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Newsgroups
Usenet Newsgroups
Imagine the Usenet as a giant blackboard which everyone can use to post their message. The Usenet uses so-called newsgroups in order to organize messages by topic. This is similar to more well-known discussion forums which use threads to thematize and group certain messages and interest-groups. Like a forum thread, newsgroups are devoted to particular topics most often reflected in the name of the newsgroup. Additionally, ‘tag lines’ provider further information about the newsgroup’s main topic.
Hierachical naming structure of Newsgroups
The top hierarchical level is specified by the first block of the newsgroup’s name. There are nine main hierarchies, such as comp., talk.,news. and alt. Where alt. binaries contain the most percentage of binary newsgroups, which provide both messages and file attachments.
Binary newsgroups
Binary newsgroups are those newsgroups that besides messages also contain files and their names mostly include the term ‘binaries’ and often look like this: ‘alt.binaries.movies’. The ‘binaries’ in the name indicates that a newsgroup can be used to submit and/or download files. Those binary newsgroups are easily found and categorized by topic by using the right software and more important having access to the right server(s). Such software and access to newsservers with binary newsgroups are usually only available through commercial usenet providers.