Requirements

It takes an Apache server to run this software, but virtually any Apache server will do. If you have a weaker server then you may want to consider creating an index carefully. It has been discovered by many already that backfilling operations can be a tediously slow operation. For people just wanting to play around and create what they can in private, or someone wanting to get serious about a publicly accessed USENET NZB index, NewzNab may just work perfectly.

Software And Example Sites

Many developers are saying that a clone of NZBS.org exists in NewzNab, and this could be true. But there are many sites that are already implementing this index builder with quite a bit of success. Nzb.su is but a single shining example of this. They have free registration and use, and paid accounts with more access. Here are a few of the best sites using NewzNab:

• http://www.nzb.su
• http://www.dognzb.cr
• http://www.nzbs4u.net
• http://www.nzbhq.com

Share It Or Not

NewzNab has a free version that works well in almost any situation. Adsense and Google Analytics is also supported for your site if you so wish to build something real to be placed online. All USENET member complain that there needs to be more indexes available, who knows, you may just get lucky.

Stay informed as to all the latest USENET events, announcements, and news, by sending us a Tweet and following us at: @usenetreviewz, You can also get updates, special offers, deals, and announcements right to your email, just sign up right below…

Download Manager – New Quota System

The new beta version has a built-in download quota management option. The quota manager will now allow you to set limits, and monitor your downloads and pause all downloads when the predetermined limit is reached. Resuming the download is easy by simply reset the quota to zero. This feature only monitors bandwidth usage within the client monitoring data usage outside of the client will still be left up to you. Outside of this limitation, we found this feature quite handy for our heavier users.

Growl For Everybody Now

Before, Growl was only available in the OS X version of SABNZBD. Now you will be able to use Growl in the Ubuntu distros and Windows clients. Developers said that there were many requests for this feature.

Verify Downloads Before Wasting Valuable Bandwidth

One new feature that is still experimental is the Pre-download check. There’s nothing more frustrating than to find after spending a bunch of bandwidth downloading a particular binary, to find the file wasn’t completely available. SABNZBD version 0.7.0 has a tool to fix this problem. The pre-download checker promises to save a lot of bandwidth, if you have limits.

You can find this tool by going to the Config Switches menu. On the official SABNZBD wiki site, once this feature is enabled it will work for every download. The tool will ensure that the entire file will be available, before starting the download. Once it is determined the completeness, it will give you an ETA. Even though it is an experimental feature, this one will also help those on limited bandwidth budget.

New Tray Icon

It doesn’t sound like much, but the developers added in a nice little Windows tray icon for SABNZBD. And like many other tray icons, there’s will also give access to different functions and features of the client through a context menu.

It seems that the developers have taken the concerns of those with limited bandwidth to mind. As the two new major features being added in this time will help this community out immensely. Many of us here at UsenetReviews.org use this client and if you haven’t tried it yet we recommend it for downloading USENET binaries.

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To stay up-to-date on all the latest USENET, newsgroup, or other related tidbits send us a tweet or follow us at: @usenetreviewz.

Major Provisions of CISPA

While legislation authors claim there are no similarities between this and their previous failed attempt, once again the legislation will allow national security agencies and other law enforcement officials to invade unobstructed, the private records of Internet provider customers. This “exchange” of the customer’s data would not be subject to normal channels and judicial search warrants. Under the provisions of the new law ISPs would be encouraged to give over the information freely under the auspices of national security. This “national security threat” ploy has been applied before, to the embarrassment of the FBI.

Constitutional Rights… Ignored

If you value your privacy and use the Internet, then the passage of this bill will invade your right to privacy. And while we are not human rights attorneys, there are many that agree with us when we say this is a direct invasion to your right to privacy. In simpler terms this law will allow government agencies and law enforcement officials to set up an Internet “wiretap” without a warrant on every US citizen, and monitor every US citizen. With these wiretaps they will record and store every Internet communication within the United States borders.

USENET and Your Security

VPN technologies and SSL, as of this point, are still a safe bet. So far it seems that either will provide adequate privacy protections. In fact many VPN technology uses the same algorithms to encrypt data inside the tunnel has used by the Department of Defense and many other government agencies with top-secret information and many other highly sensitive national security related files. It has been theorized, and calculated, that to decrypt the 128 bit encrypted VPN tunnel could take years by even the best computers developed today.

Keep up  to date on all the Usenet community related issues, developments, and news…follow us on Twitter. Send us a tweet to: @usenetreviewz.

Acknowledging flaws and an apology

SiD did make apologies for not being able to maintain the site and keep a level of user interest. He apologized for the deterioration in quality from the standards that users were accustomed to. According to his letter published on the Merlin’s portal website outlines many internal conflicts among the administrative staff and a lack of time on the owner’s part to oversee the administration of the website. The declining membership and interest took its toll on the website and today the website is but a shadow of what it used to be.

