Tor and Monero Series - Introduction

· linux, unix, security, tor, monero · 2 min read

This short series documents a practical, auditable approach to using Tor and Monero together without relying on public infrastructure or vague privacy assumptions.

The goal is not to promise perfect anonymity, but to show how to build systems with clear trust boundaries, explicit routing, and minimal exposure.

Part 1: A Secure Tor Client Setup on Artix Linux

The first post focuses on running Tor correctly as a client:

  • Explicit SOCKS usage
  • Support for Tor Browser
  • Application-level isolation
  • Minimal, auditable torrc
  • No relays, no exits, no transparent proxying

This post establishes a foundation: Tor traffic is anonymous when applications explicitly opt in, and non-Tor traffic is left untouched.

Read first: Part 1 - A Secure Tor Client Setup on Artix Linux (runit)

Part 2: Running a Private Monero Remote Node over Tor

The second post builds on that foundation to solve a concrete problem:

  • Avoiding public Monero nodes
  • Avoiding duplicated blockchains
  • Avoiding LAN or clearnet RPC exposure

It shows how to:

  • run one authoritative monerod,
  • expose it only via a Tor v3 hidden service,
  • restrict access using Tor client authorization,
  • connect securely from a laptop using the Monero GUI.

Read next: Part 2 - Running a Private Monero Remote Node over Tor (with Client Authorization)

Design Philosophy

Across both posts, the guiding principles are:

  • Explicit routing over implicit magic
  • Transport-layer security over application-layer patches
  • Small, composable components
  • Configurations that can be audited and reasoned about

Nothing here is novel, but everything is deliberate.

Intended Audience

This series is written for readers who are comfortable with:

  • Linux system administration
  • Editing configuration files
  • Understanding basic networking concepts

It is not intended as a beginner’s introduction to Tor or Monero, and it does not attempt to replace official documentation.

Closing Notes

Privacy tools are most effective when they are:

  • understood,
  • limited in scope,
  • and used deliberately.

This series aims to document one such approach.