SSL encryption and RSS support

[spod]

SSL and RSS are not critical features, but would make nice additions.

[bugmenot]

I don´t use RSS, but with SSL I would definetly agree!!!

[Sc0tTy]

what do you mean by RSS support ?


i didnt know there where usenetservers with SSL

[bugmenot]

Giganews advertises a special SSL option since a month or so, see www.giganews.com

There are some other providers too, but they don't advertise it that much.
It is nice if you are on a wifi connection or other unsafe connections where everybody can spy on your username and password of your usenetprovider.
And it is great if your ISP analizes and maybe blocks traffic.

[spod]

what do you mean by RSS support ?

The RSS feeds do not come from usenet servers, they are provided by search NZB sites.

A lot of binary search engines like Binsearch, Newzleech, and Yabse offer RSS. Some binary file grabbers such as SABnzbd and Newsleecher will process those RSS feeds provided by the search sites.

SABnzbd's RSS feature lets you automatically download files that show up in an RSS feed. Conveniently, Newzbin V3 has the ability to turn any search into an RSS feed. Here's how you use them together.

   1. Search for something that results in a VERY SPECIFIC set of results. Remember: you're going to end up downloading EVERYTHING NEW that shows up in this list of search results.
   2. On the left of the screen is a "Feed Links" box, right click the orange RSS icon and get the URI of that link. [ screenshot ]
   3. Head to your SABnzbd config page and browse to the RSS tab.
   4. Paste the URI in the first Field, do some last minute filtering to get JUST what you want, choose if you want to match multiple times or not (like if you're planning on downloading a season of something as it gets posted), and choose your level of processing.
   5. Wait, and watch as files automatically come pouring out of your Internet Hole.

(source: http://shsc.info/NewsGroups )

Although I've played around with it, I don't use RSS myself, but it would be extremely useful for someone who has a news server with very short  retention who needs the ability to set up an automatic download whenever a keyword is found in a file title.

[spod]

i didnt know there where usenetservers with SSL

A partial list of SSL servers:

Easynews
Giganews
Usenet-News
Newsguy
Octanews

Easynews has had SSL for at least several years. Giganews from 3 months ago. I expect many more to follow, because as Usenet downloading keeps increasing, more and more ISPs are starting to throttle usenet streams, just like they've been traffic-shaping Bittorrent for the past 2 years.


Would THIS be possible for Alt.Binz?:

To encrypt the login session ONLY, but not the file transfer? (I often use free public WIFI, so I don't want anyone sniffing my password, but I'm not being traffic-shaped)

I understand that the usenet server also needs to support "login-session-only" SSL . I can ask usenet company owners, who are currently developing SSL support, if they can contribute from their end.

[Hecks]

Support for SSL would cetainly seal the deal for me (vs ISP throttling).  You could count on the equivalent value of my Newsleecher subscription if you ever started taking donations or charging.  

Even as it is, this program stands head and shoulders above much of the competition in terms of ease of use, functionality and efficient coding.  It makes me amazed at the bloat and half-assed functions that we've become used to elsewhere.  I very much look forward to seeing how it develops in the future, if only "pour encourager les autres".  :wink:

Inspiring.

[bugmenot]

yes, me too!

I also often use different connections via wifi for example at the university (they don't have VPN or even WEP!) So everyone in the same network can easily spy on me username and password (my thunderbird uses ssl on the emalaccounts, so only instant messenger and usenet are left unsafe).
Thats the main reason, as I don't think I suffer from traffic shaping.

[dannat]

UsenetServer also offer SSL now -

Encrypted UseNet Access
UsenetServer has deployed 256 bit encrypted UseNet access service by utilizing SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption. UsenetServer's deployment of encrypted Usenet access comes in response to customer feedback and growing support in news client software for SSL. Encrypted Usenet access allows UsenetServer's customers to securely access Usenet newsgroups. All data passed from UsenetServer's servers to the customer's computer is encrypted. This includes all username, password, articles and posts.
Encrypted Usenet access is available to all UsenetServer customers as a free service. To access Encrypted UseNet, setup your SSL aware news client to access:

secure.usenetserver.com
Port 563, 443 or 8080.

[pmp]

currently using SSL with easynews and alt.binz...how? stunnel

http://www.stunnel.org/ ... the website is a little obtuse, but stunnel itself is pretty easy to configure

just ask here if you have any questions about setting it up

[Rdl]

Yeap, it works via stunnel, just use this config for easynews and in alt.binz connect to 'localhost' port 119.

Code: [Select]


; Some performance tunings
socket = l:TCP_NODELAY=1
socket = r:TCP_NODELAY=1
; Some debugging stuff useful for troubleshooting
;debug = 7
;output = stunnel.log
; Use it for client mode
client = yes
[119]
accept = 119
connect = secure.news.easynews.com:563


[Hecks]

Works nicely with Giganews on port 443, too.

[Rdl]

SSL support will be available in next build

[bugmenot]

yeahh, thank you very much!
I am very looking forward to the SSL Feature!

[Rdl]

0.24.0 is out with SSL