solitude
i am a meat popsicle
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I can’t recall when it actually stopped working (maybe around 3 months ago?), but here is the announcement: https://mullvad.net/en/blog/removing-the-support-for-forwarded-ports
Fairly soon after they removed PF, I searched for a show that was less than a year from release, rated over 80% on TMDB & over 8.0 on IMDB, and pretty popular. I couldn’t complete a full season of it on any one format (720p, 1080p, x264, x265). Probably around 10 incomplete versions in qBit. Never ran into something that bad before, on a somewhat recent show. Started using usenet and had my files within an hour or so, in the format I wanted. I understand and support their decision, but it was a very good feature to have. If your looking for new material, PF won’t affect you. I’ve read people suggest Tailscale as a way to supplement Mullvad (if you’re running a server and want to remotely access it), but I know little about it.
Yeah, Mullvad stopped offering Port Forwarding as well, along with iVPN (I think) and some others. I believe AirVPN is the recommended VPN which still has PF (I may have iVPN and Air mixed up). I understand one of the reasons why they stopped supporting PF (it allowed sick f*cks to share illegal child content with others), but it also pretty much destroyed my ability to find and complete a download of old/er files that I normally didn’t have a problem with, and, like you mentioned, I could no longer seed back. It’s the sole reason why I started using usenet. I could have tried one of the other VPNs I mentioned (Proton & Air, which I believe both have PF) but I chose to stick with Mullvad and add usenet instead, which I’ve really liked.
I should have also mentioned that I otherwise thought your initial post was good.
then it’s not bad to also set a VPN killswitch
At least with Mullvad (and I imagine the other three I mentioned), there is nothing to set. It’s already there in the app, and automatically enabled after install. The only thing that can be done is to turn it off.
This is what I was referencing in the first bullet about network interface
Understood. I was just providing the specific term (“bind” or “binding”), used by VPN companies & users, for anyone else who wants to search for instructions on properly connecting qBit to their VPN.
I agree that Kape did some sketchy shit in the past
It’s not my place to fault or criticize you or anyone else for choosing to go with Kape/PIA (or Nord). I just think people should at least know of their past. For me, there is zero chance of me returning to PIA. Someone tells me the girl I’m interested in cheated on their past boyfriend, or tried to somehow spy on or sabotage him? Zero chance I’m getting involved. Too many other good/better options available. My brother has had no issues dating cheaters. To each their own. None of my business why others make the choices they do.
Any sort of data breach definitely sounds bad but since I haven’t reviewed the details
It’s not necessarily that they had a data breach, it’s how they handled the situation that many people found troubling.
Nord and PIA you can usually get multiyear deals
Same with this. I don’t fault you for trying to save some money. Everyone has their own situation to deal with, and I’ve been “there” before. For me, I’m not rich or a boomer, but I’m old enough now and have enough disposable income that I make decisions that work for my privacy and reliability requirements. I see something that cheap now and I ask myself, “why is that so cheap?” It could still be a good product, but I know enough to at least ask the question & research. I also don’t pay for long term, multi-year deals anymore (I had about six months remaining on my PIA deal when I “noped” out of being a part of Kape’s acquisition), but I still try not to be an idiot and just give away money either. As an example, I buy the Mullvad gift card, with a scratch-off code from Amazon, $29/6mo ($4.83/mo) or $57/12mo ($4.75/mo). No euro exchange rate or transactions fees, etc. My preference is to incentivize my favorite companies to stay in business, providing the service and continual upgrades that I want and expect, like the following:
-and-
https://mullvad.net/en/blog/moving-our-encrypted-dns-servers-to-run-in-ram
When people talk about “zero logs,” I’m not aware of anything better than having everything run through RAM. Going out to lunch/dinner or watching a movie is roughly $10 to $20/person these days. I’ll happily pay a couple extra bucks a month for a VPN with this kind of privacy and continual upgrade in service, or from the other three I mentioned (and I believe Mullvad is still even the least expensive of the four). No criticism from me on your choices though.
you can set up a “vpn killswitch” … A lot of VPN client apps have this feature built in.
Most quality VPNs will have a killswitch built in and enabled automatically, with nothing to setup, but they are notoriously unreliable and can fail. The key term people want to search for is “bind.” You want to bind qBit to your VPN. If your VPN isn’t working, qBit doesn’t have a connection. Most decent, privacy first, “no log” VPNs (Mullvad, Proton, AirVPN, iVPN, etc.) will provide instructions on binding. This is above and beyond their built-in killswitch.
