Using SSL To Secure Usenet Access

In response to privacy and network throttling concerns, Usenet providers begin in 2006 to transition from unencrypted NNTP to NNTP over TLS (NNTPS). Now every Usenet service provider offers SSL encryption for everything you download. Make sure you enable SSL when connecting to your Usenet provider so your ISP will be less likely to throttle your Usenet traffic speeds and monitor your activity. All the Usenet providers NGProvider recommends support SSL encryption as well, so choose one of these providers to remain safe: Newshosting - Eweka - UsenetServer. They also offer excellent privacy and great service. 

---

What is the security level of exchanges and transfers on the Usenet network?

All Usenet providers offer SSL. Secure Sockets Layers or SSL is a secure transaction procedure that increases your security of access to Usenet. (Usenet providers use the same security protocols as online banking). SSL is like a tunnel, a secure channel of communication (encoded by a 256 bit key) between two machines (a client and a server). SSL allows secure and anonymous downloading on newsgroups. With 256 BIT SSL Encryption, you can trust your activity is completely safe. It has 4 main advantages:

1 - SSL encrypting stops any interception of data downloaded or sent

2 - SSL allows you to bypass any filter your ISP might have for Usenet

3 - SSL fights any network surveillance. This way the articles you read or download from your Usenet provider are visible to you and only you.

4- Your downloads are not monitored. Confidentiality of usage is respected.

Will a VPN make you more secure?

There is no need to use a VPN to improve your connection safety. SSL connection to your Usenet server should be enough IMO. If Usenet is encrypted then there's no reason to use the VPN encryption as well. You need a VPN for downloading if you are hiding your IP of origin because a VPN gives you a new IP from its global servers or if you plan to upload to Usenet and want to stay as anonymous as possible: Usenet anonymity.

The second disadvantage is a loss of speed. The great thing about Usenet compared to torrenting is high, constant speed.

Without a VPN, I've been downloading hundreds of gigs a month from usenet binaries for the last 20 years without a single problem from my ISPs.

Which newsgroup providers offer SSL?

All providers now offer SSL - 256-bit SSL encryption comes at no extra charge. We would recommend NewsHosting. For $9.99/month or $99/year (with 100 connections and 5,480 days retention) you can benefit from encrypted newsgroup access with free Newsreader at an unbeatable price.

How do you connect to newsgroups with SSL?

There are 3 steps to take:

• Tick the SSL box in your Newsreader.

• Use the SSL address from your Usenet provider => For Newshosting use: news.newshosting.com

• Choose port 563 (or 443) to connect with SSL. The default SSL port for NNTP is 563. Some work better than others depending on your configuration or your ISP. For example, the benefits of using port 443 instead of port 563 is that the latter could be closed if you are behind a firewall, while port 443 is often open for HTTPS traffic.

 

Which Usenet Services Take Your Security Seriously?

Newshosting SSL Connections

SSL connections are free with all Newshosting accounts. Because they’re included at no extra cost, we highly recommend you use them. Newshosting’s SSL encryption is 256-Bit. 256-Bit is the encryption standard used by governments and militaries around the world to secure classified information.

Connect to Usenet using the following server settings on your newsreader:

Geographic auto-select hostnames:
IPv4 - news.newshosting.com
IPv6 - news6.newshosting.com

United States hostnames:
IPv4 - news-us.newshosting.com
IPv6 - news-us6.newshosting.com

Europe hostnames:
IPv4 - news-eu.newshosting.com
IPv6 - news-eu6.newshosting.com

Netherlands hostnames:
IPv4 - news-nl.newshosting.com
IPv6 - news-nl6.newshosting.com

SSL Ports: 563, 443

UsenetServer SSL

UseNetServer helps ensure your privacy with free 256-bit SSL encryption. UseNetServer has servers in the USA and the Netherlands.

