Hi,

Lately I’ve been looking into Usenet, and maybe this time I was planning to try it out (I am aware of Usenet since circa 2000s, so I sort of know what it is).

Still there are some things I still didn’t figure out:

  • from what I see a Usenet provider and an indexer is required. And from what I gather, both are paid (indexer not exclusively paid but its better). Considering what Usenet is used for, is it sort if a requirement to pay in btc?
  • what sort of content is usually Usenet more useful for?
  • for what I see, Usenet tends to use SSL like the rest of the web. However, i would argue it gives to the ISP the visibility that you are in fact at least starting/ending connections to Usenet. Is this an issue? If so, does it make VPN a mandatory requirement? Or orbot for that matter
  • one thing that bothers me greatly: I’ve checked the privacy policy for the most 3 known providers (news hosting, Usenet server and euweka) and, first of all, i find incredibly sus that these seemingly 3 different providers have a sort of copy pasted privacy policy. Then, I noticed there is this magic line on it

Communicate with you about products, services, promotions, events, and other news and information we think will be of interest to you.

So I assume they are selling data somehow to advertisers?

  • misk@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    4·
    6 days ago
    1. Depends on where you live. Where I live people can share media (but not software) amongst their close circle so it’s impossible to persecute. Don’t really need to worry so I pay with whatever digital payment (card, Apple Pay etc) is available.
    2. Linux distros from blockbuster studios, music produced on Linux, tv shows about Linux admins. I’ve heard there’s Linux porn but I haven’t felt urge.
    3. Haven’t really heard of ISPs really looking into Usenet traffic in recent times. I’ve heard of traffic shaping on heavy users ages ago.
    4. Assume this is a regular commercial product exploiting legal loopholes to serve as a hosting solution of many illegal Linux media. Assume that you don’t have privacy because nobody is going to fight legal battles for you if you use it for more than that. If someone promises you different they either lie or haven’t been coerced yet.
    • ZeDoTelhado@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      6 days ago

      I really like the Linux flair part. Thanks for the answer! I assume however that one probably does not want to go into Linux porn around Usenet. I an fairly certain you can end up in the unsavory part of it quite quickly.