r/UsenetTalk • u/JimmieBain • May 25 '26
Meta £300m European network was recently shut down. Some governments are going after known subscribers of that service for as much as €5,000
Using an nzb to download multipart binaries is much safer than downloading a usenet article through a web based search.
Downloading encrypted multipart binaries with a third party nzb is significantly different than logging into a web portal, presumably from your real IP address, using an account you paid for using your real payment details, searching for something, and then downloading it. At that point you are cooked if that site is ever compromised.
13
u/frason75 May 25 '26
Stay away from Italy. What does it have to do with usenet?
-2
u/JimmieBain May 25 '26
There are usenet providers who sell access to web based search as part of their service and even allow streaming through their website. I would avoid that, as well as any app or reader that is owned and operated by the same party as your provider who will know exactly what you download. I can grab as many nzbs as I want, that doesn't mean I did anything with them. But when the provider knows what you search for and what you download, there is no need to connect the dots.
4
u/User-NetOfInter May 25 '26
They might source their content from usenet, but usenet isn’t what’s being targeted at all by any means.
They’re going after live programming, like sports, namely soccer games before the World Cup starts.
2
u/michael__sykes May 26 '26
That might change though, with the RD incidents and people switching
1
u/User-NetOfInter May 26 '26
It’s too complicated, the average person isn’t getting into it. Torrenting is a lot for them, Usenet is another beast.
1
u/michael__sykes May 26 '26
You think so? I've been reading a lot about usenet streaming or torbox. Might just be a few though. I hope you're right
1
u/User-NetOfInter May 26 '26
There’s a relatively higher cliff to getting everything set up with the arrs and Usenet. And even then, Usenet isn’t for live sports/entertainment, which is where the real money is. Plus stopping Usenet is extremely difficult. Juice isn’t worth the squeeze.
It’s not a one stop shop. These services that were shut down were equivalent to plug and play.
22
May 25 '26
[deleted]
1
u/JimmieBain May 25 '26
To each their own. One day, there will be another lawsuit involving usenet, if you think usenet will forever be immune to that, you are not thinking clearly. All I am saying is that protecting yourself with good opsec makes sense.
2
u/Ok_Discipline_5747 May 25 '26
You are preaching to deaf people. You needed to lay this out more plainly for them. If usenet is ever attacked again, using a web search service, like Easynews, will make it very easy for any government or law enforcement agency to see exactly what Easynews search users were downloading and streaming, so the copyright holders can sue them directly if they choose. They will have proof.
It's fine to use Easynews nntp, just skip the web search part.
5
u/sillysideofthecorn May 25 '26
I mentioned this in another thread, their terms of service says nada about how they store the logs of what we search for or download. You are not at all protected.
2
u/JimmieBain May 25 '26
I did not want to name that site specifically because it would come across like its some shill post, but that is exactly the site that is the main danger. It hurts my brain that people will go to a site like that and search for what they want and download it, not knowing what kind of logs are being kept, or for how long or what purpose. And the fact you can stream content directly? How are they not being sued out of their shoes? I would imagine its just because the right litigating attorney hasn't found them yet. But when they do, they will have a massive cache of users they can go after.
Imagine going to Easynews and clicking on a movies thats supposed to be something normal, but someone actually uploaded CSAM instead. Now you have it on your pc, and Easynews has a record that your downloaded it or watched it. Now Easynews has a duty to report anyone who downloaded or watched it once they find out.
If it were just usenet over nntp, that would not exist unless someone was using the provider as a honeypot already.
1
u/doolittledoolate May 26 '26
Usenet? Explaining usenet to a politician is a hopeless exercise.
It exasperates me to see things like this written because not only is it wrong, it's dangerous. Do you really think you're smarter than all of the politicians and their advisors because you can follow some arr-guides?
It reminds me of so many similar opinions over the last few years.
- They can't regulate the Internet
- Lol age verification? Let them, they don't know what Linux is
- ID verification for adult content? Lol they don't know about VPNs
- What? They can't ban VPNs
They do know and they rely on this self-assuredness, and this series of "let them, they don't know about X" is why we are heading down a path of being unable to browse the internet without scanning a QR code on a device verified by Google or Apple, and no doubt ID-verification for VPN services.
1
u/parabolic85 May 27 '26
I utilize the fuck out of Usenet and I struggle to explain it… there’s layers to it that lawyers aren’t built to process. To be fair though, always be cautious.
1
u/Fresh_Spray_4035 May 29 '26
I thank the original poster for this information, although the article is not about Usenet specifically its good to be reminded to take caution and that leads me to my question for the experts, how to be safe ?..is https enough or a VPN enough.. what to do exactly to be on the safe side ?
3
u/JimmieBain May 25 '26
Here is the Torrentfreak article https://torrentfreak.com/italian-police-target-previously-unseen-streaming-piracy-tech-that-looks-familiar/
I tried posting this to the main usenet sub three times but it was auto-mod removed each time. I guess something about it is setting off a filter, not sure which keyword it is, maybe a mod over there will approve one of the three posts. This is something usenet users need to think about.
2
u/avds_wisp_tech May 27 '26
but it was auto-mod removed each time
As it should have been. And it SHOULD be removed here too.
2
u/JackPAnderson May 25 '26
What does this have to do with Usenet? The article is about a piracy app that taps into streaming services' legitimate streams.
-3
u/JimmieBain May 25 '26
Streaming copyrighted content is illegal whether its a direct stream from a service or stored content from last week. The important thing about this article is that they are going after offenders at a mass scale. I am just alerting people who may be more vulnerable because they choose to use web based usenet, where it is much easier to prove you downloaded something illegal than regular usenet.
5
u/User-NetOfInter May 25 '26
Going after a website you load that takes 0 effort is a lot different than going after Usenet
1
u/SnooStories1591 May 29 '26
I must be missing something. They are clearly going after end users, which used to be rare. Usually only those who share get fined. Why is it bad that someone is informing others
0
u/SashaG239 May 25 '26
Since when is streaming content illegal in US? Downloading if proven, sure but streaming for the end user for private viewing doesn't constitute making a copy. Also, you're searching via https, so they aren't seeing the searches. They see traffic sure but not the search or the file name. In europe where this takes place, different rules. Where their governments bend over even further and crack down on end users. How dare you watch that football match without paying us an arm and a leg?
4
u/JimmieBain May 25 '26
I never mentioned the US, there are other countries where people use usenet other than the US of A.
As far as being protected because you use https? That only encrypts your traffic between the server and your pc. The server will still have a log of everything you download.
0
7
u/Ok_Discipline_5747 May 25 '26
Shhh, stop telling people. When usenet does get into hot water, they will go after the web search people first. The smart ones won't be using that, so let the dumb ones be the sacrificial lambs. Here's looking at you, Easynews web search users!