Silk Road forums

Discussion => Newbie discussion => Topic started by: PrincessButtercup on April 27, 2013, 03:35 pm

Title: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: PrincessButtercup on April 27, 2013, 03:35 pm
I've been lurking around SR and the Forum for a awhile now and am quite amazed at the time some people put in to help the less clued in among us - good folks like "White Out", "Pine" "Vegeta" and many more.

Here's what I've learnt (and put in to practice) so far:

1) Always always always use PGP encryption for vendor communications - no exceptions! 
2) Never FE -- except of course some will insist on it from newbies and if you are dealing with a limited number of suppliers your may have no choice - but resist.
3) For those of us with compromised computers - machines that have been used to torrent, download any amount of porn, that kind of thing - it's best to use a Linux based boot software like TAILS or Liberte to access Tor. It's important to keep your Tor life and clearnet life completely separate.
6) Change your default wi-fi router password, your ISP will know the password for the router at your address if they provided it.
4) Consider using a different name on the Forum as SR - not everyone agrees this is important. Individual choice.
5) If you buy bitcoins using a bank transfer or any other method that links you to the transaction, move the coins to a service like Bitfog first, and then on to SR. Bitfog (or whatever is used) should only ever be accessed through Tor.
7) Use your real name and address for the delivery (no consensus on this at all) - I think this makes sense for small orders/ personal quantities. For anything larger a safe address should be sought (not sure how this is done as most of us would have a hard time finding a reliable address)
8) Keep your house CLEAN if that is where your small purchase is destined.
9) If LE get involved in any way say nothing - zip! Don't accept the assertion that you are in control or possession of anything that arrives in your mailbox - anyone can send anything anonymously to anyone.


So this is what I've worked out so far - anyone have anything to add?

Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: sockmonkey supreme on April 29, 2013, 02:15 am
That's a really good list, Princess. If I could bestow karma, I'd bestow it upon you.
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: PrincessButtercup on April 29, 2013, 05:39 pm
That's a really good list, Princess. If I could bestow karma, I'd bestow it upon you.

Thanks! Still trying to get a handle on everything - and keep dumb mistakes to a minimum :0
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: White 0ut on April 29, 2013, 05:48 pm
I believe you hit the nail right on the head!

This is a pretty solid set of guidelines, I just wish all newcomers could have this knowledge before ordering...

Ah, can't save them all, but even if one persons freedom is salvaged it's worth the while for all of us!

Thanks for the shout but there are a lot more knowledgeable people here! You just don't see a lot from them for newbs, mostly just to help solve issues even I can't handle (which are a lot) They only speak out of wisdom and choose few words!
:D
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: DanDanTheIceCreamMan on April 29, 2013, 05:59 pm
That's a really good list. I love lists! Good info/advice for all new comers to the drugs in the mail game. 2 things. 1)For the pgp encryption you don't have to use it for EVERYTHING, just for sensitive info like your address or anything else you wouldn't want anyone else to know. A lot of vendors find it annoying to have to use their pgp to answer questions like, "did you send it yet?". Although I'm sure they'll all understand why you wanted to. And 2) you need to add one more thing to the list.


1) Always always always use PGP encryption for vendor communications - no exceptions! 
2) Never FE -- except of course some will insist on it from newbies and if you are dealing with a limited number of suppliers your may have no choice - but resist.
3) For those of us with compromised computers - machines that have been used to torrent, download any amount of porn, that kind of thing - it's best to use a Linux based boot software like TAILS or Liberte to access Tor. It's important to keep your Tor life and clearnet life completely separate.
6) Change your default wi-fi router password, your ISP will know the password for the router at your address if they provided it.
4) Consider using a different name on the Forum as SR - not everyone agrees this is important. Individual choice.
5) If you buy bitcoins using a bank transfer or any other method that links you to the transaction, move the coins to a service like Bitfog first, and then on to SR. Bitfog (or whatever is used) should only ever be accessed through Tor.
7) Use your real name and address for the delivery (no consensus on this at all) - I think this makes sense for small orders/ personal quantities. For anything larger a safe address should be sought (not sure how this is done as most of us would have a hard time finding a reliable address)
8) Keep your house CLEAN if that is where your small purchase is destined.
9) If LE get involved in any way say nothing - zip! Don't accept the assertion that you are in control or possession of anything that arrives in your mailbox - anyone can send anything anonymously to anyone.


