Black Market

Glossary

Last updated: May 2026

This glossary defines key terms used throughout the Black Market Handbook.


Common Terms

OPSEC
Operational Security — practices to keep your activities safe and private.
PGP
Pretty Good Privacy — encryption standard for secure communication.
Tor
The Onion Router — anonymity network that routes traffic through multiple layers.
XMR
Monero — private cryptocurrency that hides transaction details.
Tails
Amnesiac OS — runs from USB, leaves no traces on the computer.
Whonix
VM-based OS with a Tor gateway for total anonymity.
Onion
Top-level domain for .onion sites accessible only through Tor.
Clearnet
The regular internet accessible without Tor.
Escrow
Third-party holding of funds until a transaction is complete.
Fingerprint
Unique identifier for a PGP key used for verification.
Controlled Delivery
Law enforcement monitoring of a package delivery.

Common Acronyms

  • DNM — Darknet Market
  • LE — Law Enforcement
  • XMR — Monero
  • BTC — Bitcoin
  • VM — Virtual Machine
  • VPN — Virtual Private Network
  • SSL/TLS — Secure Sockets Layer / Transport Layer Security
Remember: Understanding these terms is essential for following the guide and staying safe.