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@ GHOST
2025-03-23 03:54:16
A quick guide for the less than technical savvy to set up their very own free private tor enabled email using Onionmail. Privacy is for everyone, not just the super cyber nerds.
Onion Mail is an anonymous POP3/SMTP email server program hosted by various people on the internet. You can visit this site and read the details: https://en.onionmail.info/
1. Download Tor Browser
First, if you don't already, go download Tor Browser. You are going to need it. https://www.torproject.org/
2. Sign Up
Using Tor browser go to the directory page (https://onionmail.info/directory.html) choose one of the servers and sign up for an account. I say sign up but it is just choosing a user name you want to go before the @xyz.onion email address and solving a captcha.
3. Account information
Once you are done signing up an Account information page will pop up. **MAKE SURE YOU SAVE THIS!!!** It has your address and passwords (for sending and receiving email) that you will need. If you lose them then you are shit out of luck.
4. Install an Email Client
You can use Claws Mail, Neomutt, or whatever, but for this example, we will be using Thunderbird.
a. Download Thunderbird email client
b. The easy setup popup page that wants your name, email, and password isn't going to like your user@xyz.onion address. Just enter something that looks like a regular email address such as name@example.com and the **Configure Manually**option will appear below. Click that.
5. Configure Incoming (POP3) Server
Under Incoming Server:
Protocol: POP3
Server or Hostname: xyz.onion (whatever your account info says)
Port: 110
Security: STARTTLS
Authentication: Normal password
Username: (your username)
Password: (POP3 password).
6. Configure Outgoing (SMTP) Server
Under Outgoing Server:
Server or Hostname: xyz.onion (whatever your account info says)
Port: 25
Security: STARTTLS
Authentication: Normal password
Username: (your username)
Password: (SMTP password).
7. Click on email at the top and change your address if you had to use a spoof one to get the configure manually to pop up.
8. Configure Proxy
a. Click the **gear icon** on the bottom left for settings. Scroll all the way down to **Network & Disk Space**. Click the **settings button** next to **Connection. Configure how Thunderbird connects to the internet**.
b. Select **Manual Proxy Configuration**. For **SOCKS Host** enter **127.0.0.1** and enter port **9050**. (if you are running this through a VM the port may be different)
c. Now check the box for **SOCKS5** and then **Proxy DNS when using SOCKS5** down at the bottom. Click OK
9. Check Email
For thunderbird to reach the onion mail server it has to be connected to tor. Depending on your local setup, it might be fine as is or you might have to have tor browser open in the background. Click on **inbox** and then the **little cloud icon** with the down arrow to check mail.
10. Security Exception
Thunderbird is not going to like that the onion mail server security certificate is self signed. A popup **Add Security Exception** will appear. Click **Confirm Security Exception**.
You are done. Enjoy your new private email service.
**REMEMBER: The server can read your emails unless they are encrypted. Go into account settings. Look down and click End-toEnd Encryption. Then add your OpenPGP key or open your OpenPGP Key Manager (you might have to download one if you don't already have one) and generate a new key for this account.**