Harsh words and placing the blame

Spinout, one of the site lead administrators, received some harsh criticism from SiD in the letter. He made claims that unprovoked attacks by SiD were a large part of the reason for the membership decline. He acknowledged that since there are so many NZB sites available for free use user migration was inevitable. Not only does a website like this rely on its offerings for the user, in this case much of the offering was in the fellowship that was provided while m3rl1n administrated website. According to Sid in the end only the most hard-core users remained and because their numbers were so low there was little sense in attempting to revive the now dead website.

Sometimes it is the personality

Merlin’s portal has been an integral and important part of the USENET community for a long number of years. And while the site will be messed, there are other alternatives to USENET search. Although, there may be some community lacking that Merlin’s portal would’ve been able to boast. Of course, this does create somewhat of an opportunity for someone with the desire to pick up on a former USENET icon. If the right person were to come along with the right technical skills and highly energetic personality Merlin’s portal could be restored to its former glory.

To stay up on all the latest news and developments surrounding the Usenet community, follow us on Twitter. You can send us a tweet to: @usenetreviewz.

NNTP Only Accounts Now Available

For those more experienced users, or those of you who like the longer retention available by using NNTP access, you now can opt to not get the web interface. But the web interface is still a perfect way to introduce potential Usenet fanatics to the newsgroup world. The Easynews web interface has been instrumental in teaching many new users the hierarchy, customs, and politics of newsgroups, even though the retention is limited to a mere 200 days of binary retention.

Web Interface Changed Too

They changed their web based search interface around, too. They are inviting everyone to check it out and put in their feedback about improvements, problems, or additional feature requests. But Easynews has so many more features than just the ones you see on the surface, like the NNTP and Web based interface. Here are a few of their highlights:

• Access: Web or client. Web is limited to just 200 days of retention while NNTP gets full benefits. Web interface is exclusive to the Easynews servers, too.
• Accounts: Unlimited and metered. Though there are limits on web data transfers in each type of account.
• Security: 256 bit SSL is available, and recommended.
• NNTP Client: Easiest to use in the Usenet community. Has thumbnails, auto handles RAR and PAR files, auto unpacks downloads to specified folder, has virtually every popular feature integrated into the client.

Busy, Busy, Busy

It’s still fairly early in the year but we are expecting a lot more improvements to be announced throughout 2012 by the Easynews development team. And, with price tiers ranging from $9.95 up to $29.94, we expect that their popularity will also increase a lot. If you would like to know more about Easynews, their web based interface, or their NNTP client, or any of our other featured Usenet providers. then we have all the facts in our Easynews Review.

To keep up-to-date on all the latest news among the Usenet community, then follow us, or send us a tweet about the cool Usenet deals or updates you find to: @usenetreviewz.

What Are They Looking For

Their claim is that they are looking to protect the public from terrorists and hard line criminals…almost verbatim to every other claim that has been made in the past. But in the UK, internet users are probably already used to their connections being watched, corporate interest groups, like the RIAA, have already invaded their privacy through the ISP’s. In the end, their quest to completely quell piracy has taken precedence over basic rights, such as the right to privacy.

But You Can Get Your Privacy Back

A secure connection for your internet, or your Usenet connection is as easy as using a VPN. With a VPN your traffic will be tunneled, then encrypted…even if they can get into your tunnel, they won’t be able to decrypt the stream in real time, if at all. Another huge advantage is that they wont be able to tell where it came from, or who it’s being sent to: anonymity.

Want Even More…Use SSL

If a Usenet provider allows SSL, (and many do,) you really should already be using it. It is a wise move at the very least. But, using SSL along with a VPN service, like VyprVPN, makes your connection almost bullet proof. Monitoring in real time would require a key, which only your machine and the VPN server will have.

Keep Your Connection Safe From Prying Eyes

These monitoring activities will potentially make all the data you transmit on the internet available to someone else’s employees, and in the UK your only recourse to keep your passwords, and any other information you send and receive, private is to use a VPN combined with SSL. At one time it was impossible for these agencies and corporations to keep track of the sheer volume of data, but that is no longer true. But on the other side of the tracks, access to security systems like VPN’s and SSL has also grown, but now maintaining privacy is up to the user.

Keep up to date on all the latest in censorship, and monitoring and how it relates to Usenet, send us a tweet or follow us at @usenetreviewz.

Major Feature Highlights

According to the latest notes, the developers have been able to make the downloads list more readable inside the reader, but over all the Android version will have most of the same features that the regular reader has. If you already use the desktop newsreader, you will be comfortable with the Android version. It plays out much like the desktop client, so the learning curve will be almost non-existent.

Android And Desktop – Compared

The only real difference we noted was the fact of the smaller screen on our Androids. Navigation of newsgroups or options works much the same as it does in the desktop client…except you can now download browse newsgroups or post from your mobile. It seems that the developers aimed to keep the mobile client familiar to reduce confusion for the old and new members.

Security Is Supported

The Newsbin developers knew that their people would be wanting security, who doesn’t. So, the client will easily integrate with with almost any VPN you want to use. Now, if you need files, or a specific debian distro, you can get it on the go…securely, anonymously.

