Long before TikTok trends, Instagram scrolls, and YouTube rabbit holes, the internet was a much quieter place. Digital conversations didn’t happen in ad-driven apps but in text-based communication spaces without today’s advanced algorithms—and one of these spaces was Usenet. Usenet is still alive and well today and contains a digital world of content you won’t find elsewhere. More importantly, it offers a glimpse of the old internet, with more digital freedom and less corporate oversight. This guide will explain Usenet—what it is, how it works, and why it’s still worth your time. What is Usenet?Usenet is a collection of newsgroups, each focused on a specific topic. Each newsgroup is like a forum where users can post messages and replies and upload and download files. However, all that information doesn’t sit on a single server; instead, it’s scattered across multiple servers, making Usenet a decentralized network.Before going further, it’s important to note that this article is for informational purposes only—we do not condone or encourage the downloading or sharing of copyrighted material in any way. Always ensure that your use of Usenet complies with local laws and regulations.Usenet vs. modern internet forumsYou can think of Usenet like an old-school message board system. Unlike today’s internet forums, it’s decentralized, requires specialized software to run, and provides more privacy as there’s no tracking and data logging. It doesn’t come with upvotes, likes, or algorithms—instead, it just focuses on the essentials. FeatureUsenetModern forumsStructureDecentralizedCentralizedAccessVia newsreader softwareVia browser or appCensorshipUsually minimalModerated contentPrivacyHigh Depends on policiesContentText and large binary filesText and media embedsWho uses Usenet today? Usenet is definitely well outside the mainstream digital conversation today. However, it’s still popular with certain kinds of users, including: Privacy-conscious users: Due to its decentralized nature, Usenet is a haven for those who prioritize privacy and wish to avoid surveillance and censorship. Researchers and archivists: Usenet is a treasure trove of scientific information, with some newsgroups retaining messages going back decades. Tech-savvy enthusiasts: To escape today’s algorithmic feeds, some tech enthusiasts appreciate Usenet for its raw, unfiltered experience.Usenet also offers fast and efficient file transfers and supports large binary file downloads and NZB indexing. Unfortunately, this means that it is sometimes used illegally to distribute copyrighted content. A brief history of UsenetBefore emojis, social media networks, and messaging apps that host group chats with hundreds of participants, there was Usenet. It’s a foundational layer of the internet built to foster open discussions and decentralized technology, and it provided a seed that grew into today’s digital culture. Let’s see how it developed.The birth of UsenetUsenet was created in 1979 by Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis. The idea was to facilitate communication between Duke University and colleagues at the University of North Carolina. Remember that the World Wide Web didn’t exist at this point, so Usenet was the first way for people to have online group discussions. After being connected to ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), an experimental private access network that existed before the internet, the Usenet network expanded to 50 sites, including Bell Labs, Reed College, and the University of Oklahoma. From there, it didn’t take long for Usenet to spread across the U.S. By 1983, it had expanded to over 500 hosts (servers that store and serve articles and discussions) in multiple countries, and it grew to over 950 hosts in the following year. From academic tool to global communityThe next important milestone in the history of the internet happened in the 1990s, when internet service providers started offering access to Usenet as a standard feature. Thanks to faster connection speeds, a new feature was made possible. Binary newsgroups began to appear, allowing Usenet participants to share software, images, music, and movies. At that moment, the “alt” hierarchy was created, a famously open and unmoderated category of newsgroups that allowed anyone to start a new group without formal approval. This paved the way for Usenet to offer newsgroups on every imaginable topic. Usenet’s legacy in online communicationHere’s how Usenet influenced today’s technologies: Threaded discussions: Usenet’s conversation trees influenced how posts and replies are organized in today’s forums and comment sections. Online communities: Newsgroups focus on a single topic and serve as pillars of online communities, similar to how Reddit and Facebook groups operate.Digital freedom: Many open-source and peer-to-peer technologies such as Mastodon are inspired by Usenet’s decentralized nature. Internet culture: The earliest internet memes and jargon, like ‘spam’ and ‘FAQ,’ have roots in Usenet conversations. How does Usenet work? Usenet is built upon a remarkably efficient and decentralized system. Here’s how it works.Decentralized network architectureToday’s social media platforms and online forums rely on central servers to host content and sometimes use additional servers to cache and serve their content faster. However, Usenet is entirely decentralized. It doesn’t have a central server—instead, it uses many connected servers that work together and share control over the network.When a user connects to Usenet and posts a message or uploads a file, that data gets replicated across all other servers worldwide. This architecture has many benefits, among which are the following: Data redundancy: If one server goes down, other servers take its place. In other