newsgroup
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newsgroup
A discussion group on the Internet as well as a source for MP3 files and images. Newsgroups make up the Usenet (user network), which preceded the Web by more than a decade. Starting in the late...
Dictionary
Definition: newsgroup
A discussion group on the Internet as well as a source for MP3 files and images. Newsgroups make up the Usenet (user network), which preceded the Web by more than a decade. Starting in the late 1970s, newsgroups were message boards for Unix technical issues. However, they continue to prosper alongside Web-based discussion groups called "forums" (see Internet forum).
Although a topic can be newsworthy, newsgroups have nothing to do with the daily news. Organized into categories, alt (alternative) contains the most diversity (see newsgroup categories).
The Usenet Network
There are tens of thousands of newsgroups originating from many sources and hosted on many news servers. A small percentage are moderated either by a human or a software agent. An ISP may offer newsgroups to its customers, either by hosting them or funneling them from another source, although the ISP decides which ones and how long they remain online. Dedicated Usenet providers do not discriminate and store most newsgroups indefinitely.
NNTP and Newsreaders
The NNTP protocol is used to transport newsgroup content, similar to the way HTTP is used for Web pages (see NNTP).
Newsreader software (an NNTP client), which may be a stand-alone application or an e-mail or browser plug-in, is used to search for and subscribe to newsgroups as well as read and post messages. When a user posts a question or comment, the chain of replies is called a "message thread." See Usenet, newsreader, Deja.com, syndication format and newsgroup categories.
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Microsoft to start phasing out its NNTP newsgroups
Microsoft is holding an online meeting on May 4 on the topic of Windows Community. I'm wondering whether there might be an agenda item on the company's decision to discontinue its NNTP newsgroups.
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First Trojan discovered using a newsgroup to control attacks
Symantec has discovered the first Trojan using newsgroups to control botnets
Additional Results
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Microsoft to start phasing out its NNTP newsgroups
Microsoft is holding an online meeting on May 4 on the topic of Windows Community. I'm wondering whether there might be an agenda item on the company's decision to discontinue its NNTP newsgroups.
-
First Trojan discovered using a newsgroup to control attacks
Symantec has discovered the first Trojan using newsgroups to control botnets
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An IE8 Beta 2 Q&A
Yesterday I published my first look at the just-released Beta 2 of Internet Explorer 8. I got some great comments in the Talkback thread and via e-mail and thought it would be worth answering them...
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MPAA sues newsgroup, P2P search sites
Hollywood expands the scope of its antipiracy lawsuits, targeting sites that search the Web and newsgroups for copyright works.
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AOL shutting down newsgroups
Citing the popularity of blogs and chat, AOL feels it no longer needs newsgroups, a relic of the early Internet.
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Glitch slows RoadRunner newsgroups
Time Warner Cable says it has fixed a technical error responsible for scrambling some messages and file attachments posted to its Roadrunner newsgroups service.
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Attack brings a system wake-up call
On a Saturday morning in late January, many system administrators woke up to cell phones and pagers alerting them to serious network problems with their servers. A worm targeting SQL Servers had...
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Excite@Home pulls file-swap newsgroups
Worries about copyright infringement and child pornography lead the ISP to pull the plug on a handful of newsgroups whose subscribers were sharing files or pictures.
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Newsgroups reflect virus' scope, speed
Postings suggest how fast it moved, how far, how it works -- and who might be behind it all.
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CompuServe weighs plan to "tag" adult newsgroups on the Net
Even as it finalizes plans to carve out a special place on its service to host adult entertainment forums, CompuServe is considering suggestions on how to regulate access to the raunchier corners...
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