I can recommend PIA, NordVPN
I’m not saying you shouldn’t recommend these, or that people shouldn’t use them, but IMO, people should at least be warned to search for the following, so they can make an informed decision:
- “kape technologies malware” (Kape owns Private Internet Access, which is why I switched to Mullvad years ago when Kape bought PIA)
- “nordvpn data breach”
If you don’t have it, install uBlock Origin. Uninstall any other adblocker. If you don’t trust me, do your own research, but uBlock is the only one you need. Do not disable it on a website, unless you’re having a major problem on an important website (like banking, something you need to access, but I’ve rarely had that problem). You just need to look where I mentioned and enable the filter. I believe it should already be there, you just need to enable it. I don’t have any other “ByPass Paywall” add-on extensions and I view, but don’t pay for, all sorts of different websites, without paying for them or logging in.
Yes, I believe uBlock Origin already has a bypass paywalls option there, you just need to enable it, check the box. Look for it where I mentioned to find it. I don’t have anything else installed (other than uBlock) and I view all sorts of pay-walled websites, without having to pay or login. If the option isn’t there, install it from the link from me or “@free”.
I wouldn’t disable uBlock Origin, unless a specific website that I need to work is having a problem with it (like my banking website, or one of my usenet websites, etc., something very important to me, and that I trust). It’s very rare that I need to disable uBlock.
To be clear, I’m saying that I don’t think you need to install anything else, because I believe uBlock Origin already has this feature built into it.
Install uBlock Origin (everyone should already have this installed anyway), click on the gears (you’ll see “Open the Dashboard” as you hover over the gears), go to the bottom of the “Filters lists” tab to the “Custom” area, there should be a box you can check for “Bypass Paywalls Clean filter.”
I believe this is the same filter that “@free” posted elsewhere in this thread from Gitlab: https://gitlab.com/magnolia1234/bypass-paywalls-clean-filters. I can’t recall for sure if it was already installed in uBlock, or if it was something that I added on my own to uBlock from Gitlab, but I believe it’s already there.
You may or may not already know this, but I believe this is already included on uBlock Origin, towards the bottom of the “Filter lists” tab, in the “Custom” area.
EDIT: Someone else told me it’s not installed on uBlock by default. I guess I installed it from Gitlab a long time ago and forgot, and that it just shows up in uBlock now.
The process some others have described is called binding. You want to bind qBit to your VPN. qBit will only work if your VPN is active then. Close the VPN (while uploading/downloading) and qBit automatically loses it’s connection. This is above and beyond a “kill-switch,” which is notoriously unreliable. Most decent VPNs have a built in kill switch, but you should not solely rely on it.
I use Mullvad, but here is the Proton page you need to refer to: https://protonvpn.com/support/bittorrent-vpn/
“Binding your BitTorrent client to the VPN interface” and “How to bind the client to the Proton VPN interface.”
To be sure, you should still continue only starting qBit after your VPN is active (obviously don’t have it startup with your operating system).
Following up with this post, here is the link to the subreddit BF Deals thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/usenet/comments/17noby8/2023_black_friday_deal_thread_providers_and/
There is already a deal mentioned in there (which the provider has since said was not intended as a BF deal, or for the regular public, I guess just repeat customers) but I’d encourage people NOT to utilize the UsenetExpress backbone. See the bottom of my other post for stats, compared to Eweka. Again, I like my Eweka provider, but another popular alternative may be the Frugal Usenet w/ UsenetFarm + 300 GB -or- 750 GB Yearly Blocknews Account deals. We’ll see what else BF may bring.
Following up with my other post in here, this is the link to the subreddit BF Deals thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/usenet/comments/17noby8/2023_black_friday_deal_thread_providers_and/
There is already a deal mentioned in there (which the provider has since said was not intended as a BF deal, or for the regular public, I guess just repeat customers) but I’d encourage people NOT to utilize the UsenetExpress backbone. See the bottom of my other post for stats, compared to Eweka. Again, I like my Eweka provider, but another popular alternative may be the Frugal Usenet w/ UsenetFarm + 300 GB -or- 750 GB Yearly Blocknews Account deals. We’ll see what else BF may bring.
