Before You Start
This guide covers everything you need to access Drughub Market safely. Follow each step in order. Do not skip anything. Every security measure exists for a reason. Shortcuts lead to problems. Take your time and do it right. The Drughub marketplace requires specific security practices that protect both you and other market participants.
You will learn how to set up Tor Browser, create PGP keys, configure a Monero wallet, register on Drughub market, enable two-factor authentication, and practice good operational security. By the end, you will be ready to use the Drughub marketplace safely and securely.
Time Investment
First-time setup takes 30-60 minutes. This includes downloading software, generating keys, and creating your wallet. Do not rush. Security takes time. Once set up, future logins take seconds.
Quick Navigation
Click any section to jump directly to it. Complete them in order for best results.
Step 1: Install Tor Browser
Tor Browser is your gateway to the darknet. It routes your traffic through multiple servers, hiding your real IP address. Without Tor, you cannot access onion sites. Period.
Download Tor Browser
Go to torproject.org and download Tor Browser for your operating system. Choose the correct version for your platform. Windows, macOS, and Linux are all supported.
Verify Your Download
The Tor Project provides signatures for every download. Verifying ensures your download was not tampered with. Import the Tor Project signing key and check the signature matches. Instructions are on their website. This step is optional but recommended.
Installation Instructions
Run the .exe installer → Choose destination folder → Click Install → Done
tar -xvf tor-browser-*.tar.xz && cd tor-browser && ./start-tor-browser.desktop
Open the .dmg file → Drag Tor Browser to Applications → Launch from Applications
First Launch Configuration
When you first open Tor Browser, it will connect to the Tor network. This takes 30 to 60 seconds depending on your connection. Wait for it to complete. Once connected, you will see the Tor Browser homepage.
Now configure your security level. Click the shield icon next to the URL bar. Select "Safest" for maximum protection. This disables JavaScript on all sites. Some features may not work, but your security increases significantly.
Understanding Tor Bridges
Some countries block Tor connections. If you cannot connect normally, use bridges. Bridges are secret entry points to the Tor network. Request bridges from bridges.torproject.org or use the built-in bridge options. This helps if your ISP blocks Tor.
Step 2: Set Up PGP Encryption
PGP encryption is mandatory on Drughub. No PGP key means no account. Your PGP key encrypts all messages and your shipping address. Only you can decrypt them. Even if servers are seized, your data stays protected.
What is PGP?
PGP stands for Pretty Good Privacy. It uses public-key cryptography. You create two keys: a public key and a private key. Share your public key with others. Keep your private key secret. Anyone can encrypt a message with your public key. Only your private key can decrypt it.
Choose Your Software
Windows - Gpg4win
Download Gpg4win from the official website. It includes Kleopatra, a graphical interface that makes key management easy. Also includes GnuPG command line tools.
macOS - GPG Suite
Download GPG Suite from GPG Tools. Integrates with macOS Mail application. Provides easy key management through the GPG Keychain application.
Linux - GnuPG
GnuPG comes pre-installed on most Linux distributions. For a graphical interface, install Kleopatra with sudo apt install kleopatra or through your package manager.
Generate Your Key Pair
Open your terminal or command prompt. Run the following command to generate a new key pair. Follow the prompts carefully.
gpg --full-generate-key
Key type: RSA and RSA (default option)
Key size: 4096 bits (maximum security)
Expiration: 0 (key does not expire)
Name: Any name (does not need to be real)
Email: Any email (does not need to be real)
Passphrase: Strong, unique password
Export Your Public Key
After generating your key, export the public key. You will paste this into Drughub during registration.
gpg --armor --export your@email.com
This outputs your public key as text starting with "-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----". Copy everything including these header and footer lines. You will need this during registration.
Backup Your Private Key
Your private key is irreplaceable. Back it up securely. Export it and store on encrypted USB drive. Keep multiple copies in safe locations.
gpg --armor --export-secret-keys your@email.com > private-key-backup.asc
Encrypting and Decrypting Messages
To encrypt a message for someone, you need their public key. Import it first. Then encrypt your message to their key. Only they can decrypt it with their private key.
gpg --import their-public-key.asc
gpg --armor --encrypt --recipient their@email.com message.txt
gpg --decrypt encrypted-message.asc
Step 3: Set Up Monero Wallet
Drughub is XMR-only. No Bitcoin. No other cryptocurrencies. Only Monero. Why? Monero is private by default. Every transaction hides the sender, receiver, and amount. Bitcoin shows everything on a public ledger. Monero shows nothing.
Why Monero?
