If you are planning to make a purchase on the dark web, you should really take the time to learn how PGP encryption works. It's actually not that difficult and this guide aims to make it as easy as possible for beginners. PGP stands for 'Pretty Good Privacy' and is an encrypted method of sending and receiving messages which can only be read by a specifically intended recipient. Many markets provide an auto-encryption option when providing a vendor with your address, but in this instance you are putting your trust entirely in the market. For best security, you should encrypt yourself to be 100% sure that your message cannot be read by anyone else.
In addition to the sending and receiving of encrypted messages, PGP provides a means of Two Factor Authentication (2FA) which some markets now mandate. This provides some protection to your account by not relying solely on a password and adding another layer of identity verification - important for protecting any funds you may have within a market.