Tor Browser setup for Fawkes Market
Tor Browser is a free, modified Firefox that routes your traffic through the Tor network — three volunteer relays that hide your IP address from the websites you visit. Installing it takes about five minutes, and it needs zero configuration. Here's the whole process.
Step 1 — Download it from the official site
Go to torproject.org/download and pick your system: Windows, macOS, Linux or Android. Download only from torproject.org — random "download" sites occasionally add unwanted extras to the installer.
iPhone note: there's no official Tor Browser for iOS. iPhone users should open the market's clearnet mirrors in Safari instead.
Step 2 — Install and connect
Run the installer and accept the defaults — that's genuinely all there is. On first launch, press Connect. The browser builds its circuits (10–30 seconds), then opens with a purple welcome screen. You're now on Tor. Ordinary websites still work; onion addresses work too.
If Tor Browser struggles to connect on your network, click "Use a bridge" in the connection settings — bridges are built-in workarounds for networks that are awkward with Tor. UK home broadband almost never needs them.
Step 3 — Open Fawkes Market
Copy the official onion address and paste it into the Tor Browser address bar (typing 56 characters by hand invites typos):
fawkesgrixgdi6mepgocuntt34o73okuasaxmuqyu4miskuhhzp2dgad.onion
The market loads in a few seconds. First loads can be slow — that's Tor routing, not a problem. Reload once before worrying, then carry on to registration.
Step 4 — Bookmark everything
- The market itself (Ctrl+D / ⌘D, or the star in the address bar).
- fawkes.sc — the market's official link page, for whenever addresses change.
- This page, if you like — we keep the current links too.
Bookmarks mean you'll never have to trust a search result or an ad to find the market again. That single habit defeats most darknet phishing.
Living with Tor Browser
Keep it updated
Tor Browser updates itself with security fixes. When it asks to restart, let it — a minute now, safety all year.
It's a bit slower — that's fine
Three relays add latency. Browsing a market is fine; streaming video belongs in your normal browser.
One tab discipline
Keep darknet tabs in Tor Browser and everything else in your normal browser. Simple separation, effective OPSEC.
New circuit when stuck
Site misbehaving? Click the circuit icon and choose "New circuit for this site" before assuming the site is down.