized with the Tor browser.
Computers using Tor are less likely to be attacked or compromised. There
are other steps one can take to keep your online activities completely hidden.
First, Tor recommends not using Windows, which includes the use of Tor
bundles. Specifically, the Tor bundles have weaknesses that were targeted by
the FBI a few years ago, in their attempted attack on the Tor networks.
Workstations should not be created while using Linux in conjunction with Tor.
There needs to be a proxy (the best is Privoxy) used in addition to browsers
with a firewall for any data that might be visible outside of the browser's
protection. One can use Clearnet, but if that fails, Whonix or Tails are great to
keep all data from being leaked. You will always want to have a firewall to
ensure third parties are unable to access data to perform the traffic analysis we
discussed previously.
If you are using external (or even internal) storage, you will want to ensure
encryption. Currently, the LUKS program is great for this and is one of the
options that will pop up while you are installing the Tor browser.
When using Tor, always make sure that your computer is up to date. Any
time you are prompted to run updates, do so to keep Tor working properly and
to make sure your version of Tor is always up to date. This allows the user to
avoid new security breaches as well as using their workstations. If it seems
like it has been a while since the last update, you can always double check the
Tor site to see if there have been any new software updates that need to be
downloaded. You will not want to miss any of those so the computer and
internet browsers will always be properly protected.
While a lot of programs you might use require Java or Flash, you are going
to want to disable those. While using Tor, you might come across a website
that says those programs are required. The use of either of those allows for
traffic analysis. Most of the things you see with Java or Flash are not anything
important. It tends to be a Gif or something along those lines that can easily be
ignored and are not required for you to fully access a website. If, for some
reason, you absolutely do need to enable scripting, do so temporarily and make
sure you disable it again before leaving the site.
Rid your computer of cookies or data that a website may send to the
advertisers. This is a manual step required as there is no way for the Dark Net
to complete it for you. You will see an add-on called self-destructing cookies
that will automatically destroy all cookies on your computer.
It is also a good idea to use a laptop as your main workstation because it is
mobile. Additionally, laptops are a little easier to discard in the instance that
becomes a necessity. Finally, avoid using Google when possible. It is one of
the most commonly used search engines all over the world meaning it is the
most heavily watched in the way of traffic analysis.
While using Tor, the environment used along with it is also important. A
little later, we are going to talk about some of the weaknesses of Tor, which is
why the environment is important. There are some things you can do to make
sure that hackers or anyone traffic analysis to be completed and those steps are
mentioned below.
1. As mentioned, a laptop is the best type of computer to use because it is
 mobile. It is best to use Tor anywhere except home. Specifically, this is
when you are searching information that could be considered sensitive.
Public networks are easier to monitor, but by using Tor and the fact that
there are several thousand people using public networks in your area,
you will be much safer online. Hackers are usually able to connect to
your computer without your knowing, which is another reason the Tor
network is so great. If you do not use Tor at home, you will not be tied to
a location, making it more difficult for hackers to find any personal
information about you. If advanced threats are a fear of yours, take your
laptop to a coffee shop for any internet browsing you may wish to do.
However, Tor networks are near impenetrable so using them at home is
safe so long as you are not worried about what kind of information you
are searching online or what kind of things you are posting on any social
media accounts you may have.
2. Online activities in which you do not wish to be tracked and you have
chosen to leave the house, remember to leave your cell phone at home.
If, for some reason, you believe your online activities are being tracked,
your cell phone (turned on) at home will lead others to believe you are
at home and they will attempt to look into the IP address associated with
your house. If you leave your phone at home, it is a good idea to make
sure people know what time you are expected to return so there are no
concerns if they attempt to call several times and are unable to reach
you. Likewise, there are messaging applications you can use over Tor
that are not traceable and you should be able to communicate with
people through those messaging apps.
3. It is always wise to monitor how much time you are spending in one
location while using Tor. There are some hackers (or government
agencies) who look for people that are using public networks. It is
 recommended to avoid using the same public location on a regular
basis. Try to set up several places like Starbucks, McDonalds and any
other place that offers free Wi-Fi so there is no way to tie you to any one
location. The best protocol is to use a location once and then never go
back. That is incredibly difficult for people who have no car or live in a
small town with fewer choices as far as free Wi-Fi is concerned.
Continuing to use the same location makes it easier for the people who
work there and those who frequent the location to remember what you
look like, the kind of car you drive and so on. Always keep in mind that
people who work in those places tend to start to recognize regulars and
it is best if you can mix up locations and not go back at all, or at the very
most every few weeks.
With those recommendations, out of the way, we are going to talk a little
about the fear of using the Dark Net. The name itself sounds daunting, almost
illegal, right? There is not anything to worry about. It is actually very safe and
legal. Making sure you have a positive outlook when it comes to Tor is going
to be crucial. It will also make you feel more at ease while using Tor. Below
are some more steps on how to use Tor and feel safe while doing so.
1. It is a good idea to create an online persona or virtual identity while
using Tor. Use something that will not be tied to you in any way. For
instance, do not use any moniker you have used anywhere in the past and
avoid using any variation of your name or personal email address.
Likewise, you are going to want to create a new email address that you
use specifically for Tor. Again, make sure you do not use your name or
any part of it while creating an email address you use on Tor. Ultimately,
you are separating your personal life from your Tor life. It is kind of
cool when you think about it that way.
 2. Make all new accounts with your new virtual identity and be very
careful not to get your virtual accounts and personal accounts mixed up.

3. Try not to use your virtual accounts on Clearnet unless there is no other
option.
4. Earlier we talked about leaving your personal cell phone at home if you
are going to use a public network to access Tor. Along those lines, it is
wise to have a disposable phone for any phone calls or text messages
you may want to send while using the Tor network. Believe it or not,
your cell phone can be tracked easily. If you choose to use a disposable
phone, make sure your personal phone is turned off while using Tor for
an added safeguard. When purchasing a disposable phone, use cash and
not a debit or credit card. Also, remember to never use a SIM card on
the phone nor should you activate it near your home address. This
should be used in conjunction with your virtual identity and kept
separate from anything to do with your personal life. That point cannot
be driven home enough. The phone and Dark Net identity should
absolutely be kept separate.
Tor is great for keeping online activities secret because of the increased
privacy and security associated with using the Dark Net. This is great for
keeping hackers or government agencies from looking into your online
activities. Sometimes, you're using a virtual identity may raise some red flags,
which is another reason you want to keep personal life matters separate. This
includes family members.
 Chapter 2
Browsing the Internet Anonymously with a VPN

Internet privacy is a concern for everyone this day and age. Most people would
like to know just how secure their activities online are and how much of the
things they browse are traced back to their IP address. To be perfectly honest,
as we previously touched on, everything done online can be traced back to the
user. Whether one uses public or private Wi-Fi, anything that is searched
online can be traced to the device you use and therefore linked to you directly.
While most people are not engaging in any illegal activities, it is quite
disturbing to know that anyone can look at what we are doing online at any
given moment. There are millions and millions of other people using the
internet who choose not to take special precautions. Without taking the extra
step to protect your online activities, anyone from the NSA, FBI, and general
hackers can see what you search while on the internet.

One of the questions you might be asking right about now is, how can
internet activity be traced to you personally? The answer to that is quite
simple. It is the IP address that is tied to your device. The IP is a code uniquely
associated with your devices that are network enabled. It gives internet servers
a general location of where you are geographically. Each time you are
accessing an online service or website, the IP address must pass through those
servers, making your activity visible to those hackers and marketers we
discussed earlier.

Any information that passes through these servers simply lets them know
which language should be displayed on the website, what content the user is
going to have access to and whatever advertisements they deem relevant to
your specific search. Overseas, content can be limited and therefore limit your
access to information based on the location the IP provides. Also, there are
websites that draw attention from law enforcement agencies worldwide.
Specifically, websites such as those related to pornography or BitTorrent.

There are some ways to hide your online activities and, in this chapter, we
are going to specifically address the use of a VPN along with Tor.

A VPN is an abbreviation for Virtual Private Network. This allows a

connection to any internet service through your personal server by a provider
of the VPN. Information going from your tablet, phone, or computer through the
BPN server is encrypted. By using the BPN. You are provided additional
privacy by hiding your internet activities from the Internet Service Provider
(ISP) and anyone else who may be looking in on your activity. Using a VPN in
addition to the Tor network allows users to avoid censorship while at work,
school, the government, and even the internet service provider. The use of a
VPN creates what is known as a geospoof of your actual location meaning you
can have access to many services that might have previously been denied. This
usually happens if you are traveling outside of the United States or perhaps if
you are in a geographical location that prohibits access to certain websites.
The added security of a VPN can also keep you protected against hackers if
you are using a public Wi-Fi network. It also lets the user download anything
safely.

Anyone can get a subscription to a VPN and we are going to go over exactly
how they work. The user will sign up for a service plan with a company of
their choice. There are quite a few VPN services and later in this chapter, we
will talk about some choices you have in regards to selecting the one that will
be right for you. Once the user is on a service plan, they will be able to
download software and any applications necessary to run the software on their
device or devices. From there, the user can select a location for their server
and quite easily connect. The VPN hides the IP address and you will be
assigned on specifically associated with the server chosen when you signed up
for the service. Internet activity is encrypted and entirely hidden from everyone
so you are free to use the network you have set up as well as any public
networks without having to worry that the pages you are searching can be
traced back to you.

When you are considering selecting a VPN, it is important to search for

specific features surrounding connectivity and security. The first step is finding
a VPN that has the bandwidth you desire. Bandwidth functions by data transfer
limits, which are usually imposed by the ISP in addition to the VPN you have
selected. Most VPNs have unlimited bandwidth. While looking for the VPN
that is right for you, just double check to make sure there are no bandwidth
limits as those tend to slow down internet browsing.

Next, select a VPN with several different connections. Because most

people use many different devices from smartphones to laptops and tablets,
you are going to want to choose a VPN that allows you to connect all your
devices.

Lastly, you are going to check the strength of the encryption of the VPN.
When it comes to this service, there are two different strengths. They are 128
or 256 bit. 256 is going to be the best so you will want to try to find a VPN
with 256 bits. Additionally, you are going to want to find a VPN that allows
you to choose your security settings. It is important to note that encryption tends
to slow down network connections which means the strength of the encryption
is going to help optimize connectivity in relation to security and speed. Of
course, this all is dependent on what you plan to use the internet for as well.

You are also going to want to look for the size of the VPN network. It is
important to locate a VPN with a minimum of fifty servers in the entire
network. With more servers, available to use, you are going to have more
access to bandwidth. Also, you will want to see what the system requirements
and compatibility are. This is a simple step. All that needs to be done here is
to ensure that the VPN is going to be compatible with every device you wish to
connect it to. Most VPNs can be used with Mac or Windows operating
systems. Ideally, you are going to want to find one that will also work with all
your mobile devices, tablets included.

Finding a VPN that is easy to use is also crucial, especially when you are
just starting to explore Tor and using the VPN as an added security measure.
The easiest VPNs to use are those with automatic setups and those who have
great customer service ratings just in case you need assistance. Below you are
going to see a list of the top three rated VPNs among Dark Net users that are
going to help you add protection to your internet searches.

HideMyAss – The name itself is quite funny, but we are going to talk about its
attributes. This VPN comes with unlimited bandwidth, can be used on PC or
Mac and with Linux or iOS. It is also able to be used on Android products.
This service allows for two connections on each account, has 256-bit
encryption, a worldwide network, live phone, chat, or email support available
24/7, and a thirty-day money back guarantee. The cons to this service are that it
is known to be unreliable and sometimes slower than it should be. While it
boasts 24/7 live support, their responses to email can be slow. Another con is
that the software itself is a little more complicated than it should be, so
beginners might want to shy away from this one.

Express VPN – This service gets a 9.5/10 rating among users. It offers the
fastest connections and the strongest encryption available. Naturally, there are
pros and cons with any service and we will cover both, just as we did
previously. Express VPN has more pros than cons, which is a great start. With
this service, you will receive unlimited bandwidth, automatic setup, two
connections with each account purchased, a worldwide network, compatibility
with Android, iOS, Mac, Linux, and Windows. The connection is extremely
reliable and very fast. It comes with the highest encryption at 256 bits and has
options that are entirely customizable to your needs. They also offer 24/7 live
chat support, a referral program, fast email responses and a money back
guarantee. It seems that there is just one con with this service and it is that they
do not offer any kind of phone support. It is still highly rated and a favorite
among users.

IPVanish – Overall, users of the VPN rate it 7/10, which is not a bad score.
The connection is fast, you are allowed two connections per account, is
compatible with Windows, Linux, Android, and Mac and has a worldwide
network. The bandwidth matches the others with a 256-bit encryption. They
offer a one week money back guarantee. IPVanish also provides a reliable, fast
connection as well as an automatic setup. This VPN is not compatible with
iOS and while they say they have 24/7 email support, their responses tend to
be slow. There is no phone support nor do they provide live chat options for
assistance. In general, IPVanish does provide good connectivity, reliability,
and speed. However, if you are using iOS, you are going to want to use either
Express VPN or HideMyAss to get the coverage you need while using Tor.