So this is what I've worked out so far - anyone have anything to add?

10) Always eat some icecream when opening packages for good luck and also because icecream tastes good.
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: DrQuantum on April 29, 2013, 06:07 pm
Great list. Almost like an unofficial code of conduct. Thank you!  ;D

And the addition of eating ice cream - genius. Vanilla...now there is a spice that evolved over millions of years just for making ice cream great!
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: PrincessButtercup on April 29, 2013, 06:35 pm
I believe you hit the nail right on the head!

This is a pretty solid set of guidelines, I just wish all newcomers could have this knowledge before ordering...

Ah, can't save them all, but even if one persons freedom is salvaged it's worth the while for all of us!

Thanks for the shout but there are a lot more knowledgeable people here! You just don't see a lot from them for newbs, mostly just to help solve issues even I can't handle (which are a lot) They only speak out of wisdom and choose few words!
:D


Thanks White Out!

For my first order I sent my details unencrypted -- duh! I really didn't know what I was doing when I started and only found the forum some time later.

SR should consider requiring all new buyers to register for the forum and at least click the 'newbie' link once before ordering :)

Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: PrincessButtercup on April 29, 2013, 06:40 pm
That's a really good list. I love lists! Good info/advice for all new comers to the drugs in the mail game. 2 things. 1)For the pgp encryption you don't have to use it for EVERYTHING, just for sensitive info like your address or anything else you wouldn't want anyone else to know. A lot of vendors find it annoying to have to use their pgp to answer questions like, "did you send it yet?". Although I'm sure they'll all understand why you wanted to. And 2) you need to add one more thing to the list.


1) Always always always use PGP encryption for vendor communications - no exceptions! 
2) Never FE -- except of course some will insist on it from newbies and if you are dealing with a limited number of suppliers your may have no choice - but resist.
3) For those of us with compromised computers - machines that have been used to torrent, download any amount of porn, that kind of thing - it's best to use a Linux based boot software like TAILS or Liberte to access Tor. It's important to keep your Tor life and clearnet life completely separate.
6) Change your default wi-fi router password, your ISP will know the password for the router at your address if they provided it.
4) Consider using a different name on the Forum as SR - not everyone agrees this is important. Individual choice.
5) If you buy bitcoins using a bank transfer or any other method that links you to the transaction, move the coins to a service like Bitfog first, and then on to SR. Bitfog (or whatever is used) should only ever be accessed through Tor.
7) Use your real name and address for the delivery (no consensus on this at all) - I think this makes sense for small orders/ personal quantities. For anything larger a safe address should be sought (not sure how this is done as most of us would have a hard time finding a reliable address)
8) Keep your house CLEAN if that is where your small purchase is destined.
9) If LE get involved in any way say nothing - zip! Don't accept the assertion that you are in control or possession of anything that arrives in your mailbox - anyone can send anything anonymously to anyone.


So this is what I've worked out so far - anyone have anything to add?

10) Always eat some icecream when opening packages for good luck and also because icecream tastes good.

ice cream. check.
:)
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: Leolo on April 29, 2013, 06:47 pm
Love vanilla. Did you know that it contains piperonal, which can be used to make MDMA ?

Another reason to love icecream!

Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: MedicineWoman on April 29, 2013, 06:51 pm
Quote
4) Consider using a different name on the Forum as SR - not everyone agrees this is important. Individual choice.
Glad you brought this up. I've got a buyer account on SR and a seller account. I post buyer-related forum questions under a different name on the forum.

But for seller-related questions, I'm using the same name. I figure that my love of helping others can only build my reputation, so I want to be 100% transparent as a vendor.

Quote
Use your real name and address for the delivery (no consensus on this at all) - I think this makes sense for small orders/ personal quantities. For anything larger a safe address should be sought (not sure how this is done as most of us would have a hard time finding a reliable address)
I agree there's no consensus, and I'm keen on figuring this out.