Frugal Usenet is on the same backbone as Usenet.Farm
I don’t have these providers, but this is the deal that I’ve seen many other people refer to in the sub. It’s listed in the Usenet provider deals list: https://www.reddit.com/r/usenet/wiki/providerdeals (“Frugal Usenet w/ UsenetFarm + 300 GB Yearly Blocknews Account” -and- “Frugal Usenet w/ UsenetFarm + 750 GB Yearly Blocknews Upgrade”).
If you look on the “Usenet Tree” link (https://svgshare.com/i/iG8.svg) it looks to me like FrugalUsenet falls under the Omicron company name (red highlighting), HW Media (Highwinds) backbone, and sold by the Newhosting provider (Frugal Usenet listed as the “resellers”, or maybe, like you said, the reseller here is BlockNews and not Frugal under Omicron).
Usenet.Farm is the company name (green highlighting), “Its Hosted” backbone, Usenet.Farm provider, with multiple resellers listed, one of which is Frugal. I could be wrong, but I think the name of the reseller (showing up in multiple places) may be getting confused as being on the same backbone? The same reseller is selling access to more than just one provider / backbone, but either way, the unlimited annual data plan should be on a different backbone from the 300GB or 750GB block, not on the same backbone. At least that’s what I’ve understood from many others.
so a better block account option would be Newsdemon on the UsenetExpress backbone
I don’t doubt it could be a better backbone, but I don’t see any kind of deal with Frugal for either of those, and a Frugal Usenet w/ UsenetFarm + block deal is what I’ve seen many people talk about on the sub as being a good deal and working really well for them. I prefer my Eweka connection, but I’m trying to provide another very popular option.
Additionally, as I mentioned, I have a 2TB block with the UsenetExpress backbone (from UsenetPrime). In my opinion, it’s garbage. My SABnzbd stats show a 55% availability rate, which agrees with my memory of continually having problems completing files before I got Eweka.
EDIT: stats from SABnzbd
UsenetExpress (before getting Eweka to today):
Bandwidth: Total: 65.8 GB | Today: 0 B | This week: 532 KB | This month: 0 B | Selected date range: 65.8 GB | Article availability: | Selected date range: 55% available of 171K requested articles
Probably about 55% of that 65.8GB of bw used was completely wasted on incomplete downloads, that had to be deleted and downloaded again once I got Eweka.
Eweka: Bandwidth: Total: 1.2 TB | Today: 0 B | This week: 39.3 GB | This month: 4.2 GB | Selected date range: 1.2 TB | Article availability: | Selected date range: 99% available of 2M requested articles
I came here to get away from Reddit, but for Usenet deals, I don’t know where else to track them. I haven’t been on Usenet long enough to go through BF deals yet, but I plan on tracking https://www.reddit.com/r/usenet/wiki/providerdeals (for provider deals, obviously).
I’ve also seen provider reps post in the main sub (https://www.reddit.com/r/usenet/) with “terabyte Tuesday” & other similar type deals, but I can’t recall if I’ve ever seen indexer reps post deals in there (pretty sure they don’t, please anyone correct me if I’m wrong). My provider is Eweka, so I don’t plan on getting any other provider deals, but I’ll still take a look at what’s available. Another good sub to track indexers might be: https://www.reddit.com/r/UsenetInvites/. Example: when Ninja (indexer) opened up registrations (temporarily no invite needed, about a month ago, supposedly very rare), it got posted in both of these subs.
Originally, my first provider wass a 2TB block from UsenetPrime (UsenetExpress backbone) and only completed 55% of the downloads I tried. I was extremely frustrated, and kept asking myself “this is what everyone else is saying is so great?” I did a lot of searching through various posts and then got the Eweka annual unlimited plan, and I haven’t had any real problems since. I later picked up a 500GB data block from BlockNews (doesn’t expire, & although they’re under the same Omicron company name, they’re on a different Highwinds backbone), just in case I ever ran into any future problems. Usenet.Farm (“Its Hosted” backbone) also had a deal that (if I recall correctly) you just signed up for an account and you get a 10GB block for free, and can get a 48% discount (code BDAY2023) when you’re 10GB is gone and you’re ready to sign up for a package (I’m assuming that code expires at some point though). With all these blocks I have, all of my DLs come solely from Eweka (according to SABnzbd stats). So I wouldn’t buy any blocks (depending on who you’re main provider is).