words, there’s no risk of data loss. File transfer speed: By connecting you to a nearby server, Usenet can provide speeds that take full advantage of your baseline internet connection.Privacy and data control: Usenet is free of logging and data manipulation because no central entity controls it. Newsgroups, articles, and hierarchiesUsenet’s newsgroups are organized in a hierarchical structure, making it easy for users to find discussions that match their interests. There are two main types of newsgroups: Text groups: Text-based discussions where users post messages, respond to queries, and engage in conversations.Binary groups: These groups are meant for sharing files and can host small and large files.All Usenet groups are organized in a system with 9 main categories: the “Big 8” hierarchy, plus “alt” (the unmoderated category). First-level categoryTopics/Interestsnews.*Newsalt.*Alternative (unmoderated) talk.*Religion and politicscomp.*Computersrec.*Recreationalsci.*Scientificmisc.*Miscellaneoussoc.*Sociologicalhumanities.*Humanities-relatedFor example, let’s say you want to access a comedy-related group. That would be part of the “rec” hierarchy, so the group’s name would be “rec.humor.” First, we have the category (“rec”), and then the group’s name (“humor”).It’s also possible to go one step further to pinpoint a particular interest. For example, there’s a group called “news.newusers.questions.” The “news” part is the top-level hierarchy. Then, the “newusers” part is a group, and “questions” is a subgroup.It is believed that there are about 9,000 legitimate groups on Usenet that include valuable information. However, there are more than 100,000 Usenet groups globally—many of these are no longer active or were created as a joke (using a funny name). Text vs. binary files on UsenetUsenet’s core concept was to create a space for discussion and academic dialogue, and that was the case in the network’s first decade of availability. Text posts are the original content type on Usenet, and they’re used to discuss topics, share ideas, continue long-form discussions over weeks or even years, post tutorials, and more. In 1997, Usenet welcomed binary files, known as “binaries.” Binary files are non-text files, such as images, video, music, and software. Sharing files was made possible by splitting data into small segments and posting them across multiple articles within a newsgroup. Here’s a quick breakdown of the difference between text and binary files on Usenet: CategoryText postsBinary postsPurposeDiscussion and supportFile sharingFile sizeExtremely smallCan be extremely bigAccessVia newsreaderVia Usenet downloaderGroup typesComp, sci, alt, etc.Alt.binariesUse caseLearning and chattingDownloading and collectingThe role of NNTP protocolThe UUCP (Unix to Unix Copy) protocol was initially used via telephone lines to exchange data. However, the Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) launched in 1986 and changed Usenet’s underlying architecture. NNTP uses core internet protocols to ensure the secure and reliable transfer of data and communication between an NNTP client and any NNTP server. When a client sends a message to a server, that message remains stored and accessible by other clients. When another client connects to the server, all messages published since the last connection are downloaded. So, if that client has been offline longer, the updating process will take longer. However, since we’re talking about small text-based files, the updating process takes just a few seconds. How to access Usenet To access Usenet, you need to pick a Usenet provider, understand how newsreaders work, and possibly pick an indexer. You’ll also need an NZB file if you plan on downloading data, but remember that downloading copyrighted material is illegal and that you should stick to copyright-free downloads.Understanding newsreader softwareYou can’t access Usenet using your regular web browser—you need a specialized newsreader application. Newsreaders allow you to access newsgroups, read and reply to text posts, download binary files, and search and filter content. Using a newsreader is quite simple, even if you’ve never interacted with Usenet. It’s like an email client, file downloader, and forum reader rolled into one. SABnzdb, NZBGet, and Easynews are among the most recommended newsreaders for beginners. What are NZB files? NZB files make downloading binary files as streamlined as possible. That’s because huge binary files are split into hundreds or thousands of pieces (smaller messages). You can easily download small binary files divided into a couple of pieces, but finding individual parts of a huge file is made possible through NZB files. Newsreaders use NZB files to tell them where to find a single binary’s different parts. Using this functionality, newsreaders compile those parts in the correct order. Many newsreaders can also unarchive files and make them ready for use as soon as they become locally available on your machine. While NZB files are often associated with copyright-infringing downloads, they also have legitimate uses—such as accessing open-source software or public domain content shared via Usenet.Indexers and how they workThere are many easy ways to search the internet, but when it comes to Usenet, there’s no central search engine. Instead, you can use an indexer that provides searchable catalogs of Usenet content. Many Usenet providers offer their own indexers, promising to help you get more accurate results, filter fewer posts, and have faster NZB availability. Alternatively, you can use public indexers, but they usually deliver less reliable results and are slow to update. Choosing the right Usenet subscriptionYour experience of Usenet depends greatly on which provider you choose. Here’s what to look