A first order on Anubis, start to finish

Everything on this site in the sequence you would actually encounter it, with the coin decision sitting where it belongs rather than at the end.

1. Tor Browser, obtained properly

Download only from the Tor Project site, verify the signature on the first install, and set the security level to Safest. An ordinary browser cannot open an onion address at all, and a copy from a forwarded link is not one to trust with any of this.

2. A verified address, checked on arrival

Copy an address from the block on this site rather than typing it. When the login screen loads, compare the onion printed on the page against your browser address bar before typing anything. A cloned page reproduces the design perfectly and cannot show the real address while living at its own.

3. An account set up once, properly

A username used nowhere else, a long generated password from a local manager, the recovery phrase written on paper, and two factor enabled. Ten minutes now, and a leaked password later stops being the end of the account.

4. The coin decision

Decide before you acquire anything rather than at the payment screen. If the purchase should leave no permanent public record, that is Monero. If you accept a public record, the remaining three differ on speed and what you already hold. The comparison page covers it in full.

5. Fund from a wallet you control

Move the coin off wherever you bought it, into a wallet holding keys you control, then send from there to the address this order issued. Fee added on top, not deducted.

6. Read the vendor before committing

Recent feedback rather than lifetime totals, and how they answered complaints rather than how many stars they hold. Start small with anybody untested, because a small first order buys the same information as a large one.

7. Confirm only on delivery

When the package arrives and matches, confirm receipt to release escrow. If it does not arrive or arrives wrong, open a dispute instead. Never confirm early to be polite or to move a slow order along.

Verified addresses

Before you sign in. Open these in Tor Browser only, then compare the onion printed on the login screen against your browser address bar. If they do not match, close the tab.