Privacy • Beginner
Crypto Foundations
Privacy Techniques, Wallets & Tracing
8 students enrolled
2.9 hours of content
Last updated Sep 2026
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8 students
What You'll Learn
Explain core crypto concepts: keys, seeds, addresses, UTXO vs. account models, confirmations, fees, and consensus (PoW vs. PoS).
Compare privacy properties of Bitcoin, Monero, and Zcash; identify when each is appropriate.
Set up and secure hot and hardware (cold) wallets; back up and recover with BIP-39 safely.
Operate Electrum/Sparrow (BTC) and Monero GUI/CLI (XMR); configure watch-only and air-gapped workflows.
Execute end-to-end transactions with OpSec: address hygiene, change handling, avoiding address reuse, output labeling, and seed isolation.
Understand CoinJoin at a technical level (anonymity sets, coordinator models, linkage risks) and where it does/doesn’t help.
Understand Monero privacy primitives: stealth addresses, ring signatures, RingCT, decoys, and network-layer considerations.
Understand Zcash shielding (t-/z-addresses) and practical limitations.
Use Tor/Tails to reduce network-level leakage when interacting with wallets, explorers, and services.
Evaluate “mixing/tumbling” services critically: how they work, failure modes, red flags, and legal/AML risk.
Perform basic blockchain analysis: read transactions on explorers, trace flows at a high level, recognize common heuristics (peeling chains, change detection).
Swap or bridge assets with minimal leakage; understand the privacy and custody risks of exchanges, ATMs, and P2P.
Detect and respond to cryptojacking and ransomware patterns at a conceptual level.
Apply a legal/ethical decision framework (jurisdiction, AML/KYC, reporting obligations) and document a compliant, privacy-respecting workflow.
Tools & Technologies You'll Use
Privacy & OS
Tor Browser, Tails OS (live, amnesic environment)
Bitcoin (BTC)
Electrum or Sparrow (desktop wallet)
JoinMarket or Wasabi (CoinJoin implementations) — conceptual and controlled lab use
mempool.space / Blockstream Explorer (block explorers)
Monero (XMR)
Monero GUI/CLI (wallet + node/RPC, as feasible in labs)
Community Monero explorers (for read-only checks)
Zcash (ZEC)
Zecwallet Lite (or another wallet supporting shielding)
Hardware wallets (optional)
Trezor / Ledger for seed isolation and cold storage workflows
P2P / Exchange (discussion & controlled demos)
Centralized exchanges (KYC implications), P2P marketplaces (e.g., Bisq) — risk, compliance, and privacy trade-offs
Security utilities
KeePassXC (or other password manager) for seed/passphrase management
File checksum/hash utilities for wallet/ISO verification
Analysis (intro level)
OXT (heuristics overview), basic graphing via explorers; emphasis on limitations and false positives
Instructor
asdf
Founder of Dark Web Academy
OSCP | CISSP | M.S. Cybersecurity
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This course includes:
- 38 video lessons
- 6 hands-on labs
- 1 quiz
- Lifetime access
- Access on all devices
- Earn XP & climb the leaderboard
Course Curriculum
Introduction and Ethics
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Pre-Course Warning
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Community Introduction
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Cybersecurity Ethics and the Dark Web
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Course Introdudction (COMING SOON)
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History of Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency Foundations
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Blockchain Explained
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Mining and the source of Funds
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Transactions Explained
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Crytocurrency with Hacking and Security
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Cryptocurrency Wallets (Hot vs. Cold)
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Blockchain Consensus (PoW vs. PoS)
Privacy and Anonymity with Crypto
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Bitcoin vs. Monero, vs. Zcash
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Mixing and Tumbling Services
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CoinJoins for Anonymity
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OpSec for Anonymous Transactions
Using Crypto
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Purchasing Crypto Anonymously Overview
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Buying and Transferring Crypto Anonymously
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Best Wallets for Crypto
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Setting Up Wallets
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Setup Electrum on Tails
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Setup Feather (Monero Wallet) on Tails
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Purchasing on Exchange
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Purchasing P2P
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Purchasing at ATM/Teller
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Transferring to Tails Wallet
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Swapping/Exchange Coins
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Swapping Cryptocurrency
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Using a CoinJoin with Bitcoin
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Sending Coin to 3rd parties
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Full Secure Transaction Overview
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Full Anonymous Crypto Transaction Simulation
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Using VPNs and Tor for Additional Security
Understanding Monero
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Fundementals of Privacy in Monero
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Types of Keys
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Stealth Addresses and Recipient Privacy
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Ring Signatures and Sender Privacy
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RingCT and Amount Privacy
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Monero Network Privacy
Crypto and Cyber Threats
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Cyrptojacking
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Detecting a Cryptojacker
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Ransonware and Crypto
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Case Studies of Crypto-Crimes
Course Final and Review
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Follow the Money
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Course Review
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Final Quiz
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