There are many ways in which to conceal your online activities from those
who have prying eyes. VPNs are one of the best ways to add an extra layer of
protection to using the Tor network. Above are the highest rated VPNs.
 Chapter 3
Using Tor for Online Anonymity

By now, you should have downloaded Tor and this comment will address how
to use Tor without VPNs or any other add-ons. Tor is easy to use. In this
chapter, we will talk about how to use Tor and the differences you might see in
the browser you just downloaded as opposed to what you are used to using.
Tor is simple, but also incredibly different than what you are used to and it is
important you understand how to use it to avoid your information being
compromised while surfing the web.
Once you have installed the browser on your computer or device, you will
see a folder entitled Tor Browser. In there, you will find a link that is entitled
Start Tor Browser.exe. Click on that link and it will open a brand-new web
browser. Next, you will be asked if you are sure you want to connect to the Tor
network or if you would first prefer to configure your network settings. It is
easiest if you choose to simply connect. There will be a few moments before
the browser fully connects to the network. Once there, you will be able to surf
the web anonymously.
If you want to be sure that you are correctly connected to the Tor network,
you can connect to www.whatismyip.com. This is going to allow you to see
where your IP address appears on a world map. If you are correctly connected
to the Tor network, you should see your IP somewhere away from your home
address. If you see that, you are connected to Tor and ready to start securely
browsing the internet.
Tor specifically is used to browse the internet safely and securely.
However, it is important to keep in mind that you still have programs on your
computer not protected by Tor. That means they are not secure and using them
will make your information visible for anyone to see. Once you have the Tor
browser installed, it is best to do everything through that browser. As we
previously touched on, you will want to make sure you have a new virtual
identity to avoid crossing the personal lines with those you wish to remain
anonymous.
To explain how Tor works a little further, we are going to touch on site
connections. The encryption process for this goes through the SSL or TSL. If
encrypted sites are not being utilized, there is a risk of exposure to anyone who
might be looking for this kind of mistake. There are always going to be people
on Tor who are looking to exploit first time users. Before you get to looking
through sites, make sure you have that anonymity. As we discussed in the VPN
chapter, you can also add an extra browser powered by the Electronic Frontier
Foundation that makes sure any sites used are going through the very secure
SSL or TSL lines.
Always be careful of what kinds of sites you visit. Using Tor does not
necessarily mean no one can see what you are doing, especially if you make
one of the crucial mistakes we have previously discussed. Viruses and
malware can still be installed on the computer if you do not pay attention to the
kinds of sites you are accessing. Tor is meant to secure the sites you visit, not
keep malicious attacks from happening. Making sure that your malware
software is up to date is an important part of using Tor responsibly.
Most of us do not want others to know what we are researching online. It
has nothing to do with the type of content we search and more to do with just
wanting privacy, and there is nothing wrong with that. We all want to know that
we are surfing the web anonymously. Without using Tor, anything you look at
on the internet can be traced back to you. As we discussed previously, any ads
related to sites you may have visited in the past are geared specifically toward
you and are a result of the traffic analysis reports provided to marketing
agencies. While we are doing nothing illegal, it is hard to imagine people
being able to use information from websites we visit and create ads on our
home screens or emails based on the sites we visited. Realistically speaking,
we do not just have to worry about marketing either. Hackers, NSA, or FBI
agents can easily see what we are doing online. As law-abiding citizens, we
only need to worry about hackers who intend to do harm by stealing our
personal information, which can be easily seen over the internet. Every day,
hackers work hard to crack passwords for emails and bank accounts to take
what we work so hard for.
The IP address you use in conjunction with your Wi-Fi is what tracks your
online activity and is unique to you and the devices you use. The IP is
associated with your computer and any devices used on that network. The
provider is given your geographical location of whatever device is being used
on the network. Every time you visit a website, the IP address pings on
numerous servers which not only tells traffic analysis agents what kind of
content you are searching but also where you are searching from.
In general, information sent over the servers lets the website know what
kind of content to display. This includes the language it should be in, which is
determined by where you are in the world. It also decides what kind of
advertisements to show on the page, which is based on the types of websites
you visit on a regular basis. Obviously, there will be websites you will want
to refrain from visiting even while using Tor. Those include anything of a
pornographic nature and those that government agencies might be watching.
Anything related to treason or uprisings should always be avoided. There are
also some keywords that when typed in a search engine (remember, we talked
about avoiding using Google) that government agencies are specifically
looking for. Even typing those into Tor could attract unwanted attention.

We touched earlier on the geospoof. This allows you to access services you
may have been denied before based on your location. There are some countries
that do not allow access to simple sites like MSN or Google, which is where
Tor will come in handy. These along with VPNs can protect you from hackers
while using public networks.
 Chapter 4
How to use Tor Without Getting Caught

As we previously discussed, Tor is a volunteer operated network of people

who provide people with secure and private ways to browse the web. Using
Tor is done through a series of virtual tunnels and never makes a direct
connection, which is what makes it hard for information on the Tor network to
be traced. The use of indirect connections allows users to feel free to share any
information they please through public networks and do not have to concern
themselves with compromising their privacy. This also allows the user to
access certain areas on the internet that are blocked otherwise.
Tor helps keep people safe from the most common ways others can see
online activities, which is in the form of the aforementioned traffic analysis.
Once Tor is downloaded (which at this point it should be) you will be able to
avoid surveillance agencies and keep your internet activities concealed.
Earlier, we talked about using Tor safely and this chapter is going to go into a
little more depth.

1. The most important rule is to never use Windows. Additionally, you

will want to avoid using the Tor Browser bundle in conjunction with any
Windows based program. The FBI exposed some of the vulnerabilities
of Tor in their attempted takedown of Freedom hosting. The Tor
Browser Bundle has several vulnerabilities that are only exposed while
using Windows based programs. Again, avoid Windows with Tor.
2. Download Linux. If you cannot create your workstation with Linux, there
are other options available. Linux, in general, works best with Tor and
can keep up with the updates Tor has on a regular basis. It also works
 well with Privoxy and any firewalled web browsers on Clearnet.
However, you can also try Whonix or Tails if Linux just is not
compatible with your workstation. These applications take the
guesswork and questions out of your searches and do all the work on
your behalf. All outgoing access is firewalled so third parties are unable
to leak your data concerning what you are searching on the internet as
well as your geographical location.
3. Make absolutely sure that all your storage is encrypted. LUKS is a great
and very safe addition and every Linux variation offers automated setup
of this program during its installation process.
4. Always remember to keep your computer up to date. We touched on
updating in a previous chapter and it is incredibly important to always
perform updates when prompted. If you are using Tails or you have built
a workstation on your own, you are going to want to update just to keep
your vulnerabilities at the lowest risk levels. You can perform an update
each time a new session is initiated, but at the very least you will want
to update daily. Tails is great in that it will prompt you to update when
the program starts if a vital update is necessary.

5. Disable Flash, JavaScript, and Java. Another one we touched on briefly

before. If you come across a site that requires any of these, go to another
site. There are plenty out there that do not require any of those programs
to function properly. Those programs are used for traffic analysis and
you will want to avoid them, enabling them only as an absolute last
resort. If you do enable any of those programs, make sure to disable it
before leaving the site.
6. Always delete cookies and any local data being sent to you by a
website. Tails nor Tor can do this on their own and require some manual
 adjustments made by the user. You are also able to add on something
known as self-destructing cookies which will take care of cookies on
your behalf just in case you forget.
7. Never use Google as your primary search engine. This cannot be
reiterated enough. You can use an engine known as startpage as that is
the default search engine used on the Tor network, meaning it will be
easy to access once you have the Tor browser. This search engine never
requires the use of CAPTCHAs which is a great bonus.
8. Your workstation should always be a laptop. Being portable is
important and they are easy to destroy or dispose of in a pinch.
Another way to make sure your information is totally secure is to have a
clean environment for your system to run. When we say clean we do not mean
dust free or clutter free. It is an environment in which you are not accessing
regularly. These steps will ensure you are never at the same location, making it
even harder to track your online searches.
1. Limit the amount of time you spend on Tor at any given location. Attacks
of the correlation persuasion take a bit of time although they can be done
in less than twenty-four hours. There are things known as Jackboots that
rarely appear on the day you use Tor at a public location, but it is
possible for them to be there the very next day. That is a great reason to
avoid using Tor in the same place on a regular basis.
2. Avoid using Tor anywhere near your home. This is especially important
if you are working on sensitive information. Even offline, computers tend
to remain connected and often they can connect automatically. To truly
keep prying eyes away from your system, do not use Tor longer than a
full day (24 hours) at any one location. Once you have used Tor at any
given location, it is best to consider it trashed and move on. This works
 well even if Jackboots appear four to six months afterward. Again, it is
always easier for people to remember the face of someone who comes in
regularly over those they may have only seen once. If you do not have the
convenience of living in a big city, consider traveling further out. It is
difficult in smaller and sparsely populated towns, but it is doable if you
really want to protect your online identity.
3. Do not forget to leave your cell phone at home, turned on if you are going
to be using Tor and do not want people to be able to track you.
This might sound weird but it is good to have the correct mindset as it
pertains to anonymity while using Tor and the Dark Net. Most users get caught
for making an easy mistake like accidentally using their personal email address
as opposed to the virtual reality email. You need to train yourself to have
mental discipline when it comes to using Tor and you will have nothing to
worry about. Below are some ways you can work on training your mind.
1. If you plan on using any public Wi-Fi, you are going to have to make
new accounts that match the pseudonym you created. If you have not
created your virtual identity (pseudonym) yet, you are going to want to
do that immediately. It is crucial to online safety and security. Never mix
your online persona with your personal accounts. A good example is on
Facebook. Make sure you never connect your real-life email address
with the pseudonym for Instagram on the computer you use Tor. It will
be much safer to wait until you get home.
2. On occasion, you will have to answer the phone. As we previously
mentioned, it is wise to have a prepaid phone. In some countries, it is a
little more difficult than others, but always remember that where there is
a will, there will be a way. Always pay in cash to both purchase the
phone and purchase minutes. Never turn on the prepaid phone in a ten-
 mile radius of your home. Never use the phone if the battery cannot be
removed. Do not insert a SIM card from any other device and never give
out the number or admit to having a prepaid phone to anyone who is
unaware of your pseudonym. It is hard to keep secrets from family
members, but this does include them if they are unaware of your virtual
identity.
3. Never do anything related to your pseudonym on Clearnet unless it is a
last resort. For example, if you use a program that specifically prohibits
the use of Tor (there aren’t many, but they are out there). If you have to
use this service, take added steps to ensure your location is not visible
to anyone.
Hidden services have been hotly debated and have made an appearance in
the news lately. Recently, there was a takedown of two high-profile hidden
services. Silk Road and Freedom Hosting were the sites involved. This turns
out to be a bad/good news scenario. The bad news is that it shows the
weaknesses in these hidden services. The good news is that the NSA does not
seem all that interested in them.
Hidden services tend to be run under the control of another person meaning
they can be compromised or vulnerable by another party. It is always important
to make sure the anonymity of that service is protected because if it is
compromised just one time, there is no going back.
The gist of this chapter is that it is difficult to have an online persona and a
real-life persona. There is no technology in the world that can do this on its
own. To be truly anonymous means you need to be able to take actions from the
real world and mitigate weaknesses in the virtual world, pay attention to the
little details and have a clear mind. There are some hackers who just happen
upon information by sheer luck while others spend their entire day trying to
bring down a network for no good reason. If a user makes a mistake that could
have been avoided, it could have devastating consequences. While all of this
may sound daunting, I implore you to not give up. Internet security is something
we should all take interest in and not simply because traffic analysis is
performed and we are getting ads. There are malicious people out there
looking to make another life hell. Keep working with Tor and you will never
look back.
 Chapter 5
Using Bitcoins to Remain Anonymous

While remaining anonymous on the internet, you might have to use money to
make purchases. It is incredibly difficult to manage funds or make purchases
online while using a pseudonym. Thankfully, there is a remedy to that problem
and it is called Bitcoin. If used correctly, this service can keep your personal
information safe and makes it next to impossible for anyone to be able to
compare the online persona to that of the real-life person. Below, we are going
to provide you with a step by step guide to setting up a Bitcoin account and
how to use it. This will provide details on the Bitcoin environment, how you
can communicate with others, browse the web anonymously and how to send
or get Bitcoins.
1. The first step is to download Tails. It is on the Linux operating system
that can be used with a DVD or USB stick. You will not have to install
this on a computer, which takes the anonymous level up a notch. Tails
comes with all the software pre-installed on the disc or a USB drive.
Once it is ready, it is going to route all traffic through the Tor network
that you have already created. The best way to get Tails is from someone
who already has a copy. They can transfer it onto a USB and hand it
right over. You can also download it from their official Tails website.
While it is not incredibly difficult, you will need to install it manually.
Instructions are provided and they are well written as well as easy to
follow.
2. Fire Tails up. If you downloaded from the website, click on the link.
Otherwise, you will insert the DVD or the USB to start Tails. Newer
 computers automatically detect the insertion of a new device and will
ask to start up. There are occasions in which you will need to go through
the BIOS startup. If you have already set up your online persona (you
certainly should have by now) you are going to want to use that when
accessing Tails. Never use personal information. This includes
browsing, chatting with other users, typing a document and Bitcoin
transactions. Always keep your browsing focused and never log in to
any personal media account while you are on Tails.