I’ve also seen a lot of people mention a combination deal of Frugal Usenet (Highwinds backbone, unlimited annual access, but limited retention), but it also has a 300GB or 750GB block with Usenet.Farm (“Its Hosted” backbone, supposedly longer retention period, more similar to Eweka) from Blocknews, for a little cheaper. So that may be another option for people to consider. Either way, I’d recommend not wasting money on UsenetPrime / UsenetExpress, or other data blocks unless you’re having problems.
Just in case anyone is unaware of how backbones work, you should research it, and understand why you don’t want to pay for accounts on overlapping backbones. Good tools for checking are: https://svgshare.com/i/iG8.svg -and- https://whatsmyuse.net/
My indexers are: DrunkenSlug (DS), NZBGeek (Geek), NZBFinder (Finder), NZBPlanet (Planet), NZB.Su (Su), and NinjaCentral (Ninja). So far, Planet and Ninja have been the most disappointing. Planet rarely comes up with something I’m searching for, probably well below 33% of the time. Ninja also rarely shows up with search results. However, the difference is, the rare times I’ve had a problem completing a file, I’ve then attempted to DL from the Ninja index link and I was then able to complete it, but that’s been maybe 3 times? Planet just rarely shows up, to the point I forget I even have access to it. The other 4 indexers have all worked well. If there is another someone suggests, please let me know.
I guess I’ll add, I got an invite to DOGnzb (indexer), but I soon realized you have to “buy” a shirt from them when paying for the account, and then if you want the shirt you just paid for, you have to actually pay for it again. Maybe it’s a decent indexer, but it’s extremely expensive, and I haven’t had a problem with my other indexers, so I deleted the DOG account & never tried it.
I never claimed to have experience with Usenet.
Again, I can’t connect the dots for you. You’re combining and confusing two separate issues.
Is this not a recommendation? It’s from the same comment you mentioned SABnzbd.
You previously said: “The whole reason you get a VPN for piracy is to stop you’re ISP from seeing what you are doing.”
The following was my recommendation: “If you were to decide to try Usenet, you install a program called SABnzbd (kind of like qBit, it downloads the files - no uploading, downloading only). It has an SSL connection enabled (Secure Sockets Layer, encryption-based internet security protocol).”
The topic was keeping your ISP from seeing what you’re doing. So, no, Prowlarr was not a recommendation. Prowlarr doesn’t have an SSL connection. The reference to Prowlarr was an explanation that: “they may be able to see that you’re searching you’re indexers (on a program called Prowlarr - searching for a file to DL), but you’re ISP can’t see what you’re downloading on SABnzbd. I still use Mullvad, so I know they can’t see anything I’m doing in regards to searching or DL.”
Is any of this getting through to you?
The thing about being sesitive is probably true.
That’s progress.
I generally don’t like it when people try to lecture to me about something (piracy) I have been doing for way longer than them.
First, as I already explained, it wasn’t a lecture, I was genuinely trying to help, as I have in another portion of this thread. Last, as I already stated, no. You’re delusional.
Honestly the fact you have to use ad hominem like this and then block someone isn’t good.
How am I reading and replying to someone who is blocked? Confusion, fragile psyche, and extreme sensitivity explains the basis for your attempt at reasoning while trying to make your comments appear logical. And you admitted a portion of what I said is true, and it’s affecting how you’re interpreting and replying to comments from other people.
I do not intend this to be offensive, but I’m not sure how else to explain how I feel about this conversation. Again, no offense, but it’s becoming clear to me that English is not your native language, wherever you’re from. You do well, but you’re clearly not fully grasping what is being explained to you by myself and other/s. Maybe that’s an ESL issue, or maybe there is something else going on with you (enjoying arguing too much, confusion, fragile psyche, extreme sensitivity, etc.). I don’t see the point in continuing the conversation with you, as it seems you just want to make up whatever nonsense you can so that you can have the last word. So, go ahead, have the last word. I won’t reply.
I maybe didn’t make this clear. You assumed I didn’t have experience (I honestly think you maybe got me mixed up with someone else), and you recommended prowlarr based on that assumption.
- There is no “maybe” about it. I think you’ve completely confused even yourself at this point. Go back and read my original comment.
