Security Tips & Support

Operational security (OpSec) is the difference between staying anonymous and becoming a statistic in a law enforcement press release. These critical security tips are based on analysis of real-world darknet compromises, penetration testing results, and best practices from the privacy technology community. Follow them religiously.

PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) is the foundation of secure communication on Torzon Market. It's used for encrypting shipping addresses, authenticating communications, and implementing our 2FA system. Understanding PGP verification is not optional—it's a critical OpSec skill.

What is PGP Verification?

PGP verification uses digital signatures to prove that a message was created by someone who possesses a specific private key, and that the message hasn't been altered since signing. When Torzon Market publishes a list of verified mirror links, that list is signed with our official PGP key. Verifying the signature proves three things:

• Authenticity: The message was created by the holder of the Torzon Market official private key (which only our admins possess)
• Integrity: The message has not been modified since it was signed (even changing a single character invalidates the signature)
• Non-Repudiation: The signer cannot later deny having created the message

Step-by-Step Verification Process

Prerequisites: GnuPG installed on your system (Gpg4win for Windows, pre-installed on most Linux distributions, GPG Suite for macOS).

1. Import Torzon Official PGP Key: Download our public key from the official links page (or from a trusted keyserver) and import it:
   Import PGP Key

   gpg --import torzon-official-pubkey.asc
2. Verify Key Fingerprint: After importing, verify the key fingerprint matches our official fingerprint (published on multiple independent sources):
   Check Key Fingerprint

   gpg --fingerprint "Torzon Market Official"
   Expected output should include the fingerprint: 4A8F 7B2C 9E3D 1F5A 8C6B 2D9E 4F1A 8B7C 3E2D 9F4A (example—check our official links page for actual fingerprint)
3. Download Signed Message: Download the PGP-signed mirror list (typically a .asc file) from our official site or trusted forums.
4. Verify Signature: Run the verification command:
   Verify PGP Signature

   gpg --verify torzon-mirrors-2026-01.asc
5. Interpret Results: You should see output like: Good signature from "Torzon Market Official <official@torzon...>". Warnings about key trust are normal—as long as the fingerprint matches, the signature is valid.

For more detailed PGP tutorials including key generation and message encryption, see our complete access guide.

Your password is the first line of defense protecting your Torzon Market account and funds. Weak passwords can be cracked in seconds using modern GPU-accelerated password crackers. Strong passwords, properly managed, are effectively unbreakable.

Password Strength Requirements

Minimum standards for Torzon Market passwords:

• Length: 20+ characters (32+ recommended for high-security accounts)
• Complexity: Combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
• Uniqueness: Never used on any other account, ever
• Randomness: Not based on dictionary words, personal information, or predictable patterns

Password Generation Methods

Option 1: Diceware Passphrases (Recommended for Most Users)

The EFF Diceware method creates memorable yet highly secure passphrases by randomly selecting words from a standardized list. To generate a passphrase:

1. Roll five dice (or use a digital dice roller) and record the numbers (e.g., 3-4-2-1-5)
2. Look up the corresponding word on the EFF Diceware wordlist
3. Repeat 6-8 times to generate a passphrase like: correct horse battery staple mongoose river
4. Add numbers and symbols for extra entropy: correct7horse#battery2staple!mongoose9river

This method creates passphrases with approximately 77-103 bits of entropy (6-8 words), which is far beyond what's needed to defeat any practical attack.

Option 2: Random Character Strings (Maximum Security)

For users who use password managers and don't need to manually type passwords, completely random character strings provide maximum security:

Example output: K7m#9Lx$2Pq@8Rn%4Wz!1Bv^3Cy&6Df

Password Storage

NEVER store passwords in:

• Plaintext files (text documents, sticky notes, email drafts)
• Browser autofill/password managers (vulnerable to malware)
• Cloud storage services (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud)
• Unencrypted notes apps

DO store passwords in:

• KeePassXC (open-source, cross-platform, encrypted database)
• Bitwarden (self-hosted instance only, not cloud-hosted)
• Offline encrypted USB drive with backup copies in secure physical locations
• Memory (for Diceware passphrases that are memorable enough)

Password Rotation

Best practice is to change your Torzon Market password every 12-18 months, even if you have no reason to believe it's been compromised. This limits exposure if a compromise eventually comes to light. When rotating:

1. Generate a completely new password (don't just increment numbers or add characters)
2. Update your password manager immediately
3. Delete old password references securely
4. Consider rotating your PGP key at the same time for maximum security

For information about additional account security layers, see our comprehensive security features.