3. In this step, you are going to enable something called persistence. This
step is required because without it you will be unable to save anything
in Tails. There is a heading entitled Applications. From there you will
select Tails and then choose the option to configure the persistent
volume. For this option to work, the USB drive will be necessary to
create the Tails Installer program. If you made the stick manually, it will
be necessary to copy Tails with a different USB drive. The Tails
installer process is found in Applications > Tails > Tails Installer. From
there, you will be required to create a passphrase. As with any
passphrase, the longer it is the better because it will be more difficult to
crack. Every time you use tails, you will be required to enter the
passphrase so make sure it is something that is both lengthy and difficult
for others, but easy for you to remember. During this process, Tails will
ask you what information you want to store. Keep in mind that the less
information stored within Tails, the more secure your connection will
remain. Unfortunately, this also means you are going to have to
remember which items you use in Tails and set them up each time you
login to the service. The recommendation is that you use Bitcoin,
Personal Data, GnuPG, Icedove, Network Connections, Pidgin, or
Browser Bookmarks. Once you are done there, restart Tails with
 persistence enabled. Once again you must enter the passphrase. Anything
done in the persistence folder can be saved when the computer is shut
down.
4. Set up a KeePassX. This is a lifesaver for those of us using the Dark
Net. It stores all your passwords meaning you will only be required to
remember a couple. KeePassX is found under applications >
accessories > KeePassX. You will need to create a password in this
database by following the path: File > Create New Database. There is a
program called Diceware that you can select a very long yet easily
remembered password allowing access to KeePassX. This password
will be the second of three passwords you will be required to
remember. All passwords created from them on out will be remembered
via KeePassX. This will be saved to the persistent folder. When
creating a new password, you will click on the key (it should be yellow)
and will say add new entry. Give it a title and enter in the required
information. The button you should pay attention to is called Gen, which
is at the right side of the Repeat field. Select Gen by clicking the button
and it will generate a password on your behalf. You can determine the
length of the password and if you want it to have special numbers or
characters. To keep things at the highest level of secure, it is best if you
do not even look at the password. There is no need to see it or know it
since it will be saved for you. If by some chance someone is looking at
your screen, all that can be seen is stars and not the password itself.
Generating the password is automated. Once it is done, copy and paste it
into the site you need to access.
5. The next step is to get a PGP Key. In Tails, you will have to make a new
PGP Key which can be found by clicking Applications then Utilities
followed by Passwords and Keys. Next, you are going to click the
 symbol that looks like a blue plus sign. That can be found under the
GnuPG key. From there, enter your name and email address. Make sure
it is the pseudonym you created, especially if you intend on sending
encrypted emails. The password here will be required each time you
need to decrypt a file or an encrypted email is sent to you.
6. From there you will set up Electrum. In your Bitcoin Wallet, you can
click on applications > Internet > Bitcoin Wallet. Electrum is thought of
as a lightweight wallet according to Bitcoin standards. You will not
need a copy of Blockchain, and it relies instead on other types of nodes.
Several nodes, in fact. If you wish to see your balance, you can enter the
bitcoin address into your Blockexporlorer. This is done by using
Blockcypher so you can see your balance and any transactions that
occurred with the Bitcoin account. It is in this area you will create your
wallet. There is no need for anything other than the standard wallet,
which works perfectly fine. In there you will see thirteen words typed in
English that are representative of the wallet seed. Anyone with that seed
combination can access your wallet and steal Bitcoins from it. It is
important you are very careful with where you store those thirteen
words. With KeePassX already installed, it will be easy to store the
words in that program securely. You can also write them down and lock
the combination of words away if you find it difficult to paste it in the
comment field. Press the proceed button and you will be able to put the
wallet seed in the window that pops up. After that, choose your
password. Again, we recommend you create one with KeePassX. This
password will be required for every transaction. With that setup, you
will be able to send and get Bitcoin payments. Addresses and balances
as they relate to the Bitcoin can be found under the addresses heading.
What is great here is you can also create more than one wallet under the
 same identity. You are also able to create a new wallet just for a single
transaction. Keeping your wallets separate makes it much simpler to
keep money separated for accounting purposes or for your privacy in
general.
7. Next you will want to use the XMPP and OTR to communicate. Pidgin is
the program used when chatting with other users. It is difficult to get an
anonymous email account, so some find it easier to chat with people by
using the Pidgin tool. There is one issue with this in that you cannot get
messages when you are not online. You can install Pidgin by going to
Applications > Internet > Pidgin. After that, you are going to be able to
access Pidgin, add your account and then check XMPP as your protocol.
Many of the XMPP servers are public. To provide an accurate example,
we selected the search engine entitled duckduckgo for its privacy
friendly standards. Once there, you can choose your user name and enter
duckgo.com for the domain. Next, you will choose a password and
select the box entitled create new account on the server. Close the
window and reconnect so the new chat account with Pidgin is enabled.
When the window is reopened, it might ask you to reenter your user
name and password. Once again, we will mention KeePassX for this. It
is much easier to store them there rather than having so many to
remember. To use the secure chat function, select the OTR encryption
option. You will do that by clicking OTR > Start Private Conversation.
You can also choose to verify the integrity by clicking OTR >
Authenticate Buddy.
8. In this step, you are going to make sure that you back everything up by
using PGP. Of all the steps, this is the trickiest because it takes some
effort. The more of your effort put into locking the key means that it will
be less accessible should you need it. We recommend a very strong
 password by using Diceware when you create the PGP Key. The key can
be loaded onto any USB device and left with friends or a family
member, or a lawyer or safe deposit box if necessary. We also
recommend that a regular backup on all documents you do not want to
lose is done. This also applies to KeePassX and your Bitcoin wallet.
Select all files and the folders you want to backup. From there, right-
click the selection and click encrypt. You may see a popup window
asking which keys you would like to encrypt. From there, you will only
need to select the PGP key. It is important to avoid clicking the sign
option. When it comes time to decrypt a file, all you will need to do is
double click the file labeled .gpg then enter the password for the PGP
key.
9. The last step in this process is to repeat all steps one through eight for
each identity created. There will need to be different USB drives with
Tails for every pseudonym you create. Each stick should have a different
password, separate KeePassX databases, and different PGP keys.
Now that we have those steps completed, we can briefly touch on how to
get Bitcoins. In this case, you should remember and be aware that no matter
how you acquire the Bitcoins, the actual transaction is difficult to keep entirely
anonymous. For your convenience, we have detailed a few of those options
below that show a more private way to make Bitcoin transactions.
Bitcoins can be purchased in person through what are known as bitcoin
meetups which are found under the marketplace option under the Mycelium
wallet. This is only something that can be done on the Android version. You
are also able to find traders with local bitcoin platforms.
You can also get Bitcoins from an ATM. There are many of these in
countries all over the world, and alternatively, there are countries in which
Bitcoin ATMs are incredibly rare. You can find the Coin ATM Radal to locate
Bitcoin ATMs in your area. You will need to click on the other services option
on the left-hand corner or you could miss places that offer to sell Bitcoins as
vouchers.
If you choose to spend bitcoins, you should also accept them as a form of
payment. In doing this, acquiring them will be an unnecessary step. Bitcoins
received are not anonymous because somewhere there is a record that they
were paid to you. It is a bit of a double-edged sword. If you are looking for
convenience and it does not matter if there is a record, accept bitcoins as a
form of payment. If anonymity is more important, finding bitcoin ATMs is the
way to go.
The last thing we will talk about in this chapter is mining bitcoins. This is
not the most profitable way to get them but is a fine alternative. To mine
bitcoins, you will need a mining machine paid for with cash. You will have to
plug it in, point it toward the mining pool, and watch the earnings come to you.
 Chapter 6
Web Levels and Pseudonyms

Because we have mentioned it a couple of times, and because it is important,

we are going to touch briefly on the use of Dark Net personas. The Dark net is
an internet that is hidden beneath the actual internet and purposely kept from
the view of people who are considered ordinary web users. One of the most
normal misconceptions is that the Dark Net is hard to access, which as you
should know by now is untrue. Using the Dark Net requires no special skill or
knowledge, you simply have to download the TOR browser and you are good
to go.
Before we get into pseudonyms, we will cover what the differences are
between deep web, dark web, and the surface web. The surface web is the
easiest. That is the internet most people are used to using. One can find
anything they need by using search engines like Safari and Bing. The deep web
is a level more complicated. People are not always able to find things that are
easily accessible on the surface web with the standard search engines. These
tend to be things like government databases and online libraries. Then, we
have the dark web. It is like the dark corner of a room, intentionally kept
hidden with the use of normal search engines. This is where the Tor network is,
which is why you can only access the dark web by using the Tor browser.
Being anonymous on the dark net is done by using the onion network. The
standard internet directly accesses servers that are set up to host whatever
website the user is visiting. When using an onion network, direct links are
broken intentionally and the data is sent through several pipelines or
intermediaries before it gets to the final destination. The result is the same
because you will ultimately reach the website you originally searched for. The
medium through which the routes are transported is what prevents others from
seeing who or what is behind the communication that was sent. Tor uses the
onion router and it is meant to be an anonymous and user friendly way to
communicate with any operating system.
Originally, the dark net was invented by the US military. Law enforcement
organizations, the government, and people in the military are some of the most
common users of the dark net. They use browsers like Tor because the surface
web makes it easy for others to see the near exact location of the user, even
when the best encryption techniques are put in place. This is what helps protect
agents who are out working in the field as well as politicians or soldiers in
need of keeping their negotiations from being seen by others.
The dark net is also particularly popular with bloggers and journalists,
generally those who are living in countries where censorship and the
possibility of being imprisoned for political speech against said country is
prohibited. Remaining anonymous online helps to keep all those people safe
and allows them to communicate with other people as well as have access to
information that may be blocked by firewalls. The dark net is also a platform
for revolutionaries or activists who want to organize marches or protests
without fear of retaliation from the government they oppose or revealing their
location to anyone who may be watching.
Tor, which also stands for The Onion Router, is quite easy to access. It is
also the most common platform used to access the dark net. If you are the kind
of person who is technologically inclined, you can configure Tor to meet your
specific needs. And if tech savvy is not something you are good at, that is okay
too. Tor is easy for anyone to access and use. Tor is built on top of the Firefox
internet browser, which most of us are familiar with already.
Tor gives its users added protection against government agencies who may
be spying to collect information, traffic analysis and it also protects against
hackers. Tor lets the user access sites that were purposely published with
anonymity. Those are the most popular and frequently searched websites on the
dark net.
A little earlier we briefly mentioned the Freenet Project, which is a
browser similar to Tor. Through Freenet, one can create a private network in
which any resource located or provided on the computer will only be
accessible by those who have been placed on a list of friends. The I2P
(Invisible Internet Project) is also similar in that it provides file sharing
plugins, secure email servers, file storage and features geared toward social
activities like blogging or chat.
Now, when you are ready to create your online persona, this is the place to
let your imagination run wild. What is great about pseudonyms is you can call
yourself whatever you like. If it is your intention to appear legitimate or
conduct business using the dark net, you can also use a name that would be
considered more common. Either way, you are free to do as you please. If you
find yourself stuck, there are sites that can generate some interesting names on
your behalf and you can almost guarantee it will give you a name that has not
yet been used on the dark net. Whatever name you choose can be used for the
email address, Bitcoins, or screen names on Tor.
 Chapter 7
Tor Weaknesses

