1.The Security Mindset (OpSec)

Before you do anything else, you must adopt an Operational Security (OpSec) mindset. This is the most important step.

• Anonymity is Key: Never use any personal information (real name, email, common usernames) for your darknet activities.
• Separation: Keep your regular internet life and your darknet activities completely separate. Use different devices or a dedicated operating system like Tails.
• Minimalism: Only provide the absolute minimum information necessary for any transaction.
• Assume Nothing is Secure: Treat every interaction as if it could be monitored. This encourages cautious and secure behavior.

For a deeper dive, read our full Security Guide.

2.Prepare Your Essential Tools

You will need three key pieces of software to use DrugHub safely:

1. Tor Browser: This is the only browser that can access .onion websites. Download it exclusively from torproject.org. Always keep it updated and set its security level to "Safest".
2. PGP Software: Needed for encryption. We recommend Kleopatra for Windows or GPG Suite for macOS. Tails OS has PGP tools built-in. Learn how to set up PGP here.
3. Monero (XMR) Wallet: You need a private wallet that you control. Good options are the official Monero GUI Wallet or the lightweight Feather Wallet. Do not use a web wallet or an exchange wallet for market transactions.

3.Acquire Cryptocurrency (The Safe Way)

DrugHub uses Monero (XMR) for its privacy features. You cannot send funds directly from a major exchange to the market. You must use an intermediary wallet and process to break the chain of ownership.

Part A: Buy Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitcoin is often the easiest cryptocurrency to purchase for beginners.

1. Choose a reputable, major cryptocurrency exchange in your jurisdiction.
2. Create an account and complete any required identity verification.
3. Purchase the amount of Bitcoin you need. It's wise to buy slightly more than you plan to spend to cover transaction fees.
4. Withdraw this Bitcoin to a personal, non-custodial Bitcoin wallet that you control (e.g., Electrum, Sparrow). Do not skip this step.

Part B: Exchange Bitcoin (BTC) for Monero (XMR)

Now, you need to swap your BTC for the private XMR required by the market. Services like Infinity Exchanger are built for this purpose.

1. Visit a cryptocurrency swap service. For this example, we'll use Infinity Exchanger at `infinity-exchanger.com`.
2. Select that you want to swap from BTC to XMR.
3. Enter the amount of BTC you wish to swap. The service will show you how much XMR you will receive.
4. Provide your personal Monero (XMR) wallet address as the destination. This is the address from the wallet you set up in Step 2.
5. The service will give you a Bitcoin address to send your BTC to.
6. From your personal Bitcoin wallet, send the BTC to the address provided by the exchange service.
7. Wait for the transaction to process. The XMR will appear in your personal Monero wallet.

The Golden Rule of Crypto Privacy

The path your funds must take is crucial for breaking the link between your real identity and your market activities:

Exchange

→

BTC Wallet

→

Swap (BTC→XMR)

→

XMR Wallet

→

4.Create and Secure Your DrugHub Account

1. Go to our verified links page and open a link in Tor Browser.
2. Click "Register" and provide your PGP Public Key. PGP is mandatory for account creation.
3. Set a unique username and password.
4. Securely store the mnemonic phrase provided. This is your only way to recover your account.
5. Complete the initial PGP decryption challenge to verify your key and finalize registration.

5.Find and Evaluate a Listing

1. Use the categories or search bar to find an item you are interested in.
2. Click on a listing to view its details. Pay close attention to the vendor's profile.
3. Evaluate the Vendor: Check their overall rating (aim for 95%+), the total number of sales, and most importantly, read the recent text reviews.
4. Read the Description: Carefully read the full item description, shipping policies, and refund rules.
5. Check Shipping Options: Ensure the vendor ships to your location and understand the available shipping methods (e.g., tracked, untracked).

6.Place Your Order Securely

1. Once you've chosen a listing, select the quantity and add it to your cart.
2. Proceed to checkout. You will be prompted to enter your shipping information.
3. Encrypt Your Address: This is a critical step. Copy the vendor's PGP key from their profile. In a separate text editor, type your address, then encrypt it with the vendor's public key. Paste the resulting encrypted text block into the address field on DrugHub.
4. Confirm your order. DrugHub will generate a unique Monero deposit address for this specific order.
5. From your personal Monero wallet (from Step 3), send the exact amount of XMR to the address provided.

7.Finalize and Provide Feedback

1. After your order is paid, the vendor will ship it. The order status will change to "Shipped".
2. Wait for the package to arrive. Be patient, as shipping times can vary.
3. Once you have received and inspected your item, log back into DrugHub.
4. Go to your orders and click "Finalize" on the correct order. This releases the escrow funds to the vendor.
5. Leave fair and honest feedback about your experience to help other users.