11.3.2.2) What is the difference between e-mail and the USENET newsgroups? (ucd.king-hall)
Description
This article is from the King Hall Law School FAQ, by David F. Prenatt, Jr. NetEsq@dcn.davis.ca.us with numerous contributions by others.
11.3.2.2) What is the difference between e-mail and the USENET newsgroups? (ucd.king-hall)
The primary difference between e-mail and the USENET is privacy.
However, neither e-mail or the USENET are completely confidential.
While an e-mail message is not completely private, it is directed to a
particular individual or group of individuals; a USENET article is
available to anyone who has access to any newsgroup where the article
is posted. If you want to conduct confidential communications over
the Internet, check out an encryption program such as PGP ("Pretty
Good Privacy").
PGP has a public domain version that is available free of charge
to anyone who is using it for non-commercial purposes. It has
thwarted virtually every attempt that people have made to crack it.
What makes PGP unique is that the key that encrypts your mail (i.e.,
your "public key") is distinct and separate from the key that
unscrambles it (i.e., your "private key"). Unless you tell someone
your private PGP key or someone guesses it (which could take thousands
of years of computer time) or discovers it by eavesdropping, no one
can read your PGP encrypted mail.
11.3.2.2.1) How do I use e-mail? (ucd.king-hall)
The most straightforward and easy way to use e-mail is by using a
program called "pine," which is an acronym for "pine is no-longer elm"
("elm" was an e-mail program on which pine was based) To use pine,
type in "pine" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt. Pine is menu-
driven, so just follow the instructions.
11.3.2.2.2) How do I access the USENET newsgroups? (ucd.king-hall)
The most straightforward and easy way to use the USENET newsgroups at
U.C. Davis is by using a newsreader called "tin." To use tin, type in
"tin" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt. The tin program is
menu-driven, so just follow the instructions.
11.3.2.2.2.1) How many USENET newsgroups are there? (ucd.king-hall)
There are several thousand USENET newsgroups (more than anyone could
ever hope to read) and more are being created every day. Thus, you
have to decide which newsgroups you want to read.
11.3.2.2.2.2) How do I figure out which USENET newsgroups I want to read? (ucd.king-hall)
The USENET newsgroups are organized into a heirarchy that includes
regional and other domains. You can use this hierarchy to select-out
thousands of newsgroups that do not interest you. With tin, use the
"yank" command (with the "y" key), the "search" command (with the "/"
key), and the "subscribe" command (with the "s" key). After you've
subscribed to the named groups that you want, simply yank out the
rest. The "unsubscribe" command (the "u" key) will eliminate unwanted
groups. For more information, use the online help in tin (^g).
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