for. Key features to look for in a Usenet planUsenet providers offer various features, catering to users with different needs and priorities. Make sure to check these factors:Retention time: Having access to older content means there’ll be more information to access. If you want to dive deep and find rare or archived posts, ensure your chosen provider offers a lengthy retention time.Download speed: Low-end Usenet providers can limit your download speed. If you plan on accessing binaries, it’s good to take full advantage of your baseline connection. We’ll remind you that we’re talking about copyright-free files here; downloading copyrighted material is illegal.Number of connections: The more simultaneous connections you can get, the better. A larger number of active connections translates to faster downloads.SSL encryption: There’s no reason to allow others, including your internet provider, to see what you do when connected to Usenet. SSL encryption will help keep your activities private. Completion rate: This tells you whether you can count on downloading large binaries without errors or corruption. You’ll want a high completion rate, which means a lower chance of encountering incomplete or corrupt files.Indexing compatibility: Indexing is helpful for searching content on Usenet. You’ll want a Usenet provider that works smoothly with your chosen NZB indexers and your preferred newsreader. Customer support: If you’re unsure how to use Usenet, knowledgeable support agents can help you resolve technical issues. Should you go with unlimited or block access? If you’re just starting with Usenet, it’s best to test things with a block access plan. Block access plans offer a specific amount of data (100GB, 500GB, 1TB, etc.). Since there’s no expiration or recurring billing, you can explore Usenet at your own pace. If you decide to dedicate more time to Usenet, an unlimited plan is better. Unlimited plans don’t limit your bandwidth, meaning you can use Usenet however and as much as you want. How retention time affects your access to contentEven though Usenet is public and permanent, each provider has a different retention policy. That means you might not see every post made, even if you subscribe to a newsgroup. Text groups are often retained for 2,000 to 5,000+ days, while binary groups are also retained long-term, but larger files might expire sooner. Short retention (100 to 500 days): Providers offering shorter retention are usually cheaper and limit you to more recent uploads. High retention (3,000 to 5,000+ days): Providers offering higher retention allow you to access discussions and files uploaded 10+ years ago. Retention is directly related to completion rates. For example, missing segments can make binary files unusable, since you can no longer download expired data. The role of speed and connection limitsThree factors determine speed. First, there’s the speed of your baseline internet connection, which is the download/upload speed your internet provider guarantees for your chosen plan. Second, there’s the speed of a Usenet provider’s infrastructure, which can often match the speed of your baseline connection. Third, your speed heavily depends on the number of simultaneous connections. Instead of downloading one file piece at a time, most Usenet providers open multiple connections, pulling different parts of a file simultaneously. The more simultaneous connections you get, the faster your access to Usenet will be.Built-in security: Why SSL encryption mattersWhen accessing Usenet, your device communicates with Usenet servers across the internet. Without encryption, your internet provider, network administrators, and malicious actors can monitor and intercept your data. This is why the best Usenet providers offer SSL encryption to turn your activity into unreadable code. Without SSLWith SSLYour provider sees your traffic.Your provider sees encrypted traffic.Login credentials sent in plain text.Logins are protected from interception.Higher risk of traffic throttling.Less chance of ISP throttling. SSL encryption adds a much-needed privacy layer to anything you do on Usenet. However, to get the best possible security and privacy protection, you should pair this with a quality VPN like ExpressVPN. That way, you get end-to-end data encryption. and you can hide your IP to ensure that your internet whereabouts are untraceable.Are free trials and refund policies worth it? Free trials and refund policies are worth it for two main reasons. First, they allow you to test-drive a Usenet provider and see if their marketing claims are valid. Second, they let you check whether Usenet meets your expectations.Top-tier Usenet providers offer 7-14 day trials, which is enough time to explore them. Many also offer 30-day money-back guarantees, but you’ll need to check whether they apply if you get a trial (most apply only if you pay from the get-go). Using Usenet effectivelyOnce you pick a Usenet provider and a newsreader, it’s time to dive into this vast network. Here’s how.Finding and joining newsgroupsEach Usenet provider gives you access to a specific group of newsgroups. To access those, you must launch your newsreader and connect to your Usenet provider using your login credentials. Next, you’ll download the complete list of newsgroups. If you’ve picked a provider with access to plenty of newsgroups, it might take a few minutes before you can access Usenet. Then, it’s time to search for something. You can search or filter groups by keywords, topics, or hierarchies based on the newsreader you use. Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the groups you’d like to visit again. Usually, subscribing is done by marking newsgroups as your favorites or adding them to your central feed. Posting etiquette and best practicesUsenet has been around for quite some time, and some informal rules have been established. Good etiquette makes things readable and more manageable for everyone involved, so here are some tips:Use descriptive subject lines: When someone opens a newsgroup, they first see a list of subject lines. By using clear and descriptive subject lines, you can help readers quickly understand your topic. Don’t quote excessively: Usenet discussions can be pretty lengthy. To avoid cluttering a newsgroup and individual threads, it’s wise to trim old messages and quote only what’s necessary. Don’t use HTML formatting: Usenet doesn’t work with HTML formatting; it’s plain-text only. So, don’t try adding HTML tags, as they won’t translate. Stick to basic characters. Use your signature carefully: A good way to build credibility on Usenet is to have a short name or alias under your messages. However, keep your signature short and avoid long-form and spammy-looking signatures.Don’t post your personal information: Usenet is a public and permanent network, so anything you post will remain accessible for a long time. Therefore, it’s wise to avoid posting personal info. Moderated vs. unmoderated groupsYou can participate in two types of newsgroups: moderated and unmoderated. As you can imagine, moderated groups often provide a better experience, especially for more complex, technical, and academic topics. In those groups, a moderator must approve posts before making them available, which controls spam and abuse.Unmoderated groups allow anyone to post content instantly. As such, they’re more active and dynamic than moderated groups, but they also often contain spam, trolls, and off-topic discussions. Most binary newsgroups are unmoderated due to the volume of uploads. Usenet and privacyIn many ways, Usenet is a hidden corner of the internet. However, that doesn’t mean it’s anonymous by default. Like other online activities, your activity on Usenet could be traced, so let’s talk about how to stay anonymous in online chats. Is Usenet anonymous?No, Usenet isn’t anonymous. Even though it’s much more private than today’s social media or online forums, someone can track your activity by following your IP address. Most Usenet providers won’t track your online activity, but to be on the safe side, you should pick one that offers SSL encryption and a no-logs policy, which makes your activity as close to anonymous as possible. IP tracking and security risksAccessing Usenet is done through specialized Usenet providers. That means you’ll still use your baseline internet connection and an IP address provided by your internet provider. Through your IP address, your ISP can see that you’re connected to a Usenet server and how much you download. Using proxies or VPNs with UsenetWhile a proxy can hide your IP address, it won’t offer full end-to-end encryption of your data. A capable VPN can fix that issue. In fact, a VPN like ExpressVPN is the best way to protect your privacy while using Usenet. Once you connect to a VPN server, the VPN creates a fully encrypted tunnel between your device and the VPN server, protecting your data from snoops and trackers. It also lets you hide your actual IP address and use the VPN server’s IP address instead. As noted earlier, most Usenet providers offer SSL encryption to secure your data, which is a great start. But pairing Usenet access with a capable VPN adds an additional layer of privacy protection. How to protect your identityBy following specific rules, you can become close to anonymous on Usenet and prevent your personal information from being stored on Usenet’s decentralized network. Here are some of the most effective tips to keep in mind: Secure your connection with a reliable VPN. Enable SSL encryption in your newsreader app. Don’t use your real name when posting in newsgroups. Use a secondary (throwaway) email address for posting. Make sure not to mention your name, address, or similar.Avoid sketchy NZB indexers that might log your IP address. Stick to Usenet providers with no-logs policies.Is Usenet legal and safe? Usenet is legal and safe if you use it responsibly. However, it’s also a popular destination for digital pirates who share copyrighted content, so you need to be careful not to download anything you shouldn’t.Legal considerations around UsenetAccessing Usenet is legal worldwide. It’s simply a communication protocol and a file distribution platform. You can participate in discussions and access public-domain and other legally shared media. It’s also legal to share your own software and any content you might own, like photos, videos, graphics, etc. Recognizing and avoiding malicious contentMalicious content can be found in binary groups. To avoid this, follow the same rules that apply to other parts of the web. For example, steer clear of files with unexpected extensions (such as .exe and .js), as those could be malicious executables and malware scripts. It’s also a good idea to use reliable antivirus software while you’re accessing Usenet—this will help to protect you from malicious links and files.Is Usenet still worth using today? Usenet is an old-school network based on plain-text discussions, and that’s what makes it interesting today. It’s a noise-free and decentralized system without ads, heavy content moderation, or algorithms that follow your every move. Perhaps the most significant advantage of Usenet is that it provides access to rare and archived content. Most mainstream platforms don’t preserve content for long, so Usenet is an excellent option for finding archived files. All in all, if you made it this far in this in-depth guide, you’re probably the kind of user who would enjoy what Usenet has to offer. The post What is Usenet and how does it work? A beginner’s guide appeared first on ExpressVPN Blog.