Step-by-Step Guide
Mars Market Tutorial
Complete beginner guide to accessing Mars Market safely — from installing Tor Browser to placing your first order with Monero.
PHASE 1
Setting Up Tor Browser
Tor Browser is the only safe way to access Mars Market. This phase covers download, installation and security configuration.
1
Download Tor Browser from the official source
Go to torproject.org and download Tor Browser for your operating system. Only use the official Tor Project website — never download from third-party sources. After downloading, verify the cryptographic signature of the installer using GnuPG to confirm it has not been tampered with.
2
Set Security Level to Safest
After installing Tor Browser, click the shield icon in the toolbar → Advanced Security Settings → set to Safest. This disables JavaScript globally, which is essential for preventing browser fingerprinting and deanonymization attacks. Mars Market works fully without JavaScript.
3
Do not resize the browser window
Keep Tor Browser at its default window size. Window dimensions are used by fingerprinting scripts to identify users. Tor Browser displays a warning if you try to resize — take this seriously and leave the window at its default size throughout your session.
4
Connect to the Tor network
Click Connect when Tor Browser starts. Wait for the connection to establish — this may take 10-30 seconds. Once connected, the Tor circuit indicator in the toolbar will show green. You are now routing traffic through three Tor relays.
PHASE 2
Accessing Mars Market
How to find and verify the official Mars Market onion address and navigate to the platform safely.
5
Get the verified onion address
The verified Mars Market onion address is displayed in the footer of this page for visitors arriving from search engines. Only use addresses that have been verified against the official Mars Market PGP signature. Never use addresses from Telegram groups, random forums or unverified sources — phishing clones are common.
6
Copy and paste — never click
Copy the onion address manually and paste it into the Tor Browser address bar. Never click onion links — clicking can expose metadata about your session. Type or paste the full address including the
.onion suffix and press Enter.7
Complete the Anti-Phishing verification
Mars Market's login page shows an Anti-Phishing screen with a partial onion address. Verify that the address in your Tor Browser address bar matches the one shown. This protects you from having followed a phishing link without realising. If the addresses do not match, close the browser immediately.
8
Complete the DDoS protection challenge
Mars Market uses an Endgame Proof-of-Work challenge to filter bots. This requires your browser to solve a computational puzzle — it takes a few seconds and happens automatically. This is a normal part of the login process and not a sign of a problem.
PHASE 3
Account Setup & Security
Creating your account and configuring security settings before your first order.
9
Register with a strong username and password
Click Create an account on the login page. Choose a username that does not identify you — no real names, no usernames you use elsewhere. Use a password of at least 20 characters with mixed case, numbers and symbols. Store it in a password manager that never touches the internet, or write it down and keep it physically secure.
10
Enable Two-Factor Authentication immediately
After registration, go to your account settings and enable TOTP 2FA using an authenticator app (such as Aegis on Android or Tofu on iOS). Save your backup codes offline. 2FA prevents account takeover even if your password is compromised.
11
Upload your PGP public key
Generate a PGP key pair using GnuPG and upload your public key to your Mars Market profile. This allows vendors to encrypt messages to you. Without a PGP key, vendors cannot safely send your order details. See our Wallet & Tools guide for PGP setup instructions.
12
Fund your Monero wallet and place an order
Mars Market is walletless — you do not pre-deposit funds. When you place an order, the platform generates a unique Monero sub-address for that transaction. Send the exact XMR amount to that address. Once confirmed (10+ blocks), the funds enter multisig escrow and your order is processed.
Before you order
Mars Market is walletless — never pre-deposit funds. Set up a dedicated Monero wallet first, then send the exact XMR amount to the unique sub-address generated for your order.