As of February 2024, all new Torzon Market accounts must enable PGP-based two-factor authentication within 48 hours of registration. This section provides condensed setup instructions (for full details, see our tutorial page).

Why PGP 2FA is Superior

Traditional 2FA methods (TOTP via Google Authenticator, SMS codes) have significant vulnerabilities:

• TOTP: Can be phished in real-time. Attacker captures your password and current TOTP code, immediately uses them to log in.
• SMS: Vulnerable to SIM-swapping attacks and SS7 protocol exploits. Multiple high-profile cases of cryptocurrency theft via SMS 2FA bypass.

PGP 2FA is fundamentally different. Each login requires you to decrypt a unique challenge with your private key and sign a response. Even if an attacker intercepts the challenge and your response, they cannot reuse them—the next login will generate a completely different challenge.

Quick Setup Guide

1. Prerequisites: 4096-bit RSA PGP key pair generated and public key uploaded to your account (see Tutorial: Step 5 for key generation)
2. Enable 2FA: Navigate to Settings → Security → Two-Factor Authentication, click "Enable PGP 2FA"
3. Test Challenge: System generates an encrypted test challenge using your public key
4. Decrypt & Sign: Copy the encrypted text, decrypt it with your private key: gpg --decrypt challenge.txt, then sign the decrypted plaintext: gpg --clearsign response.txt
5. Submit Response: Paste the signed message (including PGP signature markers) back into the verification field
6. Confirmation: If signature is valid, 2FA is now active and required for all future logins

Backup Strategy (Critical)

Mandatory backup procedures:

• Maintain at least 3 backup copies of your private key in different physical locations
• Store backups on encrypted USB drives, paper printouts in safes, or encrypted cloud storage (with a different passphrase than your key passphrase)
• Test your backups periodically by restoring and using them to decrypt test messages
• Store your PGP passphrase separately from your key backups (e.g., in a password manager)

For troubleshooting common 2FA issues, see the "Common Issues & Solutions" section below.

This section provides an in-depth explanation of why Monero (XMR) offers superior privacy compared to Bitcoin and why privacy-conscious Torzon Market users should strongly consider using it for all transactions.

Bitcoin's Privacy Problem

Bitcoin was revolutionary when it launched in 2009, but it was never designed for strong privacy. Every Bitcoin transaction is permanently recorded on a public blockchain where:

• All transaction amounts are visible
• Sender and recipient addresses are publicly linked
• Transaction histories can be traced back to the coinbase transaction (block reward)
• Clustering heuristics can link multiple addresses to the same wallet

Blockchain analysis companies like Chainalysis, Elliptic, and CipherTrace have built sophisticated tools that can de-anonymize Bitcoin users by correlating on-chain data with off-chain information (exchange KYC data, IP addresses from unmasked wallet connections, timing analysis, etc.). Academic research has shown that up to 60% of Bitcoin users can be de-anonymized to some extent through these methods.

Monero's Privacy Technologies

Monero addresses Bitcoin's privacy flaws through three core technologies:

1. Ring Signatures (Sender Privacy)

When you send Monero, your transaction is cryptographically mixed with 15 other decoy transactions (as of the v0.18.4 network upgrade in January 2026). An observer seeing the transaction on the blockchain sees 16 possible senders but cannot determine which is the real one. The mathematics ensure that all 16 possibilities appear equally likely, making it impossible to identify the true sender even with advanced statistical analysis.