This is not what we want to think of when accessing a web that is supposed to
be secure, but everything has a weakness and we are going to cover the
weaknesses of Tor so you can avoid them and feel safe using the dark net.
Like anything else in life, Tor has boundaries. It can provide protection
against traffic analysis but cannot prevent the traffic from being confirmed.
Some of the most common weaknesses are that of eavesdropping and below
we are going to talk about the different kinds of eavesdropping.
The autonomous system, also known as AS, are segments used for exit or
entry and relaying information for the destination site. Autonomous systems
make it so traffic on those segments will interfere with communications
between the end destination and the user.
Next, there is Exit Node Eavesdropping. Without being careful, the
usernames, passwords, and Bitcoin information of the user can be intercepted
if the person on the other end simply watches the exit nodes, which is where
the data exits. Tor is unable to encrypt everything going out the exit node
because the end to end encryption was never put in place. This type of
eavesdropping does not breach the anonymity of Tor, but it does make it easier
for people who may be watching to catch information on the exit nodes and use
that information to decipher a location of the user. It can also be used for less
nefarious reasons like traffic analysis, which simply aims to advertise to the
user's likes and avoid their dislikes.
 Another kind of attack is one we have mentioned a few times and that is the
traffic analysis. Advertisers get a peek at the traffic on the Tor network by
looking at those exit nodes. They decide which ones to keep an eye on and use
the information to advertise accordingly. It is not a malicious attack and is only
meant to prompt the user to spend a little money online through their website.
The traffic analysis also reveals the location of the user and it can provide
basic information like name and email or even phone numbers.
There is also the exit node push. This is where a person operating a site can
choose to refuse data to enter the nodes. They can also reduce the number of
users allowed on the network. An example of this is being unable to edit
websites like Wikipedia through the Tor network.
Next, we have what is known as the bad apple attack. This is done through
using BitTorrent while using the Tor network. A users IP address can be
revealed through BitTorrent by taking advantage of Tor. The severity of the
attack depends on the exit node control. On occasion, there could be a
secondary attack so the user and their IP address or location can be fully
exploited.
Another common attack is the exposure of the IP address. Through this
method, there is a dissimulation technique that allows people to control the exit
node. This was part of a research study that showed in twenty-three days there
were three attacks that successfully exploited the system and revealed IP
addresses.
Unfortunately, there are ways that Tor can be hacked, but the risk is minimal
so long as you follow proper protocols.
 Chapter 8
Staying Concealed While Using the Internet

There are quite a few ways to conceal yourself while surfing the web, a few of
which we have discussed previously. There are some that are obvious such as
the use of an incognito or private browser. There is another option that is less
frequently discussed and that is to kill cookies. This action does not kill
supercookies, which we will discuss a little later, but it can keep your
browsing anonymous while browsing the standard internet. One of the best
ways to rid your computer of cookies is to use Ccleaner, a free downloadable
program from the internet. It can delete flash and cookies.
You can also search anonymously by turning off the personalized search on
whichever search engine you use. Whether it is Google or Bing, there is the
option to turn off the search. You may have noticed when typing in the first few
letters, most search engines will try to complete the sentence for you. That is
the personalized search option. To turn this off, you will go to Search Tools
then click on All Results and then Verbatim. This provides some anonymity, but
not as much as it would if you used just the dark net. You can also choose to
use search engines that are private, one of which we discussed earlier called
duckduckgo.
You can also stop Google from tracking your location and keeping track of
your searches. If you were not aware that this was happening, consider
yourself informed. Google has so many options like calendars, Gmail, and
Google plus that it can build profiles based on the services you use through its
servers. Google uses a unified privacy policy which simply means that it can
legally track you across any service. Unfortunately, that means they can scan
emails and it will use that data to personalize the ads from advertisers. Your
profile photo can also appear on items you may have liked while you were
logged into your Gmail account or Google Plus. This is something you can opt
out of and is done by simply turning off all personalized ads. You are also
allowed to download the Google Analytic Browser Add-on which will cease
the collection of data based on the places you searched on the internet, which
Google will later sell to their ad partners.

You are also able to block trackers on the internet. Each site on the web has
cookies that are made just to track activity embedded in the site. Sponsored
links, comment boxes, and ads are all examples of cookies that are embedded
and used for tracking purposes. You can use anti-tracking plugins such as
Privacy Badger, Ghostery, and Disconnect that are used specifically to block
cookies made to track. This keeps analytic companies from building profiles
based on the kinds of sites you visit while surfing the web. Any of those
programs listed above are easily found and downloadable from the internet.
Once they are put in place, they do the work for you and destroy tracking
cookies before they even know what hit them.
There is also the option of a proxy network. Many of the options we have
discussed in this chapter are great for dodging cookies but frequented websites
and online activity is still tracked by your browser's IP address. These IP
addresses can help give an approximate location of the computer or tablet and
it lets the trackers know how often you go to specific websites. To get some
more privacy, you can consider downloading the VPNs we talked about
previously. There is another option known as CyberGhost, which is cheap and
is compatible with PC, Mac, iOS, and Android.
Of course, there is the option to download an anonymous browser and is
something that should be seriously considered. Plugins and proxies, as well as
trying to recall whether you are using a private browsing session, can lead to a
frustrating and extended web browsing environment. A lot of us get
accustomed to using a certain kind of browser and if that is something you can
let go of, you can download a new browser as another option. Doing this
allows the user to turn on their proxy networks with switches that are found in
the toolbar. One of these is the Epic browser, which was modeled after
Chrome. The privacy settings are incredibly high and third party cookies are
always blocked. Users can search whatever sites they like and browsing is
never tracked. You are going to see ads still, but the activity and sites you visit
will not be logged. There is a neat counter on the homepage that will let you
know how many times a tracker tried to log your activities in one day. It is a
cool feeling to see that every attempt to track your activity was thwarted by the
browser you use.
You can also consider services that provide data removal. There is a
product called DeleteMe which costs around one-hundred dollars per year.
That fee includes the deletion of all information collected by companies that
will, in turn, sell it to other advertisers. The only pitfall to this is you must pay
for it. Also, it does not necessarily remove every bit of information from the
searches, which leaves the user slightly vulnerable.
While it is not common knowledge, you can hide your IP address by using
an IP scrambler. One of the most common programs is called Virtual World
Computing Cocoon. This will show the user as a cocoon user to those who
may be spying. It is considered a smart proxy and when logging into Cocoon,
the IP address on the site is the only thing that is seen, not the actual IP address
of the person using Cocoon. This is a great service capable of protecting those
who use Wi-Fi networks in public places.
 You also have the option to disallow social networks to track your internet
activity. Any time you click like on something on Facebook or Twitter,
information on that is stored in massive databases and used to form ads based
on your likes. If you would like to remove that from Facebook, you simply go
to the privacy settings and click on adverts to control. By removing that option,
the things you like on Facebook can no longer be tracked. Any social media
site has this option and unless you are unable to live without social media
entirely, we strongly suggest you remove those options from all your social
media outlets.
Because most of us are unable to completely stop using the internet or
social media in general, this chapter has been geared toward finding other
alternatives to browsing anonymously. This is for those using unsecured
computers or tablets that have not got the option to download Tor. You will
want to be able to use Tor to avoid being spied on while surfing the internet.
 Chapter 9
Encryption and Supercookies

We briefly mentioned supercookies in the previous chapter and this one is

going to go over them in a little more detail. First, let us define what a regular
cookie is. Unfortunately, we are not discussing the chocolate chip persuasion.
HTTP cookies are known as a regular or simple cookie. It is code downloaded
to a user’s internet browser each time they reach a website. Those cookies can
store information useful to the user and the website can track interactions
between the user and the website they reached. A good way to describe how
this works is using Amazon to shop. Any item left in your cart are stored using
a cookie so if you leave the website without making the purchase, those things
stay in the cart for when you return. The cookie will send information to
Amazon when you return to the site later.
Cookies are also able to let a website know the user is logged in so the user
does not have to repeatedly input their login information. The third-party
cookies can track users across the internet and gather information to sell to
marketing companies by simply letting them know what types of websites the
user visited while online.
Now, a super cookie is like a tracking cookie, but it is much more
complicated.
If you want to keep cookies from tracking your activity online, clearing the
browsing history is a simple way to keep this from happening. It is a simple
step and can clear every cookie that was previously stored on the computer.
The only issue that creates is the user must input all their login information
each time they visit and any items left in virtual shopping carts will no longer
be stored. That is good in that the cookies will not be able to track your
activity but bad in that it causes extra steps each time you log in.
That technique will not work with the supercookies. They are not a standard
cookie stored within the browser. There is information unique to the
connection of the specified user that will be entered in the header of the HTTP
by the internet service provider. That information can identify whatever
website the user visited. Information between the server and the device being
used means the user is unable to do anything about it. This information will not
be stored on any device and hence cannot be deleted. Any ad blocking
software mentioned is unable to block a supercookie.
Supercookies are particularly dangerous because of the violation of privacy
that may occur. In general, cookies on any single website are not shared with
another website. UIDH can be revealed to all websites, and that is where tons
of information regarding internet searches, history and habits are stored. The
supercookie is something that advertisers can use to find all deleted cookies
from the device and then link them to new cookies.
The supercookie sounds like a mosquito that just cannot be killed. They can
keep tons of information about your personal life and revive all the cookies
you deleted that should not be stored on any of your personal devices. There is
not much that can be done about the supercookie except to use VPNs. We
talked about the top three previously and in addition to using the Tor network,
VPNs are a great added layer of security to keep those pesky cookies and
supercookies from tracking and storing your activity and information.
VPNs work well on computers, but not handheld devices like smartphones
or tablets, which tend to be at higher risk for supercookies. If you are using
your phone to browse the internet, there is the option to use proxy settings that
are encrypted. ISPs can remove that encryption, so you need to be careful to
make sure they are in place each time you use your phone to browse the web.

It is an unfortunate fact that the options are limited when it comes to using
your smartphone or tablet to search the web. Using an untraceable phone or
avoiding using the internet while on your phone are going to be your best bets,
even if they are difficult to imagine.
 Chapter 10
Tor and Hacking

Hacking, in general, is considered illegal and yet is something done regularly

through Tor as well as any other browser. Tor can be used to hack any
application, but it is more difficult and requires slightly more patience.
Hacking, in general, requires diligence and stealth as well.
Once you have downloaded the Tor browser (which undoubtedly you have
by now), configure it in a manner that works best for you. Commonly Tor users
simply allow Tor to set all the configurations through the setup process. If there
is anything specific you wish to do during this process, there is undoubtedly a
way to do so. Remember, anything done through the setup can be changed later
to meet your needs.
As previously discussed, it is wise to test the network and ensure you are
using Tor and not the standard web. To access the deep web, you will find
deepweb.pw on the Tor URL bar. From there, you are going to be able to
access services such as TorSearch, Hidden Wiki, and Tails.
Once you are in the deep Web you can use those tunnels through Tor and
access other websites that cannot be discovered on the standard web. Users
are also able to add on tools to their browser that are going to be added layers
of protection when it comes to activities on the dark net. The add-ons users are
going to want to look for are Page Hacker and HackBar. Both of those are
going to allow access to even deeper parts of the dark net.
Below are some steps for hacking into any system. The difference here is
that it is being done through Tor and those add-ons we mentioned previously.
Please note that hacking is an illegal activity. The purpose of this section is to
simply be informative and should only be used for educational purposes.
1. Find the *nix terminal to use on all commands. Cygwin is one of the
better programs and can mimic nix for users on a Windows system.
(Remember that previously we stated Windows and Tor are not the best
of friends. However, this is an alternative if Windows OS is your only
option).
2. Ensure the computer that is going to be hacked is secure. Before starting,
it is important to make sure your system is entirely secure so a counter
hack does not occur. Also, there needs to be little to no possibility that
the person being hacked can trace the hack back to the user. Part of the
reason behind this tutorial section is to enable the user to see if their
own system is hackable. That is the most legal way to check the security
of your own system and it is a neat technique to learn in the process.
3. Ensure the user has the ping utility tool so a target activity can be tested.
There is a flaw in this tool in that the administrator of the system might
be alerted and can shut the system down before any hacking takes place.
4. Scan the ports on the target system. There should be a list of all open
ports provided from the ping tool in step three. In this step, the user is
also going to be able to determine the kind of firewall in place in
addition to the type of router used on the target system.
5. Ports like the FTP or HTTP are less protected and easily accessible or
exploited. Open ports for LAN gaming are DUP or TCP and are also
easier to access. From here the user is going to see SSH, which is
secure shell service, running on the target system. On occasion, the user
can force those ports open using brute force, which will allow access to
 them as well.

