Small habits, compounded

Operational security is not one dramatic measure; it is a set of small, boring habits that stop the little leaks from adding up into an identity.

Compartmentalise

• Use a username you have never used anywhere else. A reused handle links this account to a clearnet trail in one search.
• Use a password unique to this account, generated and stored in a local manager.
• Keep market activity on a separate profile, ideally a separate Tails session, from your everyday life.

Watch what you write

Free-text fields are where people deanonymise themselves. Messages to vendors, dispute notes and reviews are read by more people than you think. Never mention a real name, a nearby landmark, an exact time, or details that narrow you down. Write as if the note will one day be public, because it might.

Timing and patterns

Consistent behaviour is a fingerprint. Logging in at the same minute every day, or from a predictable pattern, is a signal. There is no need to be paranoid, only to avoid being predictable and to avoid tying your market rhythm to your real-life rhythm.

Money hygiene

Do not send coins to the market straight from an identity-verified exchange. Route through your own wallet first, and prefer Monero where you can. See the wallet section for the mechanics.

Last reviewed 2026-07-09.