- I didn’t mix you up with someone else, I specifically replied to you.
- I didn’t recommend Prowlarr, I specifically said SABnzbd. That’s the program with SSL, not Prowlarr. I think you’re the one mixing me up with someone else, possibly MonkCanatella.
- I didn’t assume you don’t have any experience with Usenet. I was, and still am, 100% sure you do not have any experience with Usenet, which is why I specifically said “If you were to decide to try Usenet, you install a program called SABnzbd…” Are you now saying you do have experience with Usenet?
.
Yet you keep trying to claim I don’t know what I am doing while never showing anything I have said to be incorrect.
“My guy” (as you said to me), you’re showing it all yourself, doing all the work for me. Do you need a point-by-point map or diagram or something? I can’t make it any more clear to you, than you have already done for yourself. Sorry my guy, you’re going to have to work on your confusion, fragile psyche, and extreme sensitivity, all by yourself my guy.
My guy I probably have more experience with this than you do.
Based on you’re comments in this thread, no.
It’s weird you’re recommending advanced tools like Prowlarr to someone without piracy experience
You said the quote above, not me. So which is it? You have more experience than me, or you’re “someone without piracy experience?”
Really? You talk as if I have no understanding of basic computer terminology like SSL.
How in the world would I know who you are and what your experience level is with SSL? I was simply providing a thorough answer to you or anyone else who would care to read it later. That’s all. Not everything is a personal jab at you and your fragile psyche. You’re being overly sensitive about a non-issue.
imagine trying to use that defense in court.
For the vast majority of people, that’s never going to happen. If that’s something that definitely can happen in your country (from just viewing a piracy website) then name your country in your comments so most people don’t get confused. Otherwise, you’re blowing it way out of proportion.
I was refering to the proctol. You can just say bittorrent since it’s a protocol. I don’t use either of these clients specifically I mainly use qBittorrent.
And this confusion is generally why most knowledgeable users talk about “torrenting” instead of naming the protocol, which is also the name of a torrent client that is widely used by newer & uninformed users.
Looking at your post history, its clear you just like to argue. Maybe that’s why you thought I was talking down to you, because that’s something you try to do to other people. I came here to help. This conversation is over.
I don’t generally like being talked down to.
No idea what you’re talking about. I was genuinely trying to provide advice and assistance.
It’s weird you’re recommending advanced tools like Prowlarr to someone without piracy experience.
How does someone try to teach and guide another person in more “advanced” things, without them taking it as though they’re being talked down to?
You’ve had two people who’ve tried to help you now, because you’re comments are clearly coming from a perspective of a person “without piracy experience” (your words).
You can see my other comments in here. I’m not talking down to anyone. I guess I’ll let you figure out the problem with using BitTorrent or uTorrent on you’re own. GL
If you were to decide to try Usenet, you install a program called SABnzbd (kind of like qBit, it downloads the files - no uploading, downloading only). It has an SSL connection enabled (Secure Sockets Layer, encryption-based internet security protocol). Even without a VPN, they may be able to see that you’re searching you’re indexers (on a program called Prowlarr - searching for a file to DL), but you’re ISP can’t see what you’re downloading on SABnzbd. I still use Mullvad, so I know they can’t see anything I’m doing in regards to searching or DL.
I’m assuming you didn’t read my post later in this part of the thread (responding just below here to “Giu176” - it’s lengthy, sorry, but start almost half way down into that post and read the rest for more detailed info and recommendations, beginning with the paragraph that starts: “With Usenet a VPN is not needed, because SABnzbd …” That info should provide a good guide on how to get started. Anymore than that and it can get overwhelming for some. I’m an analyst for work, so looking at all the available data, including many threads, and trying to make a decision was kind of daunting when I first started looking at it all.