Newsbin’s newsreader hs been a favorite of the regular Usenet users for a long time. It has all the necessary features, like handling PAR and RAR files automatically, and easily selecting download locations. But that isn’t the full list of features…the client handles repairs, downloads, NZB’s and many other things. The newsreader is a highly developed complex piece of software, and due to this, their main clientele are experienced Usenet users…although, they have made several statements that a version with settings built in for inexperienced users to the Usenet system or the newsreader.

To get up-to-date information, or tell us what you think about a particular update or feature, send us a tweet to: @usenetreviewz.

About The Free Version

In the free version, they have kept all the best features that everyone loves. It will still handle PAR’s automatically, and unpause missing blocks, and they even left the automatic repairing function. Automatic unpacking is also supported in the free Alt.binz version, convenience and speed…who wouldn’t like it, a single client to handle everything.

Browsing newsgroups is easily accomplished, too. And access to newsgroups can be easily managed and maintained. The limitations we found most apparent in the free version was search engine integration, and skins weren’t available. Mainly developed to entice new users to convert to the full paid version, they do give you enough to get you to wanting more.

About The Hacked Versions

According to the developers, there is a hacked version floating around, and they are warning against it for reasons of your security, not their money. Apparently the hacked clients have trojans attached that will ship your passwords, and lots of other stored data to an attacker. So, only get the free version from their website, and check it with an antivirus.

Newsreader Options And Features

In the Usenet community you can find a lot of newsreaders, some free, and others not so free. Features and file handling being the main difference among them, and, Alt.binz has maintained a high degree of popularity for quite some time now. With more than a million downloads, and lots of the most popular features, it’s no wonder either. Other readers include Mimo, or Newsbin, both of which have a lot of strengths that Alt.binz competes with quite successfully. If you’re considering a newsreader, then you should check out the Alt.binz newsreader free version. It has enough features and functionality to let you get a good feel for the client and make an informed decision.

Let us know what you think about the Alt.binz newsreader, send us a tweet to: @usenetreviewz, and follow us to keep up-to-date on the latest Usenet community news.

Who This Affects

All P2P users, like Rapidshare members, Usenet members, no matter the provider, and bit torrent users, will be monitored by the RIAA with the blessings of your local ISP. But, not all ISP’s are on board with the plan. The list participating includes AT&T, Comcast, Cablevision, and Verizon. If you are using one of these ISP’s then you contract will soon contain a clause allowing the RIAA to monitor your connection to help to keep you completely legit.

Protect Yourself Now

The starting date for this program is quite vague. Some are reporting that the plan will go into effect on the 12th of June, while others are saying that July 1st is the start date, and even others are saying that the second quarter of this year sometime. The summer movie season will start off with additional security measures to make sure you are doing things legally.

You do have options at your disposal though, but you will have to do the work. It seems that ISP’s aren’t as concerned with customer privacy as they used to be. The real bad part is that they are allowing a corporate entity, not a law enforcement or judicial agency, do the monitoring. Makes one wonder what kind of information will be kept and maintained.

Keep These Things In Mind

If your ISP provides Usenet access with their service, stop using it. Use a completely neutral provider, like Easynews or Astraweb. The service is almost always better, and more comprehensive. Plus many of the providers give you extras like free VPN service, or online storage.

• Always use SSL if possible. When using SSL your connection is encrypted in both directions, and if it is intercepted the results will not be legible and will be undecipherable.
• Use A VPN service. The most secure way to conduct yourself on the internet is to use a VPN. It encrypts ALL of your traffic, not just Usenet or other specified traffic. This is the only way to insure your entire connection is secured against prying eyes.

Keeping you and your data completely secured and private used to be one of the big selling points for the different ISP’s, even the ones we listed on this article. And if you don’t want someone just assuming you’re a pirate and monitoring everything you do on the internet you need to take action now.Use the methods we outlined here, none of them are hard to implement, if you want to get back the security and privacy that you ISP used to promise you would have.

Keep up to date on all the latest Usenet developments by following us on Twitter. We are also happy to hear from you about anything Usenet related, send us a tweet to: @usenetreviewz.

What You Get For Your Money

This special will net you 1.1 TB of Usenet access, (due to a 10% header allowance,) and the account will never expire, at least until you use all of it. For a heavy user, a block account like this could last 3 – 4 months. With this block account you will get all the usual amenities, to include:

• 1333 Days of binary retention.
• SSL security available.
• Non-expiring block account, no matter how long it takes you to use it all.
• Advanced servers located globally to insure that your connection speeds are great.

Gotta Hurry…

Sorry about being so late on this announcement, apparently something went wrong with the mail server…hmmm. The start time for this special was midnight today, EST, and will run until midnight tonight, EST. If you’ve been thinking about securing a Usenet provider, this is the perfect opportunity to save a lot of money. Hurry to their Terrabyte Tuesday page and get your block.

To keep up with all our latest announcements, follow us or send a tweet to us at: @usenetreviewz.