My reasoning to date has been that nothing is ever safer than the truth. When placing orders (obviously, not under my VENDOR account!) I used my actual name and address. No need for the delivery person to look twice at the package when it arrives. I'm relying on plausible deniability, which I relied on long before SR came around, when I wanted to send goodies to friends.

Thanks for taking time to put together a list. Sorry, as a newb here I've no karma to give.  :P

--MedicineWoman
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: PrincessButtercup on April 29, 2013, 07:06 pm
Quote
4) Consider using a different name on the Forum as SR - not everyone agrees this is important. Individual choice.
Glad you brought this up. I've got a buyer account on SR and a seller account. I post buyer-related forum questions under a different name on the forum.

But for seller-related questions, I'm using the same name. I figure that my love of helping others can only build my reputation, so I want to be 100% transparent as a vendor.

Quote
Use your real name and address for the delivery (no consensus on this at all) - I think this makes sense for small orders/ personal quantities. For anything larger a safe address should be sought (not sure how this is done as most of us would have a hard time finding a reliable address)
I agree there's no consensus, and I'm keen on figuring this out.

My reasoning to date has been that nothing is ever safer than the truth. When placing orders (obviously, not under my VENDOR account!) I used my actual name and address. No need for the delivery person to look twice at the package when it arrives. I'm relying on plausible deniability, which I relied on long before SR came around, when I wanted to send goodies to friends.

Thanks for taking time to put together a list. Sorry, as a newb here I've no karma to give.  :P

--MedicineWoman

Thanks MedicineWoman!

Using different names is probably not necessary; I think experience on SR and knowledge regarding the technologies it relies on affects individual perceptions of safety - I'm still getting my head around it all. When I post here I remind myself that LE are among those reading and having an extra layer of anonymity between my two activities (buying and talking ... about buying :)) helps ease my slightly paranoid mind!

As for delivery, you have no control over what comes to your mailbox (thus all the junk mail we live with) - true address, real name = clean hands (imo).

Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: dankf on April 29, 2013, 07:41 pm
I read all the advice threads and still didn't use PGP on my first orders. If the site wouldn't have gone down and got me all paranoid, I'd probably still be doing it that way.  Now that I took the twenty minutes (or so) it takes to figure out how to use it. It seems stupid not to.

I have another confession...

For a grown man, I spend way too much time daydreaming about how cool it would be to be in a bromance with some of the vendors here.





Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: titan on April 29, 2013, 07:46 pm
+1 on the ice cream   :)
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: JohnJohnerson333 on April 29, 2013, 08:00 pm
I would add to this that you are much less likely to get a love letter from customs or the USPS if you stick to ordering domestic only.  I understand this isn't always an option for a variety of reasons, but when you can, you should. 
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: userspace on April 29, 2013, 08:26 pm
Nice list. All of these things are the same things I do every day I get on the Road.
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: Clockwork66504 on April 29, 2013, 09:04 pm

Solid List +1
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: TylerDurdensPenis on April 30, 2013, 02:38 am
Agreed with domestic only if at all possible.
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: zionize on April 30, 2013, 02:47 am
4) Consider using a different name on the Forum as SR - not everyone agrees this is important. Individual choice.

Why is this recommended? Just so that forum activity and SR activity can't be linked?
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: PrincessButtercup on April 30, 2013, 12:49 pm
4) Consider using a different name on the Forum as SR - not everyone agrees this is important. Individual choice.

Why is this recommended? Just so that forum activity and SR activity can't be linked?

It probably isn't necessary and many people use the same user name for SR and the Forum - of course for vendors using the same name for both is more important. For me, I remind myself whenever I'm on the Forum that everything I contribute is being read by my fellow travellers and LE. Now I know I am anonymous, but it feels better to have an extra layer of anonymity between my buying activities and my 'talking' activities - it really does come down to personal preference.
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: Blksheep on April 30, 2013, 12:52 pm
Believe nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: Paradoxis on April 30, 2013, 02:17 pm
Thanks Princess!  As a noob this list is a huge help and a great summary.