6. Finding the password. This is one of the more difficult steps, but this is
also where brute force attack comes in. This will crack the password
and allow access to the system.
These are the first steps used to hack into another system while in the Tor
network. As hacking is illegal, these steps are general and meant to provide
guidance to the user so they can ensure their systems are safe. It is not intended
to hack into another system.
In this chapter, we are also going to provide some information on staying
safe while using Tor as it seems fitting. Below are some precautions everyone
should take to stay safe while using the dark net. Always keep in mind that
while you are searching the net using Tor, there are authorities and hackers
who are doing the same and they are attempting to discover who is hosting
certain websites and what people may be accessing criminal sites as well. The
basics are listed below.
1. First and foremost, use that pseudonym. You are going to want to remain
as anonymous as possible. This cannot be stressed enough. Tor is used
for anonymity so using your real information or profiles defeats the
purpose of going to it all together.
2. Tor is slightly slow because of the sheer number of nodes that it must
pass through. It is wise to use a VPN to give yourself that added layer of
security when browsing the dark net.
3. Always disable scripts that are running. This is an option in Tor as well
as any standard web browser. Most sites on the dark net are considered
criminal and if you accidentally find yourself visiting one, the online
authorities may want to try to track you down. Scripts were created with
 JavaScript and as we previously discussed, Java or JavaScript should
not be enabled while using the standard web let alone Tor. Those are
meant to store things on your computer, which is exactly what using Tor
is meant to avoid.
4. Always think twice before clicking links because they may not be what
they appear or claim to be. Some of the search engines can appear
misleading. Tor has its own search engines including duckduckgo, which
we previously mentioned as well as Torch. If you are looking to
research information and want to do so without worry, Tor has a library
that is great for this purpose. That way you know you will avoid
clicking into something you never intended. Inside the Tor library, you
will also find tons of hidden search engines meant to add to the security
and safety of using the Tor network. If this is your first time accessing
Tor, the library is the best place to start.
5. Never download anything directly to your computer. This includes
BitTorrents because they can provide the actual IP address for the user
as it is meant to store things on a computer. That will make your activity
traceable to you and can mean trouble if you are not careful.
 Chapter 11
Using Tor to Avoid Marketers or Debt Collectors

At some point in our lives, many us have had the unfortunate pleasure of being
indebted to collectors. Those debt collectors are particularly meddlesome and
often call your place of employment or relatives just to try to track you down.
Hiding from debt collectors is not going to dissolve the debt and it is not an
end all be all solution. It is simply a way to get relief from the harassing phone
calls and incessant emails so you have a moment to breathe and find a way to
get yourself out of debt.
If it is difficult for debt collectors and marketers to find you, they will not
be able to continue their harassment. One way to do this is to change your
address. It is difficult to up and move, not to mention expensive. A way around
this is to set up a PO Box. Always keep in mind that you are responsible for
the debt that has been amassed. Once the PO Box in place, you can call all the
creditors and change your address. They will try to ask for a physical address,
but you are not legally required to give it to them.

Next, get yourself one of those disposable phones. They are cheap and have
prepaid minutes. There is no contract requirement and they can be bought
anywhere from gas stations to Walmart. Because they are so cheap you can
have one for family and friends and another for those bill collectors. When you
find yourself tired of all the phone calls, shut the designated bill collector
phone off and take a moment to breathe.
Where does Tor come in, you ask? Right now. Earlier we talked about
cookies and supercookies and all the activity that are traced on the standard
web. Limiting your footprint online is a great way to hide from those
collectors. You might be surprised to know that marketers and bill collectors
look to social media accounts to find people. Refrain from posting personal
information. Set all social media profiles like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram
to private. When doing this on Facebook specifically, anyone who is not a
friend cannot contact you. Remember that pictures can speak a thousand words
and provide clues as to where you may be. Photos taken on smartphones can
also have the coordinates embedded in them, which might provide marketers
or collectors with your geographical location.
If you apply for credit online, you will be required to give information like
your physical address, social security number, and income. You can avoid
risking this information being leaked by using Tor. The dark net is specifically
intended to keep your personal information personal and it is a great tool to use
if you find yourself in need of applying for a line of credit. Unless you can
avoid applying for credit in general, it is best to use Tor so all information
provided is kept private and not used for marketing.
Again, we previously discussed the importance of using the dark net to
conceal activities and keep marketers from targeting you personally. To add
that extra layer of protection, we implore you to consider the VPNs discussed
in a previous chapter. The ideas discussed here will help to alleviate some of
the stress but remember they are not fool proof.
 Chapter 12
Using Tor to Avoid the NSA or Spies

One of the main government agencies dedicated to watching internet traffic is

the NSA. They have people who keep an eye out for specific words or phrases
that are meant to catch terrorists. While the clear majority of us are not using
the internet for nefarious reasons, some of those words or phrases might be
used without meaning harm at which point you may have caught the attention of
agents of the NSA. Just like we do not want marketers or bill collectors to
track us online, we certainly do not want to get the attention of the NSA. Using
Tor is a great way to browse the internet without fear of accidentally saying
something or using a catch word unintentionally.
Throughout this book, we have talked about added layers of security. Tor is
not infallible, nor is there any other system out there that is. In addition to
VPNs, users can use AsToria, which is a tool specifically for Tor which keeps
prying eyes from seeing the type of information you are trying to access on the
web.

AsToria was developed to allow Tor users a way to rid themselves of

systems that will try to hack into the Tor network and reveal identities of those
using the web anonymously. AsToria specifically works to fight against timed
attacks against Tor. Algorithms were built into AsToria to protect against the
worst-case scenario situations of cyber attack. AsToria consistently checks for
and sends the user on the best and clearest route so they cannot be traced.
AsToria is an add on for Tor, just like the VPNs we discussed. In all
honesty, while many government agencies use Tor, they would like to see it
taken down for the common folk so they can easily see what everyone is doing
online. They have tried several times to breach Tor and bring the network
down and have not been successful. However, that is another reason to get
those added security layers. It is one more wall any government agency would
have to leap over to get to your IP address or geographical location. Any
perceived weakness will be exploited and Tor is designed to keep weaknesses
at a minimum so its users can freely search whatever they please, post
whatever political blogs they like and gather their fellow activists without fear
of retaliation.
When used properly, Tor is perfectly capable of concealing your online
activity. We covered briefly hacking in the Tor network so users were aware it
was a possibility. There will always be agencies or people looking to exploit
others or simply see what they are searching for online.
For the most part, the NSA does not concern themselves with law-abiding
citizens. So long as you are not continuously searching things on their watch
list, there is nothing to worry about. We have all mistyped something and
feared the worst, but no NSA agent ever came knocking on our door. They
really do have serious matters to attend to, which sometimes includes attempts
at bringing down the Tor network.

Overall it is important to remember Tor is a wonderfully secret place you

can go to search the dark net for things you might not be able to find anywhere
else. It is intended to allow those types of searches as well as providing online
anonymity to anyone who wishes to use it. Tor, in addition to the added layers
of security, will make it easy for people to research or perform business
transactions online without having to worry about their personal information
being tracked and sold to the highest bidder. It is a wonderful invention for
people simply wishing to exercise their right to browse freely.
 Bitcoin
How to Get, Send, and Receive Bitcoins
Anonymously

A Darknet Market Guide

Evan Lane
Copyright 2017 – Evan Lane. All rights reserved.
Printed in the USA
The information in this book represents only the view of the author. As of the
date of publication, this book is presented strictly for informational purposes
only. Every attempt to verifying the information in this book has been done and
the author assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this
document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this
publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not
allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.
Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.
The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is
universal as so. The presentation of the information is without contract or any
type of guarantee assurance.
The trademarks that are used are without any consent, and the publication of
the trademark is without permission or backing by the trademark owner. All
trademarks and brands within this book are for clarifying purposes only and
are the owned by the owners themselves, not affiliated with this document.
 Introduction

The traditional method of using money, which is controlled by the banks or by

the government, has been around for years. Most of us are familiar with using
this form of money to get paid, make purchases, and more. But a newer form of
currency, known as a cryptocurrency, has started to make waves all around the
world as the best way to sell and make purchases in a secure and anonymous
way. Bitcoin is at the head of this revolution and the number of people who use
this currency, as well as the number of businesses that will accept this as
payment, keeps on growing.

This guidebook is going to spend some time talking about the Bitcoin and how
it has changed the way people do business. We will start out with some
information about the Bitcoin and how it is different from other methods of
currency. Then we will learn how to mine for Bitcoins, how to set up your
account and remain anonymous online, how to accept payments for
merchandise, and other ways to earn more Bitcoins, and even how to make
your own payments using this currency.

Bitcoin has changed the way people accept payments and make purchases in a
way that was not possible just a few years ago. Use this guidebook to learn
more about how Bitcoin works, how you can get started with Bitcoin of your
own, and all the great reasons why Bitcoin is better than your current
traditional currency for all your needs.
 Chapter 1

What is a Bitcoin?

The Bitcoin is a new form of currency, but it works differently than the
currency you are used to working with. This currency is created and held in the
electronic world. There isn’t a government or another entity that will control
the Bitcoin, and it doesn’t have a printed version. Rather, the Bitcoin is
produced by people, and over time many businesses have gotten into this,
helping computers to run all around the world. In fact, Bitcoin was one of the
first examples of a new category of money called cryptocurrency.

How is Bitcoin Different?

While Bitcoin is a bit different than traditional currency, meaning you won’t be
able to print it off and it doesn’t have a government or another entity that
controls it, it can be used to make purchases like a traditional currency. You
will be making these purchases electronically rather than taking the money to
the store, but you can purchase goods you need online.
Some people prefer to use Bitcoin over the other currencies because it is
decentralized. There isn’t a single institute controlling the money and people
are put at ease with this because it means a big bank isn’t sitting there and
controlling the money and how much it’s worth.
No one is in charge of printing out the Bitcoin. Unlike traditional currency, this
isn’t a physical currency you can touch and use. Bitcoin is created and used
digitally, and it is run by a community any person can join. To get more
Bitcoins, you have to mine them, which happens by using a computing power in
a distributed network. Inside of this network, you can also process the
transactions made with this virtual currency, pretty much making it so Bitcoin
has its own network of payment.

So, Who Created Bitcoin?

Satoshi Nakamoto, a software developer, proposed the idea of the Bitcoin. He
wrote out a mathematical proof that was able to handle this system of
electronic payments and the whole idea was to produce a currency that was
independent of any central authority. This currency can be transferred
electronically, pretty much without any wait, and you will not have to deal with
huge transaction fees.
The way Bitcoin is set up, you are not able to churn out as much of the currency
as you want. The rules that make this Bitcoin currency work state there are
only 21 million Bitcoins that can be created by the miners. However, you can
divide up these coins so they are in smaller parts, with the smallest amount
being one hundred-millionths of the coin.

So, what has the Bitcoin been based off? When talking about conventional
currency, it has been based on either silver or gold. In theory, you would be
able to take your traditional currency to the bank, and you could get the value
of it back in gold (you wouldn’t be able to do this in reality, but it is the basic
idea behind the currency). The Bitcoin is not going to be based on gold or
silver like traditional currency, but it has been designed to be based on
mathematics.
All around the world, there are a lot of people who are using the right software
program that will follow the mathematical formula Satoshi Nakamoto designed
to produce the Bitcoins. This formula is available easily, so it is possible for
anyone to go in and take a look and create some of their own Bitcoins. The
software is an open source code as well, so anyone can work on the code,
make changes, and get it to work the way it should.

Some Characteristics of the Bitcoin

Outside of being a digital currency form you can create and use online, there
are some main features of the Bitcoin that will help to set it apart from the
traditional currencies. These features include:
It is a decentralized currency
The Bitcoin is not going to be controlled by just one central authority. All of
the machines that mine the Bitcoins and take care of the transactions inside the
system will create a network, and all the machines will work together. In
theory, this means there isn’t one central authority that will be able to mess
around with the monetary policy and cause issues, or even an entity that can
come in and take the Bitcoins away from you. Even if the network ends up
going offline, your money will keep working.
The Bitcoin is easy to set up
When working with a traditional bank, it can sometimes be difficult to open a
bank account. But with Bitcoin, you can set up your own address in just a few
seconds, and there aren’t a bunch of questions you have to answer. You are
also able to avoid some of the fees that come with traditional banks, as there
are none of these with setting up the Bitcoin.
Everything is anonymous
For the most part, you will be able to maintain some anonymity with this kind
of currency. Users can choose if they would like to have one address or many
of them, and the accounts aren’t linked to any personal information like names
or addresses, so you can go into the system without others knowing who you
are.
There is transparency
While you can be anonymous when working in the Bitcoin system, the system
is going to store the details of all the transactions that occur on the network.
This information is going to be called the blockchain, and anytime you use a
Bitcoin address publicly, anyone else will be able to tell the number of
Bitcoins stored with this address and other information about the transactions.
But even though they can see what is going on in your trading, they do not know
who owns the Bitcoins so you can remain unknown in this system.
If you would like to ensure all things are as opaque as possible to avoid issues
with people knowing who you are or keeping track of all your transactions,
there are a few steps you can take. These include using different Bitcoin
addresses and not sticking with the same one for too long and making sure you
transfer the Bitcoin to just one address in Bitcoin.
Using Bitcoin can be fast
People really love working with Bitcoin because it is a fast system you can
use. While traditional currencies can take a few days or longer to transfer
between two people and you just have to wait around for the currency to be
processed before you can use it. But with the Bitcoin, you can send out the
money to anywhere you would like, and it arrives there in just a few minutes.
You have to wait only a few minutes for the Bitcoin network to process this
payment, but it does arrive fairly fast compared to what you would see with
banks and other traditional transactions. The good news is you won’t be
charged a lot of fees for using the Bitcoin system, even if you send money
internationally.