Otherwise, the Reddit wiki is unfortunately the only other source I’m aware of. Start here: https://www.reddit.com/r/usenet/wiki/index
If you’re new (like I was) I’d stick to basics, like I outlined in the post I mentioned. But here is the part for choosing an indexer: https://www.reddit.com/r/usenet/wiki/indexers
It’s my understanding (and it makes sense) that the “Free Membership Sites” are basically worthless. Pay most attention to the “Yearly Membership” section to get started, and look for “Open” in the “Registrations” column. The indexers I referenced (in the other post) are the main ones more experienced users mentioned. However, I believe some of it is marketing by owners/affiliates. Example: some say how great DOGnzb and NinjaCentral are, but I’m convinced it just self promotion. DOG is extremely expensive (see the pricing there, but you have to “buy” a shirt for a subscription, and if you actually want the shirt you “paid” for, you have to pay extra, so I deleted my account after getting an invite and registering). Ninja isn’t bad, they do have some rare things, but it’s very uncommon for me to find something on Ninja that isn’t already tracked by one of my other indexers. The problem is, you have to get an invite, and it can be rare that it opens for registrations or an invite is available (I think by design, you want the thing you can’t have). Not really worth it though.
The sub for getting invites to other indexers that aren’t “open”: https://www.reddit.com/r/UsenetInvites/
Don’t just make a post asking for an invite, unless you’ve already made a post offering an invite to somewhere else. I enabled notifications on this sub so that I knew when an indexer I wanted became available. Read here to understand better how it works: https://www.reddit.com/r/UsenetInvites/wiki/startingout
That’s how I got DrunkenSlug (DS) and NzbPlanet (Planet), but Planet isn’t that good, imo. You should be able to use it for free though, on a limited basis.
Next, providers: https://www.reddit.com/r/usenet/wiki/providers
See the two recommendations I already made (I’d REALLY suggest just sticking with one of those), otherwise, understanding the differences can get rather confusing, but I’ll provide a brief explanation here. If you have trouble obtaining a file you’re indexer is saying is out there, but you have trouble getting it from the provider you have (I don’t have problems with Eweka, but just so I don’t look like a shill…), having access to another provider, specifically on a different backbone, can be helpful. Here is a link to the provider “Usenet Tree”: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Usenet_Providers_and_Backbones.svg -or- I THINK this is a direct link to a more up to date version, if I recall correctly: https://svgshare.com/i/iG8.svg -and- there is also this website, which kind of helps stopping you from getting overlapping providers (but again, see my two recommendations, and you can use this later if you ever have a problem, but you shouldn’t): https://whatsmyuse.net/
Lastly, even though I don’t use all of this on a server, I installed all the “arrs” on my PC and enjoy having access through them (again, see my other post for an explanation and links to the “arrs”. I don’t like having the arrs reorder my files, and create their own subfolders, so I just use them to reference files I’m kind of following, if you will. So I disable the “download when available” option.
With this post, and the other, it’s already getting kind of lengthy and convoluted. However, if there are any other questions, I’ll do my best to answer.
Actually, one more item, when you get more familiar with Usenet and the arrs, you can reference this site for setting up “arrs” profiles if you want: https://trash-guides.info/
I don’t know enough about Proton or NAT-PMP router support to comment. Hopefully someone else can. What I can say is that, based on my knowledge, PF does not directly influence your ability to download, but like I said, it indirectly can influence your ability to download if the original uploader/seeder is gone and no one else in the swarm has PF or they limit their uploads (like you do, which is understandable). I don’t have PF with Mullvad & I still obtain new or recent releases without a problem. What’s “recent” really isn’t definable, it more depends on the file popularity and how many seeders are still supporting the file that I can connect to.
Example: within a month or so after Mullvad dropped PF I was trying to DL a very popular show (over 8.0 on IMDB & over 80% on TMDB) that had been out less than a year. I tried all variations of 1080p, 720p, x264 & x265. I couldn’t complete the entire season from any one source. I was using a few different websites to find access to the files, in addition to using the built-in qBit search function (plugins, including having the Jacket plugin setup), and automatically adding trackers to each torrent that I had copied from “ngosang” and “newtrackon” into the qBit “BitTorrent” section of “options.” I never ran into this big of a problem before on something that was still fairly new. I knew I had to choose AirVPN, ProtonVPN, switch to private trackers, or try Usenet. I wasn’t interested in private trackers (just seemed like work, to get in with good private tracker/s, having to maintain a good upload ratio, even when others may not want the files I have, and I’m an adult now, with some disposable income, so I’d rather just pay a little, get what I want, and not worry about playing nice with others, although I recognize the importance of it and always supported it in the past). Within an hour of getting Usenet, I had all my files, in the format I wanted.