IPv4: news.usenetserver.com
IPv6: news6.usenetserver.com

IPv4: news-us.usenetserver.com
IPv6: news-us6.usenetserver.com

IPv4: news-eu.usenetserver.com
IPv6: news-eu6.usenetserver.com

Secure SSL ports: 563, 443 or 8080

Eweka SSL

Eweka has deployed 256 bit encrypted Usenet access service by utilizing SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption. Eweka has servers located in the Netherlands. 

news.eweka.nl

Secure SSL port: 563, 443

Easynews SSL

Easynews supports SSL connections for both their web-Usenet interface and NNTP servers. This gives you an encrypted connection to their website and newsgroup servers.

Geographic auto-select hostnames:

For SSL encrypted connections - secure.news.easynews.com (IPv4) or secure6.news.easynews.com (IPv6) listens on ports 21, 23, 25, 53, 80, 110, 443, 8000 and 8080

Easynews has servers located in the USA and servers in the Netherlands.

The United States server address options are as follows:

secure-us.news.easynews.com (IPv4)
secure6.news.us.easynews.com (IPv6)

The European server address options are as follows:

secure-eu.news.easynews.com (IPv4)
secure6.news.eu.easynews.com (IPv6)

Secure SSL ports: 21, 23, 25, 53, 80, 110, 443, 563, 8000 and 8080

ViperNews SSL

Vipernews provides 256-Bit SSL Encrypted Connections. Vipernews has servers located in the Netherlands. 

Secure SSL ports: 563 or 443

UsenetExpress SSL

UsenetExpress offers 256 bit SSL NNTP Connections.

Hostname: news.usenetexpress.com

Secure SSL ports:

563 or 443 for SSL (TLS 1.0+).

564 for old SSL clients (SSLv2).

Newsgroupdirect SSL

Newsgroupdirect provides 256-Bit SSL Encrypted Connections. NewsgroupDirect has news servers in the US and the Netherlands.

The United States server address

news.newsgroupdirect.com

Secure SSL ports: 563, 80, 81, 9119

The European server address

europe.newsgroupdirect.com

Secure SSL ports: 563, 80, 81, 9119

Tweaknews SSL

Tweaknews allows members to connect via 256-bit SSL encryption. Tweaknews has servers located in the Netherlands. 

Secure SSL ports: 563, 443

UsenetBucket SSL

UsenetBucket provides 256-Bit SSL Encrypted Connections. UsenetBucket has servers located in the Netherlands. 

Secure SSL ports: 563 or 443

ExtremeUsenet SSL

ExtremeUsenet provides 256-Bit SSL Encrypted Connections. 

ExtremeUsenet has servers located in the Netherlands. 

Secure SSL ports: 563 or 443

UsenetNow SSL

UsenetNow offers 256-bit SSL encryption for privacy. Usenetnow has U. S. and European server farms.

The addresses for the news server are as follows:

US Server: usnews.usenetnow.net

EU Server: eunews.usenetnow.net

EU Server 2: eunews2.usenetnow.net

Secure SSL ports: 563, 443, 5563

Blocknews SSL

Blocknews provides 256-bit SSL encryption.

Blocknews has U. S. and European server farms.

With all accounts, you have access to the following servers:

US Server: usnews.blocknews.net

EU Server: eunews.blocknews.net

EU Server 2: eunews2.blocknews.net

Secure SSL ports: 563, 443, 5563

FrugalUsenet SSL

FrugalUsenet provides 256-bit SSL encryption.

FrugalUsenet has U. S. and European server farms.

With all accounts, you have access to the following servers:

news.frugalusenet.com

eunews.frugalusenet.com

eunews2.frugalusenet.com 

Secure SSL ports: 563, 5563

FastUsenet SSL

Usenet plans include 256-bit SSL encrypted connections. FastUsenet has U.S. and E.U. server farms.

news.fastusenet.org

euro.fastusenet.org

Secure SSL ports: 465, 563, 5563

StingyUsenet SSL

StingyUsenet provides 256-Bit SSL Encrypted Connections. StingyUsenet has servers located in the Netherlands. 

Secure SSL ports: 563 or 443

Usenet.Farm SSL

Usenet.Farm’s plans include 256 bit SSL encryption with their USENET service. Usenet.Farm has servers located in the Netherlands. 

news.usenet.farm

Secure SSL ports: 563 or 443