How much is the Bitcoin?

Remember you can split up the Bitcoin a few times to share with others or to
make the purchase you would like. This is because compared to other
currencies, one Bitcoin can be worth quite a bit. For example, when you
compare the Bitcoin to the United States Dollar, it is going to be worth
$1,192.83 at the time of this book being published. When the Bitcoin is
compared to the Euro, one Bitcoin is worth 1,134.84.
So, while you are only able to create 21 million of these coins, they are worth
quite a bit of money for each one and are likely to be fine for a long time,
especially considering there isn’t a main bank that can mess with the system
and run things into the ground. And the value of the Bitcoin has been going up
as more people are trying to join the system, making it worth more than it was
in the beginning.
Bitcoin is a great digital currency you can use to make digital purchases as
needed. You get the benefit of a strong system that isn’t based on a bank or a
government who will make a mess of it, you can split it up into smaller units to
make your purchases, and you will enjoy how fast it is to make the purchases
without a lot of fees. Now that we have spent some time learning what the
Bitcoin is all about let’s look at how to start making your own Bitcoins.
 Chapter 2

How to Mine in Bitcoin

After learning more about Bitcoin and all the benefits that come from this
system, it is time to move on to learning how to get started. Mining in Bitcoin
is the process of getting more Bitcoins to use on virtual products. When you
are dealing with traditional sources of money, such as the United States dollar
and the Euro, the government can print more money any time they need to. But
since Bitcoin money never gets printed in the first place, you will need to
discover it instead. There are computers all around the world which mine for
these coins. Here we are going to take a look at the mining process for Bitcoin
and the steps you should take to “discover” more of these coins for your own.

How Does This Take Place?

There are people all over the world who are using the Bitcoin network to send
Bitcoins to one another, with the amounts varying based on what they are
purchasing. But unless there was a record of these transactions, it is hard to
figure out who has made the payments or not. The network for Bitcoin is going
to work by collecting all the transactions that happen during a set period (such
as a day or a week) and then placing all the information onto a list.

To keep track of all these different transactions that occur, the miner is going to
be the ones who works to confirm all of these transactions. They will be able
to take these transactions and then write them down into the general ledger.
How to Make a Hash of it
So, what is the point of this ledger? Why would the miner be so interested in
writing out this information and keeping track of it all the time? This general
ledger is basically a long list that consists of blocks known as the blockchains
in this system. You can use it to explore all the transactions made between the
Bitcoin addresses. You can watch a few particular ones you would like to keep
track of inside of the network.

Any time a transaction shows a new block, it is going to show up on your

blockchain. Of course, as time goes on, this list is going to get pretty long
because it can show all the different transactions that took place over the
Bitcoin network. A copy of this is going to be given to anyone who is
participating in the game, so they all have an idea of what is going on.

But for this to work, the general ledger needs to be trusted, and it is all going to
be left in a digital format. How can the users of Bitcoin be sure this blockchain
is staying intact and someone isn’t coming in and tampering with it? This is
where the most important job of the miners is going to come into play.
When a new transaction block is created, it is up to the miners to put it through
a process. They will take the information inside the block, and put a formula to
it so this information is going to be turned into something new. What this
results in is something a lot shorter, and is going to seem random, and will
include numbers and letters that are a hash. This hash is going to be stored
inside of the block, somewhere near the end of the created blockchain, during
some period of time.

You will notice there are some neat properties that come with these hashes. It
is pretty easy to take the collection of data that creates the Bitcoin block and
create a hash, but since the information is randomized, it is almost impossible
to look at the data and figure out what it means. Each of the hashes you use will
be unique, and they can take large data amounts and give them their own unique
hash that hides the information while also making sure it doesn’t match up to
someone else. For example, you could change just one of the characters inside
of a block, and the hash is going to end up as something completely new.

Mines are not using these transactions just to generate these hashes. They can
use some other information in the data to help as well. One of the important
pieces they will need to use is the hash that comes on the last block stored right
at the end of the blockchain.

Because all the hashes in the block will be produced using the hash of
whatever block was right before it, you are basically making it secure, such as
a wax seal in the digital world. This system is going can confirm this block, as
well as the other blocks that follow it, is legitimate because if someone comes
in and tampers with it, everyone in the system would know.

If you were on the system and tried to fake out a transaction you were doing by
changing one of the blocks already stored inside of the blockchain, you would
notice that the hash of that block is going to change. If someone went through to
see if the block was authentic by running and hashing the function, it is easy for
them to find that the hash that you provide is different from the one that was
stored on the system. They would see the changes, know the one on the
blockchain is the right one and can tell your transaction is the false one quickly.

Because each of the hashes is used to help make up the hash that is going to be
used in the following block, tempering with this particular block would mean
the next block would have the wrong hash too. This would be a chain reaction
that went all the way down the code, and it would make everything out of line.

The miners are responsible for keeping track of the different transactions that
occur inside of the Bitcoin system. They use a randomized approach that will
help to keep all of these secure and make it almost impossible for someone to
go into the system and make changes without it being recognized. This is a
great way to keep track of all the transactions happening inside of the system
and helps to make it a pretty secure system to work with.

Competing to Get the Coins

Now that we know a bit more about working with the hashes and keeping the
transactions safe, it is time to work on how each miner is going to be able to
compete with each other to get the coins. The miners are going to seal off a
block with these randomized hashes to compete, using some software that has
been designed to mine the blocks. Every time that you, as a miner, create a new
hash successfully, you will be rewarded 25 Bitcoins.
This is a win-win for everyone. It helps everyone in the system to stay safe and
secure from someone sending out false information to them or messing with the
transactions, and it allows the miner who does this work to make some good
money. This is the incentive given to the miners so that they keep on doing the
work and the transactions will always continue.
The biggest problem with this is that creating a new hash from some data that
you collect is not that hard and your computer can be good at getting this done
if you choose to go with this method. The Bitcoin network has worked to make
this a bit more difficult. Otherwise, everyone would go onto the system and
make a lot of money in a few minutes by creating these hashes and the system
would go a bit crazy.

The network for Bitcoin has introduced a process known as proof of work that
has made it a bit more difficult to create these hashes so that all the Bitcoin is
not mined in just a few seconds. The protocol in Bitcoin is not going to just
accept any hash that you hand to it and there are certain rules that you will need
to meet. First, you need to make sure that the hash looks a certain way such as
having a set number of zeros at the beginning. Since there is really no way to
know how the hash is going to look like until you are done with it, it can be
different. And if you add in some more data to the system, it is going to change
up the hash of the whole thing.
As a miner, you will need to make sure you aren’t meddling with the
information inside the transaction data, but they are going to need to change
some of the data that they use to make a brand-new hash. They can bring in
another type of data, which is also random, to create what is known as a
“nonce”. This is going to be used along with the data inside of the transaction
to make the hash. So, if your data isn’t fitting in with the hash that the Bitcoin
system asks for, the “nonce” is going to be changed so that the hash can change
again. You can see how this could take quite a few tries to get it to work, but
for those who are willing to keep on working on it and not giving it up, you can
make some good money in the Bitcoin industry. The system will not give up
over $25000 (if you converted from Bitcoin to USD) just for something that
you could do in a few seconds, so these challenges are worth your time, but
there is going to be some work that comes with it.
Mining Bitcoins can be a great way to make some money on the system if you
would like to work with coding and end up with a challenge. If you are good at
making some of these, you can make quite a bit of money, and it is much faster
than you would find with some of the other methods on this website. Since
there are so many different transactions that go on inside of this network, there
are a lot of opportunities to work with this, but for someone who is trying to
get into the Bitcoin life and who likes a bit of a challenge, mining Bitcoin
could be the option for you.
 Chapter 3

How to Use Your Bitcoin and Still Remain Anonymous

One of the big reasons that people choose to work with Bitcoin rather than the
traditional forms of currency is that they want to remain anonymous. In our
modern world with all the technology around us, it is common to worry about
someone getting ahold of the information that comes with your transactions,
such as your name and address, and use it for their own goods. But with
Bitcoin, you have the option to remain anonymous with your transactions, even
the person you send the money to for purchases doesn’t have to know who you
are for it to go through.

Some people have tried a lot of different options to remain anonymous online.
But if you must make some purchases online, it becomes really hard to make
them and get everything to go through when you use a pseudonym. Bitcoin is
the solution that you are looking for because it makes it hard for someone to be
able to get your information, for people to compare your online persona and
your real-life personality, and it is going to help you keep your information
safe.

There are a few steps you will need to take to set up your Bitcoin account, so
you can use it and keep some of the anonymity that you want when making
purchases online. The steps you need to get started on the Bitcoin environment,
communicate with others on the system, send and receive Bitcoins, and even
browse the web anonymously include:
Step 1:
First, you need to get Tails and download it. This is something you can find on
the Linux operating system, and you can get it on a USB stick and DVD. The
nice thing is that you won’t need to install this onto the computer, helping to
keep things more secure. Tails will come with all the software that you will
need pre-installed onto your USB stick. Once you get this set up, you can route
all your traffic through the Tor network that should be created. There are a few
ways that you can get the Tails software, either from a friend who is willing to
share or from the Tails website. It is not too hard to deal with Tails, you do
need to go through and manually install the program with the instructions
provided.

Step 2:
Now that the software is ready to use, it is time to fire up Tails. If you
downloaded this from the website, you can click on the ling, or you can insert
the USB or DVD to get it all started. If the program is causing some
difficulties, you can go through with the BIOS startup, and if you already have
a persona that you like to use, you can use this as the way to access Tails. If
you want to remain anonymous, you need to make sure that no personal
information is showing during your chats with some of the other users,
documents, and transactions. Always keep the browsing that you do during this
process focused and always be careful about logging on to some of your social
media accounts when you are on the Tails program.
Step 3:
For this step, it is time to enable a program called “persistence”. This is an
important step because you need to have this part of the program ready to go if
you would like to save information into the Tails system. You may notice that
there is a heading called Applications that you should click on. From here, you
can select on Tails and then choose which option you would like to configure.
If you want to make sure that this option is going to work, you should use the
USB drive to create a program for the Tails Installer. If you worked with this
stick manually, it is important to copy the Tails using a completely different
USB drive. The Tails installer process will be easy to find by going to
Applications, Tails, and then Tails Installer. From this location, you can pick
out the passphrase that you would like to use. Make sure it is something that
you can remember, and that it is secure because you will be using this each
time that you get on the Tails system.
During the installation process, Tails is going to ask what information you wish
to store on the system. If you want to keep the connection secure, it is critical
that you don’t store a lot of information on Tails, but you can store as much or
as little as you would like. This also means that you will need to remember
what items are set up to use in Tails and you need to set them up every time that
you are logging into the service. You can make the decisions for what goes on
the software, but it is recommended that you save Network Connections,
Browser Bookmarks, GnuPG, Personal Data, and Bitcoin inside of this system.

Once you have chosen which items you would like saved to the Tails system,
you need to restart Tails, making sure that persistence has been enabled. Once
the system all comes back up, you can enter the passphrase to get back one.
Anything you do within your persistence folder can be saved if you want to
shut down the computer.
Step 4:
Now it is time to set up your KeePassX. If you want to use the Dark Net, you
will need this extra piece. It is going to store your passwords of all your
accounts, so you just need to remember one or two rather than all of them. You
can find the KeePassX under applications, then accessories, and then
KeePassX. You must create a new password that goes to this database, and you
can do this by clicking on File and then Create New Database.
Inside, you can find a program known as Diceware that helps you create a
longer password that is good for security but is also easy to remember and
helps you to access the KeePassX. This password will be the second one out
of three that you should remember to make this system work. All three of the
passwords created from then on out are going to be stored inside of KeePassX
to make things easier, and you can find them inside of the persistent folder.
Whenever you would like to create a brand-new password, you can just click
on the yellow key, and it will ask if you will add a new entry. Give the
password a title and then enter in the information needed. The button you really
need to pay attention to is the Gen button, which will be on the right of your
Repeat field. You can click on this button to create a brand-new password. You
can choose some of the specifics of the password, such as how long you would
like it, what special characters are needed, and more.
To make sure that you are getting the best security out of this method, don’t
even look at the password given to you. Just pick the settings that you want for
the password and then let the system create one for you. It will automatically
be saved inside of KeePassX, and you can just pull it up when needed, without
needing to know it yourself, and if someone happens to look over at the screen
when the password is being placed in, all they would see are some symbols
and not the word. Once the password is created, you can just copy it before
pasting into whichever site you need to get access to.
Step 5:
The next thing that you will need to do is work on the PGP Key. Inside of Tails,
you can make up a brand-new PGP key, which is found inside of Applications
and then Utilities before clicking on Passwords and Keys. At this point, you
need to look for the symbol that looks just like a blue plus sign, right beneath
the GnuPG key.
Once you have clicked on the right button, you need to enter your email address
and name, making sure to use the pseudonym you created if you want to send
off encrypted emails and you want to make sure no one knows your identity.
The password for this section is required every time you are working on file
decryption, or you have an email sent to you and which is encrypted.
Step 6:
From here, you can set up the program Electrum. You can get onto your Bitcoin
Wallet (which we will talk about a bit later) and then click on Applications.
From here you can click on the Internet and then Bitcoin Wallet. You can think
of Electrum as a lightweight wallet in Bitcoin, and you will not need to use a
copy of blockchain to make this work since you can rely on other node types. If
you would like a chance to see your balance in here, you just need to type in
the right Bitcoin address right to the Blockexplorer.
So, when you are ready to make your own wallet, you need to be inside of the
Blockcypher, which is also the area where you can keep track of your
transactions and your balance. There isn’t any need for you to use anything
other than your standard wallet since this is going to work out just fine. Inside,
there are going to be thirteen English words that will be the representation of
the wallet seed. Anyone who has that same seed combination will be able to
get into the wallet and still Bitcoins so make sure that you store these thirteen
words in a place that you can find but no one else can get to.
Once you have the password all set up, you can press the proceed button so
that you can put the wallet seed shows up in your window. Now choose your
password, using KeePassX to help store this and to create a good password
that is hard to remember. You can use this password with all your transactions,
and once this is all set up, you can get and send payments with Bitcoin as often
as you want. If you would like to have a few different things linked up under
your account, you can create a different wallet to help keep things more
anonymous, whether you have different accounts or you would like to have one
for a single transaction. If you keep these wallets separate, it becomes easier to
separate out your money for your privacy and for accounting purposes.

