# Usenet: What is it and how do I use it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 11, 2007, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usenet-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-use-it/391719 "2007-02-11T12:21:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usenet-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-use-it/391719/41 "2007-03-13T19:04:52Z")
**Tomcat** You _could_ take the easy way out. I have a subscription to EASYNEWS. Easynews basically just allows you to view all the binaries groups with a plan-vanilla web browser. I use Firefox but IE also works fine. Easynews also has one VERY cool feature in that it allows you to search the entire USENET for files matching certain criteria. This can be very useful when you’re hunting for a specific file. As an OBTW, the alt.binaries.e-book.flood group has 14,334 files in it right now. That could keep you in reading material for quite some time. The subscription costs around $10/month and IMHO, is worth it. Just to be clear, I have a subscription there but don’t work for them or get any kind of bonus for signing people up or anything like that. I occasionally use a newsreader as well, I prefer Agent. (And no, Frankenstien isn’t posted at the moment.!) Testy ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usenet-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-use-it/391719/42 "2007-03-13T19:26:37Z")
Just out of curiosity, of those 14,334 files (let’s pretend they’re all different - no duplicates) what percent are from old public domain books (pre-1923) and what percent are up there in violation of copyright (almost anything after 1922). ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usenet-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-use-it/391719/43 "2007-03-13T19:32:22Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Just out of curiosity, of those 14,334 files (let’s pretend they’re all different - no duplicates) what percent are from old public domain books (pre-1923) and what percent are up there in violation of copyright (almost anything after 1922). [/QUOTE] **Exapno Mapcase** Well, without scrounging through the lot I couldn’t tell you. I will say that the VAST majority of them seem to be recent. It’s the same in the MP3 groups and the movie groups. I was always surprised that the RIAA and the like attacked things P2P applications but seemed oblivious to Usenet. Regards Testy ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usenet-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-use-it/391719/44 "2007-03-13T19:45:08Z")
[QUOTE=Testy] **Exapno Mapcase** Well, without scrounging through the lot I couldn’t tell you. I will say that the VAST majority of them seem to be recent. It’s the same in the MP3 groups and the movie groups. I was always surprised that the RIAA and the like attacked things P2P applications but seemed oblivious to Usenet. [/QUOTE] Well, look at this thread. Any pobe can download Limewire (or whatever) and be doing naughty things in a matter of minutes. Usenet, though, you need to know a little bit before you can do any copyright violating. Only reason I know Usenet so well is I’ve been downloading stuff from it since…1994 or so. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usenet-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-use-it/391719/45 "2007-03-13T20:19:38Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] Well, look at this thread. Any pobe can download Limewire (or whatever) and be doing naughty things in a matter of minutes. Usenet, though, you need to know a little bit before you can do any copyright violating. Only reason I know Usenet so well is I’ve been downloading stuff from it since…1994 or so. -Joe [/QUOTE] **Merijeek** As have I. I personally love Usenet for it’s variety. The (potential) anonymity of it fascinates me. Speaking of anonymity, have you used any of the anonymous posting schemes? Regards Testy ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usenet-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-use-it/391719/46 "2007-03-13T21:29:56Z")
[QUOTE=Testy] **Merijeek** As have I. I personally love Usenet for it’s variety. The (potential) anonymity of it fascinates me. Speaking of anonymity, have you used any of the anonymous posting schemes? [/QUOTE] Not that I remember. Back when I was posting to groups for recreational purposes I just did it all under my name. When I downloaded a lot it was through semi-anonymous places like [usenet-server.com](http://usenet-server.com). But Comcast bitched about the 6Mbit/s going 24/7. So, now I don’t do it much. Mostly because I don’t feel like wrestling with Comcast and I don’t have much time for anything other than work, baby, and the occasional sleep. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usenet-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-use-it/391719/47 "2007-03-13T21:40:31Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] Not that I remember. Back when I was posting to groups for recreational purposes I just did it all under my name. When I downloaded a lot it was through semi-anonymous places like [usenet-server.com](http://usenet-server.com). But Comcast bitched about the 6Mbit/s going 24/7. So, now I don’t do it much. Mostly because I don’t feel like wrestling with Comcast and I don’t have much time for anything other than work, baby, and the occasional sleep. -Joe [/QUOTE] **Merijeek** Well yeah, I could see how missing sleep would take a bit of the shine off of Usenet. 😛 I haven’t used them but I’ve done a bit of reading about anonymous remailers like Private Idaho and Quicksilver. In conjunction with PGP or the like, two people could have a truly un-interceptable conversation. I know, it makes me sound like some rifle-toting militia member. _S_ Regards Testy ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usenet-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-use-it/391719/48 "2007-03-13T21:47:18Z")
[QUOTE=Testy] I haven’t used them but I’ve done a bit of reading about anonymous remailers like Private Idaho and Quicksilver. In conjunction with PGP or the like, two people could have a truly un-interceptable conversation. I know, it makes me sound like some rifle-toting militia member. _S_ [/QUOTE] Yeah, a group I used to download from had a group of guys(?) swapping files that were Winrar and PGP encrypted. The reason it was so annoying is I’d check my download directory and find a whole bunch of files that I couldn’t open. It was pretty damned annoying. When I see something like that I assume it’s child porn. No way of knowing unless you want to infiltrate their little group. I’d thought about it, but, meh, didn’t feel like putting in the effort. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usenet-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-use-it/391719/49 "2007-03-13T21:58:57Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] Yeah, a group I used to download from had a group of guys(?) swapping files that were Winrar and PGP encrypted. The reason it was so annoying is I’d check my download directory and find a whole bunch of files that I couldn’t open. It was pretty damned annoying. When I see something like that I assume it’s child porn. No way of knowing unless you want to infiltrate their little group. I’d thought about it, but, meh, didn’t feel like putting in the effort. -Joe [/QUOTE] **Merijeek** Yeah, I’ve always gotten that feeling. OTOH, that sort of tool must work quite well, given the level of enforcement against child-pornographers. Otherwise there’d be almost daily busts. I’m not sure what level of encryption winrar provides but PGP is _supposed_ to be able to stand up to a reasonable effort by a major government. Testy [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usenet-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-use-it/391719.md?page=2)