2. Stealth Addresses (Recipient Privacy)

Monero uses one-time destination addresses for every transaction. When you publish your Monero address (like on your Torzon Market profile), it's actually a set of public keys that allow senders to derive unique one-time addresses for each payment. The blockchain shows that someone received XMR, but observers cannot link it to your published address. Only you, holding the corresponding private keys, can detect and spend the funds.

3. RingCT (Amount Privacy)

Ring Confidential Transactions hide the amount being transferred using cryptographic commitments and range proofs. Observers can verify that a transaction is valid (inputs equal outputs, no coins created from nothing) without seeing the actual amounts. Compare this to Bitcoin where everyone can see you sent exactly 0.05 BTC.

Practical Implications

What does this mean for Torzon Market users?

• No Transaction Tracking: Blockchain analysis firms cannot track your XMR payments to vendors or correlate your darknet activity with your real-world finances
• Fungibility: All XMR is fungible (interchangeable). Unlike Bitcoin, where coins from darknet markets or ransomware attacks can be blacklisted by exchanges, every Monero coin is identical and equally acceptable
• Future-Proof: Even if your Monero wallet is somehow compromised in the future, your past transaction history remains private because it's cryptographically hidden on-chain

Using Monero on Torzon Market

Getting started with Monero:

1. Download the official Monero GUI or CLI wallet from getmonero.org/downloads and verify the signatures
2. Generate a new wallet (write down your 25-word seed phrase and store it securely)
3. Acquire XMR from a privacy-respecting exchange (avoid KYC exchanges if possible) or through peer-to-peer trades
4. When placing orders on Torzon Market, select XMR as your payment currency
5. Send the exact amount to the provided integrated address (includes payment ID for automatic crediting)

Current Monero network statistics (as of January 19, 2026):

• Average Transaction Fee: $0.0167 USD (vs. $3-15 for Bitcoin)
• Confirmation Time: ~4-20 minutes (1-10 blocks)
• Block Time: 2 minutes (vs. 10 minutes for Bitcoin)
• Ring Size: 16 decoys (mandatory)

For detailed cryptocurrency feature information, see our multi-currency support page.

This section addresses the most frequently reported issues and their solutions. If your problem isn't covered here, use our encrypted support form below.

Issue: Cannot Connect to Tor Network

Symptoms: Tor Browser shows "Connecting to Tor network..." indefinitely, or displays connection timeout errors.

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• Firewall Blocking: Check that your firewall allows Tor Browser to access the internet. Tor needs TCP ports 9001 and 9030. Add exceptions if necessary.
• ISP/Government Censorship: If Tor is blocked in your country, configure bridges. Click "Configure" at the Tor Browser startup screen, select "Tor is censored in my country," and request obfs4 bridges from bridges.torproject.org.
• System Clock: Ensure your system clock is accurate (within 30 minutes of real time). Tor requires accurate time for circuit cryptography.

Issue: Mirror Link Not Loading / 404 Error

Symptoms: Clicking a verified mirror link results in "Page Not Found" or indefinite loading.

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• Mirror Rotation: We rotate mirrors every 3-4 months for security. Check our official links page for the current verified mirror list (PGP-signed).
• Temporary Downtime: Try a different mirror from our list. With 9 active mirrors, at least one should be accessible at all times.
• Tor Circuit Issue: Click "New Circuit for this Site" (hamburger menu → New Circuit) to establish a fresh route through the Tor network.

Issue: PGP 2FA Challenge Won't Decrypt

Symptoms: When trying to decrypt the 2FA challenge, GPG returns errors like "decryption failed" or "no secret key."

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• Wrong Private Key: Ensure you're using the private key that corresponds to the public key uploaded to your Torzon Market account. Check key fingerprints with: gpg --list-keys
• Passphrase Incorrect: GPG will prompt for your private key passphrase. Enter it carefully (it's case-sensitive and may include special characters).
• Key Not Imported: If you recently reinstalled GPG or switched computers, you need to import your private key backup: gpg --import my-private-key.asc

Issue: Order Payment Not Confirming

Symptoms: You sent cryptocurrency to the escrow address, but the order status still shows "Awaiting Payment" after 30+ minutes.