Step 7:
Now that you have gotten all of this set up, there may be times when you would
like to communicate on this program. This is completely possible when you
use the OTR and the XMPP to do the communication. Pidgin is the best
program to use when you want to have communication with some of the other
users. One issue that comes with this is that you must be online to get your
messages through this program, but otherwise, it is an easy to use system that
will keep your identity safe.
It is pretty easy to install the Pidgin system. You just need to visit Applications
and then Internet before clicking on Pidgin. After here, you will be able to
access the Pidgin site by adding your account and then checking that you want
the MPP to be your protocol.
You can choose what kind of search engine you would like to use for this to
keep things simple. You can then choose a password (which you can use with
the KeePassX again, so you don’t have to remember all the passwords). Make
sure you are clicking on the box that says “create new account on the server.
After you click on the right box, you need to close the window before
reconnecting again so that a new account for chat is enabled inside of Pidgin.
Once your window opens up again, your system is going to ask you for your
password and your username, something that KeePassX can help with if you
don’t already have some of these set up. When you are ready to work on this
chat function, you can click on your encryption option that says OTR. You will
be able to do this easily by clicking OTR and then Start Private Conversation.
You also have the option to verify the integrity of your chat by clicking on OTR
and then on the button to Authenticate Buddy.

Step 8:
We have already done a lot of cool things that you can do with Bitcoin, but
now we are going to learn how to back up the information that you are using
inside of Tails by using the PGP system. This one is going to take the most
work out of all the steps, so be ready to put in some effort. You want to put in
some effort to lock up the key so that accessibility to it is harder and you won’t
have to worry about someone getting your information. You can create a
password that is strong when you use Diceware to go with your PGP key.
The key that you are going to be using can be loaded onto any USB device, and
then you should deposit it with someone who can guard it well for you. You
may also want to consider having a regular backup of your documents, such as
hard copies or another location so that nothing bad happens if there is some
loss.
So, when you are ready to do a backup, you need to select all the folders and
files that you would like to save. Then you can right click on your selections
and then click on encrypt. In some cases, a popup window is going to show up,
asking which of the keys you are interested in encrypting. From this location,
you just need to select on your PGP key. When in this step, make sure that you
avoid clicking on your sign options. When you are ready to decrypt one of the
stored files, you will just need to find the file that has the .gpg label, double-
click on it, and then place in the password that you used for the PGP key.

Step 9:
At this point, you have created a good account, with quite a bit of anonymity
attached to it, for just one of your accounts. But many people choose to have
multiple accounts on Bitcoin to avoid causing issues, to keep their information
private from others, and even to protect their identities. It is fine to have more
than one account, but you do need to make sure that you are repeating the steps
in this chapter to make sure that all the accounts have the same safety features
in place.
When repeating these steps, you need to make sure that each download of Tails
has a different USB drive to handle the pseudonyms that you are creating. Each
of the sticks needs to have different information as well, such as different keys
for PGP, a different database for the KeePassX, and even different passwords
to keep things safe and secure.
 Chapter 4

Getting Your First Bitcoin

Once you get your Bitcoin account set up, it is time to get some Bitcoin. You
will need to have these to help make the purchases that you would like, to do
some investing, and for other purposes. Now, you could choose to start
accepting Bitcoin from your customers with the product or service that your
business sells, but if you just want to have the Bitcoin to make a purchase, you
need to make sure you have some Bitcoin to start. Let’s look at the steps for
exchanging some of your regular currency to Bitcoins to get started with this
great currency.

Pick Out an Exchange Service

The first thing that you should do is find an exchange that you feel comfortable
with. This is one of the easiest ways to get ahold of the Bitcoin. A Bitcoin
exchange is going to work just like any other currency exchange that you would
like to use. You can register for an account and then take any currency that you
are using and have it converted in real time to Bitcoin. There are hundreds of
these exchanges that you can use, and you can pick the one in your area or
which accepts your form of currency. Some of the most common currency
exchange services for Bitcoin include:
CoinBase: this one is great when dealing with Euros and US dollars.
The company has made it easy to do your buying and trading because it
 has options for online and mobile app conversion.
Circle: this service is going to offer you the chance to exchange,
receive, send, and store your Bitcoins. This one is only available to
those who are inside the United States, and you will need to hook up
your bank account to this service.
Xapo: this is a debit card provider as well as a wallet for Bitcoin. It
will help you to make deposits of your personal currency that you can
convert over to Bitcoin and use inside of the account.

There are also some exchange services will make it easy to trade in your
Bitcoins. Other ones are going to act as a wallet service that will give you
some selling and buying capabilities, but these are going to be a little limited.
Most of the wallets and exchanges will store amounts of the digital currency
for you to make things easier, similar to what you find with your regular bank
account. These are some of the best options for exchanging your regular
currency to get some Bitcoin.

Provide Some Proof of Identity

While you can work inside of Bitcoin as an anonymous person, you do still
need to show some proof of who you are to get started. When you are ready to
sign up for one of the exchange services listed above (or one of the other
ones), it is important that you provide some personal information to create the
account. Most countries require that you show this personal information to any
financial systems so that the users aren’t hiding money for taxes or to prevent
issues with money laundering.
Use Your Exchange Accounts to Purchase the Bitcoins
Now that you have given proof of your personal identity as well as set up the
exchange account that you would like to use, it is time for you to get the money
into the account so that it can become Bitcoin. At this point, you will need to
link on one of your bank accounts to the Bitcoin so that the funds can move
from the bank account over to your new account for the Bitcoin. This is often
going to be done with a wire transfer that can sometimes include a small fee to
get it done.
One thing that you may want to try to keep your money safe is to have a
separate account for using your Bitcoin. You can put some money in the
account any time that you want to switch it over to Bitcoin. This keeps the
money safe in case someone gets into your exchange account since there isn’t
going to be any extra money in that account once you do the switch.
There are some exchanges that will make it easier to make some deposits in
person to the bank accounts. You can go to the bank and do this all face to face,
compared to doing it with an ATM as the other methods require.

If the exchange is asking you to link your account to it, it is likely that you will
only be able to use a bank from the same country as the exchange service. This
means that if the exchange service is in the United States, you will need to have
your bank account be located this country to be able to use it. There are a few
exchanges that will allow you to move your money to accounts overseas, but
you should know that there are fees associated with this and it often has a
longer delay compared to choosing a bank account in your local country.
Find a Seller
The next step for you to try out is finding a seller who will sell their Bitcoins
to you. The best site to use is LocalBitcoins because it allows you to find
someone who is in your area who wants to sell their Bitcoins. You will be able
to meet the seller face to face and negotiate the price that you will pay for the
Bitcoins. This site and some of the others that you can work with will have an
added layer of protection in place for both parties.
For those people who aren’t really that comfortable meeting up with people
face to face, or you are in an area where you can’t find anyone who is willing
to sell their Bitcoins, it is a good idea to use a site like Meetup.com. This is
when you find a group of people who would like to purchase Bitcoins and then
as a group you will decide who to purchase the Bitcoins from.
Before you meet up with someone to make the purchase, it is important to
decide on the price that you will pay for the Bitcoins. You should always check
the rates for the Bitcoin before meeting up so that you know how much you
should be paying. You may need to pay an additional premium of up to 10
percent since you are meeting with the person. You should check with the
seller to know if they want you to pay for the Bitcoins in cash or with online
payment options. Some sellers would rather go with cash or another payment
form that is non-reversible to keep it safe, but some are fine with options like
PayPal. A good trader is going to be willing to negotiate the price with you
before you get started and they will want to meet up quickly so that no dramatic
shifts happen with the price of the Bitcoin.
When you meet with the Bitcoin seller, make sure that it is in a public place to
keep both of your healthy. You should also have some method to access the
wallet for Bitcoin, either through a laptop, tablet, or a smartphone. You will be
able to use these to make sure that the transaction has been processed. Make
sure this happens before you pay the seller, or they could take off with your
money, and you won’t be able to find them.

Using an ATM for Your Bitcoins

Another option that you can use is an ATM to access your Bitcoin. There are
several ATMs available specifically for the Bitcoin, and while it is a new
concept, this is something growing all the time as Bitcoin becomes more
popular. Going online and finding a Bitcoin ATM map is the best way to find
out if there is one of these near you and where it is located. You can find these
at other banks familiar with Bitcoin or at many universities around the world.
For the most part, the Bitcoin ATMs that you are going to use will only accept
cash. Since you are only using Bitcoin in these, you will not be able to use
credit or debit card transactions. So, you can find one of these ATMs and take
out some cash from your account when you need to.
You are also able to insert some cash into one of these ATMs to make sure that
you can get it into one of your accounts. You can then scan your QR code or
your wallet, or you can use the access code for your account through your
smartphone. This is going to make it easier to load some Bitcoins into the
wallet online. Keep in mind that the exchange rates for these ATMS is going to
vary and they will have not only the standard exchange price that you are used
to, but also another 3 to 8 percent on top of that. This is going to cost you a
little bit more to complete compared to using the online sources, but if you are
in a hurry to get it to work, you can change out your cash for Bitcoins in this
manner.
There are many ways to get the Bitcoins you need to start making purchases or
do some of the other options. Some people choose to just get started with their
own store or with mining in order to get Bitcoins for free. However, if you are
looking to get started with lending or even to make some purchases at stores
that accept Bitcoin, you need to have a method of getting ahold of these first.
Working through a seller, an exchange or your local Bitcoin ATM are good
places to start. Keep in mind that the cost of the Bitcoins that you want to use
will vary based on how much money you would like to spend as well as the
current exchange rate based on the type of currency you are using to make the
purchase!
 Chapter 5

Making Purchases with the Darknet Marketplace

One option that many people are interested in searching for and using their
Bitcoins on is the Darknet market. This is also known as the cryptomarket, and
it is a commercial website that works on platforms like I2P and Tor. They are
going to be similar to a black market, but they will work online rather than in
person. Since this is a market that often has illegal products for sale, using the
Bitcoin can be a great way to get the products you need without anyone having
an idea of what you would like to use. These have become popular recently,
and according to a study that was done at the University of Portsmouth, these
darknet markets are now at the top of the list of popular Tor websites visited.
On the darknet, you will find that transactions are going to be done with
Bitcoin as the payment to make sure that both parties can remain anonymous to
protect their identity. Also, tumblers are added to the mix, and a secure PGP is
put in place to make sure that the communication between the vendors and the
buyers are safe from outside eyes.
There are many things you can purchase on the darknet, not all of which are
illegal, and you can use the anonymity that the Bitcoin provides you to make
these purchases in a safe and secure manner. When you are ready to get started,
here are some of the steps that you will need to take to use the darknet
marketplace.
Downloading the Tor Browser
Using either a Mac or Windows operating system can compromise some of the
security that comes with using darknet, so it is best if you can use one of the
Linux systems like TAILS or Ubuntu. The standard protocol for the Internet is
not going to allow you to access the darknet markets. The Tor network is going
to require the Tor browser to get ahold of some of this hidden content. The
good news is that this browser is available for you to use on any of the
operating systems for free. The TAILS, which is the best option to use with
this, will come installed with your Tor browser. To get this on your computer,
use these steps:
Choose the operating system currently on your computer and then
download the right browser based on the specs of your computer.
Then you can extract the download with the help of an extracting
program like the Archive Manager.
Extract the files out of the archive.
Now you can click on the most recent file to open it. The window
should come up, and you can click on “run” to get this going.