Bitcoin transactions are traceable. Chain analysis companies work with law enforcement to track funds. They can link your exchange account to your market transactions. Monero solves this problem completely. Ring signatures hide the sender. Stealth addresses hide the receiver. RingCT hides the amount. Mathematical privacy, not trust-based privacy.
Wallet Options
Choose a wallet that fits your needs. Each option has different trade-offs between security and convenience.
Monero GUI Wallet
The official desktop wallet from the Monero Project. Run a full node for maximum security, or connect to a remote node for convenience. Full node requires downloading the entire blockchain, about 150GB.
Best for users who want maximum security and can dedicate disk space.
Download Official Wallet →Feather Wallet
Lightweight desktop wallet that connects to remote nodes. Fast sync. No blockchain download needed. Open source. Privacy focused. Built-in Tor support. Supports hardware wallets.
Best for users who want quick setup without downloading hundreds of gigabytes.
Download Feather →Cake Wallet
Mobile wallet for iOS and Android. Easy to use interface. Built-in exchange to swap other crypto for Monero. Convenient for on-the-go access. Good for smaller amounts.
Best for mobile users who need convenience. Keep larger amounts in desktop wallet.
Download Cake Wallet →Setting Up Your Wallet
When you create a new wallet, you receive a 25-word seed phrase. This is your backup. Write it down on paper. Store it securely. Anyone with your seed phrase can access your funds. Never store it digitally on an internet-connected device.
Getting Monero
You have several options to acquire Monero. Each has different privacy implications.
LocalMonero
Peer-to-peer exchange. Buy directly from other users. No KYC required. Cash, bank transfer, and other methods available. Higher prices but better privacy.
TradeOgre
Cryptocurrency exchange. No KYC required. Trade Bitcoin for Monero. Competitive rates. You will need Bitcoin first from another source.
Cake Wallet Exchange
Built-in exchange feature. Swap Bitcoin, Litecoin, or other crypto directly to Monero inside the wallet. Convenient but rates may be higher.
KYC Exchanges
Kraken, Binance, and others sell Monero. Requires identity verification. Never send directly to market. Always use intermediate wallet first.
Step 4: Register on Drughub
With Tor, PGP, and Monero ready, you can now create your Drughub market account. Registration on the Drughub marketplace requires several security steps. Do not skip any of them. Each one protects your Drughub account and ensures safe market access.
Access via Tor Browser
Open Tor Browser. Make sure it is connected to the network. Navigate to a verified Drughub onion link from our mirrors page. Verify the URL character by character before proceeding.
Click Register Button
On the Drughub homepage, click the Register button. You will see the registration form. Fill in each field carefully. All fields are required.
Choose Username
Pick a username that does not identify you. Do not use your real name, nickname, email, or anything connected to your real identity. Completely random is best. This username is permanent and cannot be changed later.
Create Strong Password
Use a unique password at least 16 characters long. Mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Never reuse passwords from other sites. Consider using a password manager like KeePassXC.
Add Your PGP Public Key
Paste your PGP public key into the field provided. Include the entire key, starting with "-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----" and ending with "-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----". This is mandatory. You cannot skip it.
Set Anti-Phishing Phrase
Choose a unique phrase that only you will recognize. This phrase displays on every page after you log in. If you ever log in and do not see your phrase, you are on a phishing site. Log out immediately.
Solve Captcha
Complete the captcha to prove you are human. If the captcha does not load, try refreshing the page. JavaScript may be required for some captchas.
Complete Registration
Click the submit button. If everything is correct, your account is created. You will be logged in automatically. Set up 2FA immediately before doing anything else on the site.
Step 5: Configure Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is mandatory on Drughub. It adds a second layer of security beyond your password. Even if someone steals your password, they cannot access your account without your second factor.
Choose Your 2FA Method
Drughub offers two methods. Both are secure. Pick the one that works best for you.
Step 6: OPSEC Best Practices
Operational security, or OPSEC, is about protecting yourself. Technical security like Tor and PGP is only part of the equation. Your behavior matters too. One mistake can undo all your technical precautions.
