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About Usenet (newsgroups)

Usenet, also known as "Users Network" and in Dutch as "newsgroups," is a global network that has been around for more than 40 years. It was initially developed to share text messages and news, but has since evolved into a platform where users primarily exchange files, or binaries. Usenet has a huge amount of data, with more than 40 million gigabytes of files available.

What is Usenet?

Usenet is similar to a forum, but operates on a more complex and much larger scale. It consists of newsgroups structured by specific topics. To access these newsgroups, you need a service from a Usenet provider, such as XS News. A Usenet provider gives you access to the servers where all the data is stored. This is similar to an Internet subscription, but instead of access to the Internet, you get access to Usenet.

What can you do with Usenet?

Usenet offers a variety of features. Initially, the platform was used for sharing text messages, but today its main focus is on exchanging binary files, such as videos, music and software. A major plus point often cited is the speed at which these binaries can be downloaded. Newsgroups, the core of Usenet, contain subgroups focused on specific topics. You can access more than 134,000 newsgroups through XS News.

The history of Usenet

Usenet was founded in 1979 as a way to communicate between two universities via Unix computers. This was a successful alternative to Arpanet, which was run by the U.S. military. In 1980, only 15 computers were connected, exchanging about 10 messages daily. This number grew rapidly, and by 1985, 1,300 computers were connected.

Although Usenet is older than the Internet, it remained less popular for a long time because it was too complicated for most users. Thanks to technological developments and new software, Usenet became more accessible. Today, Usenet offers an alternative to the Internet, with thousands of connected news servers.

Learn more about the history of Usenet

Is Usenet safe to use?

Yes, Usenet is safe as long as you are careful about what you click on, just like the regular Internet. At XS News, we make every effort to filter out spam and phishing links. In addition, all connections are secured with SSL encryption, which means your data is safe. Usenet is also compatible with most VPN services, so you can use it anonymously and securely.

What do you need to use Usenet?

For Usenet, you need the following:

1. A product or service from a Usenet provider. This gives you access to the Usenet.
2. A news reader (also called Usenet client). You use this program to browse newsgroups and/or download binary files.

Set up a newsreader? Check out our tutorials

Why choose XS News as a Usenet provider?

Are you looking for the best Usenet provider? XS News offers a number of advantages that set it apart as the best newsgroups provider. XS News' infrastructure, with multiple 10 GB data cables to the servers, allows you to download large files at lightning speed. We also offer unlimited downloads with no speed limit. In addition, you have access to a large selection of newsgroups and a retention of 3000 days, meaning you can retrieve files for up to six years. Moreover, Usenet offers a high degree of privacy and anonymity, as you are not tracked by Google or Facebook, for example.

At XS News, your connections are secured with SSL encryption for added security. Not only do you get access to Usenet with our Usenet products with us, but you also benefit from a simple and user-friendly interface, secure connections and reliable servers.