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• Insufficient Confirmations: Bitcoin requires 2 confirmations (~20 minutes), Monero requires 1 confirmation (~2-4 minutes). Check your wallet for confirmation status.
• Incorrect Amount: Verify you sent the EXACT amount displayed on the order page, including network fees. Partial payments are not automatically credited.
• Wrong Address: Double-check that you sent to the correct escrow address. Each order has a unique multisig address—reusing addresses from old orders won't work.
• Network Congestion: During high network activity, confirmations may take longer. For Bitcoin, check mempool.space for current network status.

Issue: Anti-Phishing Code Missing After Login

Symptoms: You successfully logged in, but your personal anti-phishing code is not displayed at the top of the page.

THIS IS A CRITICAL SECURITY ALERT:

• You are on a phishing site. Close Tor Browser immediately without entering any additional information.
• Clear your browser cache and cookies: Settings → Privacy & Security → Clear Data
• Verify the onion address against our PGP-signed mirror list
• Change your password immediately after accessing the legitimate site (the phishing site now has your credentials)
• Check your account for unauthorized activity or withdrawals

For additional troubleshooting assistance, contact our encrypted support channel below.

If you're experiencing technical issues, need to report a security vulnerability, or have questions not covered in our documentation, use this encrypted support form. All messages are transmitted over Tor and encrypted with our support team's PGP key before storage.

Response Time: We aim to respond within 24-48 hours for general inquiries, 4-12 hours for security-critical reports.

Issue Category -- Select Category -- Technical Issue (login, 2FA, payment confirmation) Security Concern or Vulnerability Report Account Access or Recovery Transaction Dispute Assistance Vendor Application or Verification General Inquiry

Subject / Brief Description

Contact Email (Optional - Use Encrypted Email Only) If provided, use ProtonMail, Tutanota, or similar encrypted service accessed only via Tor. Never use Gmail, Yahoo, etc.

Detailed Message

I understand that this form should NOT be used for time-sensitive emergencies (e.g., active account compromise). For emergencies, see procedures below.

Submit Encrypted Message

If you're experiencing a time-sensitive security emergency—such as active account compromise, unauthorized withdrawals, or discovery of a critical vulnerability being actively exploited—use these emergency contact methods instead of the standard support form.

Emergency Scenarios

Use emergency contact procedures for:

• Active Account Compromise: You notice unauthorized logins, withdrawals, or order placements happening in real-time
• Critical Security Vulnerability: You've discovered a vulnerability that could lead to immediate user harm (e.g., PGP verification bypass, escrow system exploit)
• Phishing Site Impersonating Torzon: You've discovered a sophisticated phishing site actively stealing user credentials
• Law Enforcement Contact: You've been contacted by law enforcement regarding your Torzon Market account (DO NOT speak to them without legal counsel)

Emergency Contact Methods

1. Darknet Forums (Fastest Response)

Post on trusted darknet forums like Dread or Recon with [URGENT] tag. Our moderators monitor these forums 24/7. Include your account username (but never your password or private keys) and nature of the emergency.

2. PGP-Encrypted Email (Sensitive Information)

For emergencies requiring sensitive details, send PGP-encrypted email to our emergency contact address (published on our official links page). Encrypt with our emergency response PGP key (fingerprint also on links page).

3. Immediate Account Actions You Can Take

While waiting for support response, take these immediate protective actions:

• Change Password: If you can still access your account, change your password immediately to a new strong password
• Withdraw Funds: If unauthorized withdrawals are occurring, immediately withdraw any remaining balance to an address you control
• Revoke PGP Key: If you suspect your PGP private key is compromised, generate and publish a revocation certificate, then generate a new key pair
• Document Everything: Take screenshots of unauthorized activity, note exact timestamps, save all relevant evidence

For non-emergency support, platform information, and general security guidance, explore our other resources: About Torzon | Platform Features | Statistics | Privacy News