Glossary

Plain-language definitions

Every term used across the handbook, plain-language definitions. If a chapter uses a word you do not recognise, look here first.

Onion address

A 56-character string ending in .onion. It is the public key of a Tor hidden service, encoded in base32. Only Tor Browser can resolve it.

Hidden service

A network service that runs only inside the Tor network. It has no clearnet name and no clearnet IP. Reachable only by its onion address.

Mirror

A distinct onion address that resolves to the same backend as the primary. Every TorZon mirror shows the same account, balance and orders.

PGP signature

A cryptographic signature over a message, made with a private key. Anyone with the matching public key can verify that the message really came from the key holder and has not been altered.

Signed rotation

A PGP-signed announcement from the TorZon operator listing the current set of mirror addresses. Verifying the signature proves the addresses are real.

Multisig

Short for multi-signature. A payment contract that requires more than one signature to release funds. TorZon uses 2 of 3 multisig on every deposit.

DDoS queue

A wait page in front of the login form. It holds visitors for 20 to 60 seconds before rendering the captcha. Slows down automated credential-stuffing.

Captcha match

The practice of comparing the onion address baked into the login captcha image against the address in your URL bar. Cheap phishing check that catches most clones.

Escrow

A payment arrangement where a third party (the market) holds funds until both buyer and vendor agree the trade is done. TorZon escrow is enforced by 2 of 3 multisig.

Mnemonic seed

A short human-readable phrase from which a wallet or account can be recovered. Registration on TorZon issues one. Write it on paper. Do not screenshot it.

Dispute

A formal disagreement over an order. Either buyer or vendor opens it, a moderator reads both sides, cosigns with whoever they judge correct. The second signature releases the funds.

Finalisation

The act of marking an order as complete. Coins release to the vendor. Finalisation before delivery (FE) drops escrow protection and is discouraged.

Bond

A refundable deposit a new vendor posts before their first listing goes live. Covers early exits. Returned after a clean probation period.

Guard node

The first Tor relay in your circuit. Tor uses the same guard for months to reduce anonymity attacks that rely on shuffling entry points.