(Now...  off to decide what type of ice cream is best with MDA ;-)
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: thescholar on April 30, 2013, 03:22 pm
great list! I've yet to have an issue with an order not arriving.
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: Holl3r on April 30, 2013, 04:26 pm
Good list. Ice cream tip was a bonus  :) .
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: PrincessButtercup on April 30, 2013, 04:41 pm
Many thanks for the kind responses!


I have to admit I don't follow the 'clean house' recommendation completely - though I do keep my hobbies in one discrete place.

Keeping deliveries small (personal) is the best approach, imo.
:)
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: caligirl on April 30, 2013, 06:34 pm
Ice cream! That was awesome!
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: Cosette on April 30, 2013, 08:38 pm
Great .. now I want ice cream!
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: I_hate_scammers on April 30, 2013, 10:48 pm
"So this is what I've worked out so far - anyone have anything to add?"

Never sign for a package. Try to stick with domestic orders only as others have mentioned.

There are legitimate international vendors who use express shipping and therefore must require a signature (they need to be able to track for their protection), but I wouldn't advise it.

I try to avoid express shipping all together, even i it's domestic and the signature requirement is waived (this can be done -- I just think express mail is scrutinized more).

Also, avoid using a user name that you use for other sites (even if just one other site). And when leaving feedback, posting here, etc., try to vary your voice (i.e. consciously try to change the way you write so that you can't be identified by analysis -- this alone isn't enough for a bust, but it helps to confirm your identity).

And never reveal ANY personal information, even if it's general (e.g. what state or part of the country you live in, what college you attended, your profession, etc.) I know this all seems trivial, but in sum, these things can be used by LE to identify you
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: Cosette on May 01, 2013, 12:07 am
And never reveal ANY personal information, even if it's general (e.g. what state or part of the country you live in, what college you attended, your profession, etc.) I know this all seems trivial, but in sum, these things can be used by LE to identify you

Can't stress this enough. So many people blurt their city of residence [facepalm].
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: PrincessButtercup on May 01, 2013, 09:54 am
"So this is what I've worked out so far - anyone have anything to add?"

Never sign for a package. Try to stick with domestic orders only as others have mentioned.

There are legitimate international vendors who use express shipping and therefore must require a signature (they need to be able to track for their protection), but I wouldn't advise it.

I try to avoid express shipping all together, even i it's domestic and the signature requirement is waived (this can be done -- I just think express mail is scrutinized more).

Also, avoid using a user name that you use for other sites (even if just one other site). And when leaving feedback, posting here, etc., try to vary your voice (i.e. consciously try to change the way you write so that you can't be identified by analysis -- this alone isn't enough for a bust, but it helps to confirm your identity).

And never reveal ANY personal information, even if it's general (e.g. what state or part of the country you live in, what college you attended, your profession, etc.) I know this all seems trivial, but in sum, these things can be used by LE to identify you

Excellent points!

For me, using separate user names for SR and the Forum creates an additional, comforting, layer of anonymity.

PB.
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: trainsTrainsTRAINS on May 01, 2013, 10:06 am
4) Consider using a different name on the Forum as SR - not everyone agrees this is important. Individual choice.

Why is this recommended? Just so that forum activity and SR activity can't be linked?

It probably isn't necessary and many people use the same user name for SR and the Forum - of course for vendors using the same name for both is more important. For me, I remind myself whenever I'm on the Forum that everything I contribute is being read by my fellow travellers and LE. Now I know I am anonymous, but it feels better to have an extra layer of anonymity between my buying activities and my 'talking' activities - it really does come down to personal preference.

Yep, I'm with you buttercup.  Definitely don't want to give LE any names to search for on the road after posting freely on the forums.  After that thread about the dude who got a message from "DEADIVERSION" (whatever that was, who really knows?....but it seemed to freak out some of the vendors who messaged back at the guy) it seems like good practice to mix it up.
Title: Re: Confessions of a Newbie
Post by: Torocracy on May 01, 2013, 10:23 am
Write your passwords down on paper, for the case of your computer becoming compromised. Keep a back up in an alternative location.
Confession: I did not make a back-up copy to my detriment. FACEPALM