DO These Things
- Use Tor Browser exclusively for darknet access
- Enable "Safest" security level in Tor settings
- Verify PGP signatures on all links and messages
- Use unique passwords for every site
- Encrypt all sensitive messages with PGP
- Use intermediate wallet for XMR transfers
- Check your anti-phishing code every login
- Keep software updated regularly
- Use secure operating system like Tails
- Compartmentalize your activities
NEVER Do These Things
- Use personal email or real name as username
- Access Drughub market without Tor Browser
- Send XMR directly from KYC exchange
- Share your anti-phishing phrase with anyone
- Click links from random users or messages
- Disable 2FA for convenience
- Use public WiFi without additional protection
- Talk about your activities with others
- Reuse passwords across different sites
- Store sensitive data in plain text
Advanced Security Measures
- Use Tails OS for maximum protection
- Run Whonix in virtual machine
- Run your own Monero node
- Use hardware security key for 2FA
- Encrypt your entire disk with LUKS
- Use secure delete tools for files
- Separate darknet and clearnet activities
- Use different browser profiles
- Consider using a dedicated device
Understanding Common Threats
Phishing
Fake sites that look identical to real ones. They steal your credentials. Always verify URLs. Always check your anti-phishing code. Never trust links from messages.
Social Engineering
Attackers manipulate you into revealing information. They may pretend to be support staff. Real support never asks for passwords or private keys. Be suspicious of unsolicited contact.
Malware
Malicious software that steals data or monitors activity. Only download from official sources. Verify signatures. Keep antivirus updated. Use dedicated system for sensitive activities.
Step 7: How to Place an Order
With your Drughub account set up and funded, you are ready to make purchases on the Drughub marketplace. Follow this process for safe ordering on the market.
Deposit Monero
Go to your wallet page in Drughub. Copy your deposit address. Send XMR from your external wallet. Wait for confirmations. Drughub requires 10 confirmations before funds appear.
Browse Listings
Use the search function or browse categories. Read listing descriptions carefully. Check vendor ratings and reviews. Look at number of sales and feedback percentage. Higher is better.
Review Vendor Profile
Click on vendor name to see their profile. Check their history. Read recent reviews. Look for verified status. Avoid vendors with recent negative feedback or new accounts with no history.
Prepare Your Message
Write your shipping address in a text editor. Encrypt it with the vendor's PGP public key. Never send addresses unencrypted. Even if the form says encrypted, do it yourself to be safe.
Place Order
Click the buy button on the listing. Paste your PGP encrypted message. Confirm the order. Funds move to multisig escrow. The vendor can now see your order.
Wait for Shipping
Vendor will mark the order as shipped. They may provide tracking or shipping info via encrypted message. Check your orders page for updates. Be patient. Delivery times vary.
Finalize Order
When you receive your package, finalize the order. This releases funds from escrow to the vendor. Leave honest feedback to help other buyers. If there are problems, open a dispute instead.
- Start with small orders to test vendors
- Always use escrow, never finalize early
- Communicate only through market messaging
- Never give out contact info outside the market
- Keep records of orders and communications
Frequently Asked Questions
Tor is very slow. How can I speed it up?
Tor is slower than regular browsing because traffic routes through multiple servers. This is normal. Try requesting a new circuit by clicking the padlock icon and selecting "New Circuit for this Site". If consistently slow, try bridges or check your internet connection.
I forgot my Drughub password. Can I recover my account?
If you have PGP 2FA enabled on your Drughub account, you can use account recovery. If you only had TOTP and no backup codes, you may have lost access permanently. This is why saving backup codes is so important. Contact Drughub market support but recovery is not guaranteed.
My Drughub deposit has not appeared. What should I do?
Monero deposits on Drughub market require 10 confirmations. This can take 20 to 40 minutes depending on network conditions. Check the transaction on a block explorer. If confirmations are complete and funds still not showing, contact Drughub support with your transaction ID.
Is it safe to use a VPN with Tor?
VPN before Tor can add a layer of privacy from your ISP. They see VPN connection, not Tor. However, you must trust your VPN provider. For most users, Tor alone is sufficient. If using VPN, connect to VPN first, then open Tor Browser.
Why does the Drughub site look different sometimes?
First, check your anti-phishing code. If it matches, you are on the real Drughub site. The Drughub market may have updated their design. If the code is wrong or missing, you are likely on a phishing site. Close immediately and access Drughub only through your verified bookmark.
What is Drughub multisig escrow and how does it protect me?
Drughub market multisig escrow uses 2-of-3 keys. Three keys exist: buyer, vendor, and market. Releasing funds requires any two keys. Normal transaction: buyer and vendor agree. Dispute: Drughub market and winning party sign. No single party can steal funds. Exit scams become impossible on the Drughub marketplace.
Should I finalize early if the vendor asks?
Never finalize early unless you absolutely trust the vendor. FE means releasing escrow before receiving your order. If something goes wrong, you have no recourse. Only consider FE with established vendors you have ordered from many times before.
You Are Ready
Follow these steps carefully and you will be set up for safe Drughub market access. Take your time. Security on the Drughub marketplace is worth the effort.
External Resources
Learn more from these official and trusted sources.