Wethenorth beginner guide — 8 steps to safe access

Download Tor Browser from the official source

The single most important security decision you'll make. Tor Browser is free, open-source, and maintained by the Tor Project, a nonprofit organization. Fake Tor downloads are extremely common on clearnet search results. Only download from torproject.org — not from any mirror or secondary site.

1. Open your regular browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)
2. Navigate to torproject.org
3. Click "Download" — the button is prominent and centered
4. Select your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
5. Save the installer file to your Downloads folder

Security tip: Do not open the file immediately. Proceed to Step 2 to verify the download signature.

Verify the download signature before installation

Malware authors sometimes compromise mirrors or inject malicious code into downloads. Tor Browser signs every release with a cryptographic key. Verifying the signature confirms the file came from the Tor Project and hasn't been modified. This takes 3 minutes.

Windows & macOS (easiest)

1. Go to torproject.org/downloads and scroll to "Signature verification"
2. Download the .asc signature file for your installer
3. Download the Tor Project PGP public key (linked on the page)
4. Use GPG4Win (Windows) or GPGTools (Mac)
5. Verify the signature matches the installer

Linux (command line)

gpg --import signing-key.asc
gpg --verify tor-browser-installer.tar.xz.asc

What you're looking for: The output should say "Good signature from Tor Browser Developers" with no warnings. If verification fails, delete the file and re-download.

Install and connect to the Tor network

The installation is straightforward — extract the file and click the executable. Tor Browser automatically connects to the network when you open it. Your first connection will take 15-45 seconds as Tor circuits through multiple relay nodes. This is normal.

1. Double-click the Tor Browser installer you verified in Step 2
2. Choose your installation location (default is fine)
3. Launch Tor Browser after installation completes
4. Click "Connect" when the window opens
5. Wait for the connection progress bar to complete (15-45 seconds typical)

Once Tor connects, a Firefox window opens with the Tor Browser homepage. Your IP address is now hidden. You're routing through Tor relays in different countries. This is working correctly if you see the "Congratulations" message on the homepage.

Slow connection? On networks under 5 Mbps or with restrictive firewalls, Tor may take 2-3 minutes to connect. This is still normal. Never force-close before the connection timer completes.

Navigate to Wethenorth using the verified onion address

Onion addresses are long random strings ending in .onion. They look like gibberish because they're cryptographically generated. Wethenorth has two primary mirrors — both are tracked by wtnsource with PGP verification and real-time uptime checks. Copy the address directly from wtnsource or the dread forum. Typing it manually introduces typos that land on phishing clones.

The verified Wethenorth onion addresses are:

• hn2pawgbh5owvqgegyl5e445otpgntx64meszbo5e2o6nfk7szxknmyd.onion
• hn2pawgbh5owvqgegyl5e445otpgntx64meszbo5e4o6nfk7szxknmyd.onion

1. Copy one address from wtnsource (click the copy button)
2. In Tor Browser address bar, paste the onion address
3. Press Enter and wait 5-15 seconds for the page to load
4. You should see the Wethenorth homepage with the teal captcha banner

Phishing check: The real Wethenorth uses a four-digit numeric captcha with a teal background. Phishing copies use generic Cloudflare challenges or CAPTCHA.com widgets.

Verify the link is authentic, not a phishing clone

Phishing attacks are the #1 threat to first-time Wethenorth users. Attackers register lookalike .onion addresses and run them on taken down servers. The fake site looks identical to the real market. The difference is subtle but critical. Here's how to verify you're on the real Wethenorth.

Four verification checks:

1. Address check: Compare the .onion address in the address bar character-by-character against wtnsource. One character wrong = phishing.
2. Captcha design: The real Wethenorth uses a numeric captcha with teal background. Fakes use Google reCAPTCHA or Cloudflare.
3. HTTPS lock: Wethenorth uses a self-signed certificate (expected for darknet). You'll see a certificate warning — this is normal. Click "Advanced" then "Proceed" if you trust the address.
4. Page speed: Real Wethenorth loads in 3-8 seconds. Extremely fast pages (instant load) or extremely slow pages (20+ seconds) suggest mirrors or fakes.

When in doubt: Load from wtnsource. Compare addresses character-by-character. Reload the page multiple times. Slow internet? That's normal. Captcha won't load? That's a phishing site — go back and copy the address again from wtnsource.

Create your Wethenorth account with strong security

Account creation on Wethenorth requires only a username and password — no email, phone number, or personal data. Your anonymity is preserved. However, your login credentials need to be extremely strong because brute-force attacks are common on darknet markets. Weak passwords are cracked within hours.

Password requirements:

• Minimum 20 characters (32+ is better)
• Mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols (!@#$%^&*)
• Not a dictionary word or name
• Not a pattern you've used before
• Example: 7mK#9@xL2$vP4&nQz8*rW!

1. Click "Register" on the Wethenorth homepage
2. Enter a username (can be pseudonymous — no validation)
3. Enter a strong password (20+ characters with mixed case, numbers, symbols)
4. Re-enter the password for confirmation
5. Solve the captcha (numeric four-digit code)
6. Click "Create Account"

Critical: Wethenorth has no password recovery. Write your credentials on paper or in an encrypted password manager. Losing your password = permanent account loss and any balance in the wallet.

Set up a Monero or Bitcoin wallet

Wethenorth accepts BTC and Monero (XMR). Monero is preferred for privacy — it's a privacy coin with untraceable transactions by default. Bitcoin transactions are pseudonymous but traceable on the blockchain. New users often choose Monero for maximum privacy. Both work fine on Wethenorth.

Monero Wallet (recommended for beginners):

1. Download Feather Wallet (user-friendly) or Monero Official wallet
2. Create a new wallet (generate seed phrase immediately)
3. Back up your seed phrase (24 words) on paper in a secure location
4. Copy your public address (the long string that receives funds)

Bitcoin Wallet (alternative):

1. Download Electrum (Tor-friendly) or Sparrow
2. Create a new wallet
3. Confirm your seed phrase (12 words minimum)
4. Copy your receiving address

Seed phrase security: Your 24-word seed phrase is your backup. Anyone with these words can access your funds. Write them down air-gapped. Do NOT screenshot, email, or store in cloud storage.

Deposit crypto and complete your first transaction

You now have a Wethenorth account and a funded wallet. The final step is depositing crypto into your Wethenorth wallet and buying from a verified vendor. Wethenorth holds funds in escrow — the seller doesn't get paid until you confirm delivery.

Deposit crypto to Wethenorth:

1. Log into your Wethenorth account
2. Navigate to Wallet → Deposit
3. Select your currency (BTC or XMR)
4. Copy the deposit address shown on screen
5. Open your local wallet → Send
6. Paste the Wethenorth address and enter the amount
7. Review and confirm the transaction
8. Wait for blockchain confirmation (1-3 blocks, typically 10-30 minutes)
9. Funds appear in your Wethenorth wallet immediately after confirmation

Make your first purchase:

1. Browse listings by category or search for vendors
2. Click a listing from a vendor with 4.7+ rating and 100+ reviews
3. Review the item description, price, and shipping time (2-7 days typical)
4. Click "Place Order"
5. Enter your shipping address (encrypted, market-side)
6. Confirm the order — funds move to escrow immediately
7. Seller receives notification and prepares shipment
8. You receive tracking or delivery confirmation
9. After delivery, mark as received to release funds to vendor

Escrow protection: Wethenorth holds the payment in escrow for 2-21 days (vendor-configured) after shipment. If the package doesn't arrive, open a dispute with the moderators. The market sides with buyers in 80%+ of cases where tracking proves non-delivery.