Hosting a .onion website with a custom domain on Linux can be a complex process, but with the right guidance and tools, it can be achieved without much difficulty. In this article, we will walk you through the steps to host a V3 .onion website with a custom domain on a Linux server.

What is a .onion website?

.onion is a special top-level domain suffix that is used for websites that can only be accessed through the Tor network. The Tor network is designed to provide security and privacy to its users by routing their internet traffic through a series of encrypted connections, making it difficult to trace their online activities. .onion websites are known for their anonymity and censorship resistance, which makes them ideal for hosting sensitive or controversial content.

Why host a V3 .onion website with a custom domain?

While .onion websites are known for their anonymity and security, they typically come with long and random domain names that are difficult to remember and share with others. Hosting a V3 .onion website with a custom domain allows you to have a more user-friendly and branded web address for your site while still benefiting from the security and privacy features of the Tor network.

How to host a V3 .onion website with a custom domain on Linux?

To host a V3 .onion website with a custom domain on a Linux server, you will need the following:

1. A Linux server with Tor installed
2. A custom domain name
3. A web server software (such as Nginx or Apache)
4. SSL/TLS certificates for your custom domain

Here are the steps to host a V3 .onion website with a custom domain on Linux:

1. Install and configure Tor on your Linux server: Start by installing the Tor software on your Linux server. You can do this by running the following command:

sudo apt-get install tor

Once Tor is installed, edit the Tor configuration file (/etc/tor/torrc) to set up the hidden service for your custom domain. Add the following lines to the configuration file:

HiddenServiceDir /var/lib/tor/your_domain/
HiddenServicePort 80 127.0.0.1:80

Replace “your_domain” with your custom domain name. Save the configuration file and restart the Tor service.

2. Set up your web server: Next, you need to set up your web server to serve the content for your V3 .onion website. Install and configure your preferred web server software (Nginx or Apache) on your Linux server. Make sure to configure the server to listen on the local IP address (127.0.0.1) and port (80).

3. Obtain SSL/TLS certificates for your custom domain: To secure your V3 .onion website with a custom domain, you will need to obtain SSL/TLS certificates for your domain. You can use Let’s Encrypt or any other certificate authority to get free or paid certificates for your custom domain.

4. Configure your web server to use SSL/TLS certificates: Update your web server configuration to use the SSL/TLS certificates for your custom domain. Make sure to configure the server to listen on port 443 and enable HTTPS for secure connections.

5. Test your V3 .onion website with a custom domain: Once everything is set up, you can test your V3 .onion website with a custom domain by visiting the custom domain in a Tor-enabled browser. Make sure that your website is accessible and secure over both the clearnet and Tor networks.

In conclusion, hosting a V3 .onion website with a custom domain on Linux requires some technical knowledge and configuration, but it can be a rewarding experience for those looking to combine the security and privacy features of the Tor network with the usability and branding of a custom domain. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can successfully host your own V3 .onion website with a custom domain on a Linux server.