What is Usenet?

Usenet is older than the internet itself.  Originally set up to allow academics and others in specialized fields to engage in group discussions with their peers across the globe, it has since evolved into an uncensored system of exchanging virtually anything that can be transmitted between computers.

Usenet functions a lot like email. Except that instead of addressing messages to an individual, they are addressed to a group. And anyone wishing to read or post messages in a particular group, does so by connecting to a Usenet server across an internet connection.  Special Usenet software is needed on the user’s computer to read articles and download attached files.  You “subscribe” to a group by telling the software in your own computer to check the messages in a particular group. (Don’t be frightened by the term “subscribe.”  Nowhere is there ever a subscriber list.  The term “subscribe” is used in reference to how you set up your computer and software.  Only you and your computer know which groups you have “subscribed” to.)

There is no “central” Usenet server. Rather there are thousands of servers chained and crosslinked together in order to exchange articles between them, and to keep the articles available for their own users to read for a period of time ranging from hours to weeks.  (It is this lack of centralization that has protected Usenet from the legal attacks such as that which destroyed Napster.)

Like email, Usenet articles can have files attached to them. Thus, Usenet has evolved as a way of distributing files such as jpg pictures, mp3 music, mpg movies, even entire CD’s between users.    Groups each have their individual protocols about how large files should be broken up into smaller pieces to make them practical to download., and the groups usually publish their FAQ every few days.   Users are free to download whatever they wish--nothing is expected from you in return--nobody even knows what you are downloading.  In fact you should become completely familiar with a group before attempting to submit anything yourself.

There are groups devoted to every imaginable interest. And many quite (ahem) unimaginable interests as well.  The groups fall under several hierarchies.  The “alt” (alternative) hierarchy is the most controversial, because virtually anyone can easily create a new group here. The word ”binaries” in a group name means that the group is primarily devoted to exchanging files such as jpg pictures or mp3 audio.

It requires a lot more skill--and caution--to access Usenet, than it does to download from websites. Usenet operates as a user-to-user exchange.  There are no authorities  to censor the users’ activities, nor to vouch for what is being posted. The sheer volume of activity makes it unfathomable that any such monitoring could be done by those operating Usenet servers.   The only censorship commonly done, is that ISP’s, universities, and other institutions often refuse to carry groups on their servers that have provocative names or controversial reputations.  Some completely eliminate the “alt” groups, or the “binaries” groups. This has created the demand for outside Usenet services such as ours, who are devoted to maintaining Usenet as a medium for uncensored communication, as well as protecting the privacy of our users.

In brief, here is what you need to access Usenet:

1. A computer connected to the internet.
2. Usenet software.
3. An account on a Usenet server.

Virus protection software is also essential if you are downloading executable software such as games and applications, and is generally a good idea in any case.

Please check our support page for a list of recommended newsreader software. An easy, free program is Apicviewer.

Or you might wish to begin by setting up Outlook Express as your newsreader, because you probably already have it installed on your computer. Outlook Express is excellent for reading and posting text articles, and handles jpg pictures well too. Here is what you do:

1. In Outlook Express, select menu option TOOLS--ACCOUNTS.
    
2. In the accounts window that pops up, click ADD, and select NEWS from the popup menu.
    
3. Answer the questions one by one.
    
4. For name of the server use:
• news.sonic-news.com
   
5. CHECK the box, “My Server Requires Me To Log On,” then enter your username and password.
    
6. After you finish the wizard, your computer will connect to the server and download the list of group names.  This might take a while if you have selected news1, because there are over 50,000 groups!
    
7. Select a group by typing keywords to find groups of possible interest. Better still, you might already know some names of groups you wish to read.   Keep in mind that some groups have no activity, and some group names may be misleading.
    
8. When the program asks you if you wish to subscribe to a group, if you select “yes,” then your computer will keep the group in your list of active groups. The term “subscribe” is misleading--nowhere does anybody have a list of subscribers. Nobody knows what groups you have subscribed to unless they have access to your computer.
    
9. The program will download the headers from the group, which show the subject, author, date and other basic information. You then select which articles you wish to read, and you may download the attached image or other file.