Browsing Through this Marketplace

There are some different options you can make when it comes to browsing
through the marketplace, but we are going to choose Agora to make it easier.
To start browsing through the Agora marketplace, use the following steps:
Load up the main page that comes with Agora, making sure you use your
downloaded Tor browser. When you get here, click on register.
There are some times when these registrations are going to require you
to have a special link for a referral. The good news is that you can find
these links on the Agora forum if you look under the referral links board.
 You can then enter the details that you would like to use on the following
page before clicking on register.
Now you are ready to log on to the website.

Purchase the Bitcoin

At this point, we have talked about some of the methods that you can choose to
purchase the Bitcoin that you would like to use. You can go through and use the
exchange that you would like or find someone who is willing to meet with you
face to face to sell the Bitcoin that you are going to use. Many of these
marketplaces are going to be easy to use with your Bitcoin wallet so make sure
that it is set up for all the purchases.

Set Up the PGP Encryption

This step is not required, but it is highly recommended because it is going to
help you to keep your address and your identity secure on the marketplace so
you should consider using it. The PGP encryption will allow you to send your
address and other personal information securely using a system of key
encryption. It isn’t always something necessary to use with your vendors, many
of them will ask you to have it before purchasing one of their products. There
is some open source software available for all the major operating systems that
will help you to get PGP set up. There is also an applet available for
JavaScript that you can use.
When you want to create a two-factor authentication, which is often required to
make purchases on this marketplace and for some of the tumbler services that
you will use, you need to make sure that you have your own public key and you
will need to use the PGP.

How to Transfer the Bitcoin

Before you can make any purchases and get the item that you would like, you
need to make sure that you are using the wallet that you created (perhaps
through Coinbase or another service). You will need to transfer this wallet
over into the wallet of the marketplace. This is possible to do with either the
26 or the 35-character Bitcoin addresses as long as you do it through the send
Bitcoins link there. It can sometimes take a few hours for this to get done,
though, but it works well.
To make sure that you are keeping this as secure as possible, it is a good idea
to use a separate service to tumble the Bitcoins, and Helix is a good one to use.
This is a good idea because it helps to make all your personal details are
untraceable. This is not a requirement, but it does add an extra level of
protection that you are working with. When you are ready to set up the Helix
service, follow these steps:
You will need to visit gramsflow.com inside of your Tor browser to get
to the Grams by Helix. This is going to redirect you over to Grams, and
you can go to their login page before selecting the right registration link.
Take the PGP address and copy it. Enter this into the login form and add
in the other information that you need here.
Once this is done, you are going to receive an address that will allow
you to send over a small amount of Bitcoin (just a few dollars or less)
so that you can confirm that the transaction is secure. Once this is
confirmed, you will get the money put back in the account.
It may take a bit of time before the blockchain can confirm this deposit
so don’t be impatient.
 Once your deposit has had time to be confirmed into the blockchain, you
will need to decrypt a certain PGP message sent to you. You will be
able to do this with the PGP key. Simply copy and then paste the
message into the clipboard for the GPA and then select to have it
decrypted.
Once you enter this information, you will be sent over to the main
dashboard in Grams. Here you will be able to see the deposit address if
you received two confirmations for that original deposits or you will be
able to check here until it is all confirmed.
Now go to the wallet and deposit the amount that you want to keep in
there. You can choose any amount to help make things easier, but most
will choose to find the product first and place just that amount inside the
account to keep it easier. It should only take a few minutes before this
transaction shows up on the blockchain.
As soon as you receive two confirmations, it is going to be possible to
withdraw this amount.
When you are ready to withdraw, you can go to the Helix withdrawal
page. Enter the address that you want to send this money to, as well as
the amount that you are going to pay them.
If you are sending this money to a one-use wallet, such as what is found
in the Evolution marketplace, you should select that this is a one
transaction option. Once you send this out, the Helix program is going to
tumble the Bitcoin message so that no one can figure out where the
transaction came from.

Making Purchases on the Marketplace

Now that you have deposited some money into the account, it is time to
purchase some of the products that you would like to use so that you can send
the money over to them and get the product. We are again going to use the
Agora marketplace to keep things a bit easier. One note as a beginner, avoid
making purchases from vendors who want you to finalize early on. This is an
easy way to get scammed because you will go outside of the escrow system
and since it is really hard to figure out who each person is in the marketplace
because of the way Bitcoin and its transactions are set up, you will pretty much
just be out of the money without any help.
To get started on the marketplace and to make some purchases, you will need
to use the following steps:
Search for the items that you want. You can use the navigation menu to
the left of your screen to find what you would like to use.
There are some different sorting options that you can go with. You can
change the sorting options to be whatever you would like, but make sure
that the “No-FE first” box is marked off.
After you find an item that you like and you click on it, you should not
only check if the item matches your needs, but read some of the feedback
and the profile page of the vendor. You don’t want to make a purchase
from a vendor that has a bad reputation on here.
While you are there with the vendor’s page, copy the PGP address
provided because you will need this later. Save that address into a .txt
file using either mousepad or notepad so that you can reach it later.
If you have decided to use this vendor, you can open up the PGP client
and then go to the section that says “Keys” before selecting on “Import
Keys”. You can then import the .txt file that you saved earlier so that you
have the PGP key of the vendor.
Once this is imported, go to the Windows part and then click on
Clipboard. Once this is open, click on the File before selecting Encrypt.
You are going to encrypt the vendors key at this point.
 Now you can select the product that you would like to purchase by
clicking on the “buy” button beneath the listed item. This is going to
allow you to see the complete price of the product along with the
shipping.
At this point, you will be able to paste the address that you encrypted
into the screen and then press “Preview” to continue on. You will be
asked to enter your pin number before pressing on “Confirm” to place
this order.

At this point, you are all set up to make the purchase that you would want, but
now it is time to move on to double checking the order and getting everything
finalized so that the payment goes through and you receive your product as
soon as possible.

Finalizing the Purchase

You are going to finalize the purchase into the escrow system. This is a great
option because it makes sure the vendor is going to get paid for the service or
the product they promised, but it also gives you a chance to get the money back
if something goes wrong and you don’t get the product. Remember that when a
transaction is done in Bitcoin, it doesn’t have a reverse button to help get the
money back. The escrow can help you out if the product doesn’t come, if you
are dissatisfied, or if something else goes wrong, you can still get the money
back during its time in escrow. It shows the buyer that you are able to pay so
that once you get the item, they will receive the money.
Once you get the item, you are going to be responsible for finalizing the whole
purchase. To do this, you will need to log back into Agora once you get the
product in the mail. From Agora, you can click on the link for orders right at
the top of this page. You should be able to see a big list of orders (or just one
order if that is all you have done up to this point). Make sure to click on the
“Details” button right next to the order over to the right side.
One thing to keep in mind is you can ask the vendor for an extension on the
escrow because you haven’t received the order, or you are working with
Agora in a resolving process. This automatic function is going to happen 13
days after the purchase, and then the money is going to be sent over to the
seller. It can be hard to get this back at this point so stay on top of your
purchases and make sure that you get them.
Now, if you got the purchase, you can scroll over to the bottom of the order and
look for the red button that says Finalize on it. You can click on this to tell the
system you received the order, and you are satisfied with it. You can then
confirm that the money inside of the escrow can be sent over to the vendor.
Make sure that at this time you rate the vendor and leave your feedback. This
only takes a few minutes but can help the other buyers to learn more about the
vendor and to figure out if they are the right one to work with. Many people
will take the time to leave feedback if they aren’t happy with the vendor, but
most will ignore it if the seller does a good job. Help them out on the system,
as well as the other buyers, but leaving a little review about how the
transaction went with this vendor.
And that is all that you will need to do to make purchases on the Darknet
marketplace. Remember that we only used the Agora system for this one, but it
is going to work about the same with a lot of the other marketplaces that you
want to use inside of this system. You can just go through some of the same
steps to make these marketplaces work, and since they are similar, you should
be just fine. You can continue to go through these steps each time that you want
to make a purchase inside of this system.
The Bitcoin system of currency is one of the best ones to use on marketplaces
like the darknet marketplace because this currency is going to allow you and
the seller to remain completely anonymous and it is hard to trace where the
money is going between them. If you are on a market like Darknet, it is a good
idea to use all the precautions, and the Tor browser, to make sure that your
transactions are safe and secure from others who may want to know what you
are up to. Darknet and Bitcoin combined together is the perfect solution.
 Chapter 6

How to Get Tipped, Earn from Interest Payments, and

Trading with Bitcoin

In addition to being able to sell a product or a service to earn Bitcoin, it is also

possible to use several other methods to get the Bitcoin that you need to make
an income or to make some of the purchases that you need. You can earn
Bitcoin when you lend money to someone else and charge interest on it and
even when you do some trading. Let’s look at how some of these will work if
you are considering earning some more Bitcoin.

Trading to Earn Bitcoin

Another option that you can use to earn Bitcoin is trading. Keep in mind that
this is almost like a form of gambling, but there are some differences you will
encounter. When you are gambling, as long as it is a fair game, you are going to
have a set probability of either losing or winning depending on the game that
you play. When you are trading your assets, the issue is going to get into more
complex issues.

The best and safest way to make some money with trading is through the
process of arbitrage. This process is when you see that there is an opportunity
to buy a new asset in one place for a low price and then right after you make
the purchase, you will sell it in another location where you can make more out
of it. It is important that before you do this, you know that you will be able to
sell the asset at a higher price right away. If you just make purchases and don’t
know that you can make a profit out of it, you are basically gambling, and that
is not a good way to earn more Bitcoin.

There are many arbitrage situations that you can use. You can be on a few
different ties and see that the service or product is for one price in one
location, but there are people who would pay more for it if you offered. But it
is not as simple as you would think. You need to really recognize the value of
the products that you are working with and be sure that you are getting one for
a great deal and would be able to sell it for more right away in another
location. If you have a good mind for business and understanding how this all
works, it can be a good option, but you need to be careful.

Simple speculation is also a good trading method that you can use in Bitcoin.
With speculation, you will purchase Bitcoins at one price and then hold onto
them until the price starts to increase. You can then sell the currency for a
higher price and make a profit. You would keep on doing this any time that the
price for the Bitcoins go down and then sell them as soon as the price goes up.
You need to be good at guessing the Bitcoin market (and remember that it isn’t
always going to work the same as the market with traditional currencies) so
that you can guess what is going to happen in the future with some accuracy.
Otherwise, you are just losing money.

If you would like to get started in trading, you need to learn how to read the
market of Bitcoin and learn how to recognize the patterns that occur. This is
specialized work and only some people who are used to doing research and
recognizing trends are going to do well with it. You can make some good
money off the process, but you need to be careful that you are taking your time
and thinking things through with your trades if you would like to really see
results with them.

Using Interest to Earn Bitcoins

If you already own some Bitcoins from another endeavor that you worked on,
you may want to put the Bitcoins to work for you. If you are willing to lend out
some of these Bitcoins to other people and place an interest amount on it, you
will be able to make some money on the money that you let other people
borrow from you. Some of the ways that you can make interest money income
from Bitcoins include:
Lending it directly
The first way to make this work is to lend the money directly to someone that
you already know. You will already be familiar with the person, and you can
determine if they are going to be good at returning the money. You both will be
able to make up the terms of the agreement, such as the amount of interest they
will pay and how long the loan is good for. You may have trouble finding
people who would want to borrow the Bitcoins and meet up with your terms,
but this is a good place to get started.
Peer to peer lending

The next option is to work on peer to peer lending. There are websites that
will have a list of borrowers who are looking for someone to lend to them.
Borrowers are going to publish their requests for funding, and you can give
some of the money or all of it depending on how much you have available, and
they will give you a portion of the interest payments, in addition to the original
amount you provided, over the terms of the agreement. You will be able to see
the reason for the loan being requested, how long the terms should be good for
and the interest rate that the borrower will pay to you and the other lenders.
Do a Bitcoin bank
With this option, you are going to take the Bitcoins that you would like to
deposit in a bank that will pay you an interest rate on the amount that you leave
there. This method can ensure that you are going to make the return on
investment agreed to at the beginning, but it is often lower than the other
options. It is nice because you will be able to trust the bank, the one borrower,
and they are often going to be more selective of the people they lend out the
money to since they have to pay that interest back, which makes for a more
secure investment for you. This is a good way to begin building your currency
before using some of the other options to make a better return on investment.
These are just a few of the methods that you can use to start earning some
Bitcoins. These can be a lot of fun and help you earn a great return on your
investment if you pick the right options and make sure that you really know the
market. You don’t want to end up wasting your money on a bad borrower or on
purchasing a product you aren’t able to sell right away.
 Conclusion
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 Other Books by Author

Click here to check out Evan Lane’s Author Central Page, along with his other
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