With Usenet a VPN is not needed, because SABnzbd (kind of like qBit, it DLs the files) has an SSL connection enabled (Secure Sockets Layer, encryption-based internet security protocol). Then you need an indexer (kind of like a phone book or a geo-locator, sort of telling you where the files are located, but the indexer does not provide access to the files themselves) and a provider (a service that actually provides access to that file). You can even automate everything by installing the “arrs” (Prowlarr, Radarr, Sonarr, Lidarr, etc. Do a search for “servarr” and you’ll see everything available there.) Link: https://wiki.servarr.com/
There are many indexers, some better than others. Having just one isn’t good enough (because their coverage is all a little different than others in regards to what they track). Some you can have limited access to for free. I have access to DrunkenSlug (DS), NZBGeek (Geek), NZBFinder (Finder), NZBPlanet (Planet), NZB.Su (Su), and NinjaCentral (Ninja). Some of these I pay for, around $5 - $10 per year, and others I just use for free. If I had a more limited budget, I’d probably just pay for DS & Geek, or use them & others for free if you don’t search and DL much.
There are also many providers, on the same or different “backbones,” & some are much better than others. If you want some older files, along with new releases, you need someone with a longer “retention” policy. I went with Eweka, a very popular provider. They have been fantastic for me. An annual unlimited download account cost me $54.35 (with a foreign transaction fee), or $4.53/month. If you only need new releases, then a provider with a limited retention would be fine. I also see many people use a combination deal with Frugal Usenet (unlimited annual access, but limited retention) and it also has a 300 GB “block” with UsenetFarm (higher or longer retention period), from a company called “Blocknews” for $40/Year. Blocks are specific sizes of data access (300GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, etc.) that can be purchased, and generally do not expire. The idea is, most of your recent files come from Frugal, and any older files not retained there should be available on UsenetFarm. I would not buy blocks from other backbones unless you absolutely can not obtain a file from your current provider, and then you want to make sure the block is coming from a different backbone. In total, the annual cost of utilizing Usenet is comparable to many VPNs. However, I continue to use Mullvad (so far) simply for the privacy it provides me, and with a voucher I bought off Amazon, the price is discounted. I got a 6-month voucher for $23.80 almost a year ago on a lightening deal, or $3.97/mo.
For a long time, the main VPN that was recommended was Mullvad. iVPN, Proton and AirVPN were distant alternative recommendations. However, since Mullvad, iVPN, and some others removed port forwarding (for a good reason, you can read their blog post about it, but basically, human scum were using PF to allow others to connect with them while sharing child-based illegal material) many people had to make a choice revolving around PF.
PF allows you and others to keep a healthy “swarm,” so it is a vital feature, particularly if you’re hoping to download files that aren’t recent & are no longer seeded by the original uploader. If the original seeder is gone, and everyone in the remaining swarm doesn’t have PF, you’re most likely not getting that file. Many people stayed with Mullvad, and some people switched to AirVPN or Proton, so that they could keep utilizing PF. If you’re only going to download recent releases, I’d suggest Mullvad. Otherwise, AirVPN or Proton should be fine. I have no experience with either one, other than using Proton’s free email service (I’m also testing Tutanota and Skiff, & liking Skiff the best out of all 3 so far).
I would also suggest doing a search for “ProtonMail court order leads to the arrest of French climate activist” and see if that bothers you. Example: see Mullvad’s blog about “migration to RAM-only VPN infrastructure.” Meaning, all the internet traffic going through their VPN service is kept on RAM, so when they say they don’t have any logs, they don’t and can’t. Will Proton rat you out if they get a court order about you? I doubt it, but who am I to say. Although, email and VPN are not the same, but they are somewhat similar in regards to protecting your privacy. I believe AirVPN is also a trustworthy “no log” policy VPN with PF. Just do your own research and make an informed decision.
Me? I switched to Usenet instead of torrenting for anything other than recent releases. The good thing is that you don’t need a VPN for Usenet (as long as you have the SSL connection enabled on SABnzbd in the server section, which should be enabled by default after installation). The bad thing is, it takes a little more research to understand how to best setup Usenet, but you’re pretty much guaranteed to obtain your files, even years old. I don’t need to keep Mullvad, but I have kept it for now, because it’s pretty inexpensive and it’s a great service, even without PF.
Short version: use qBittorrent, manually start it each time after you’re VPN is active (do not have it start up with Windows or whatever you’re using), make sure to BIND your VPN to qBittorrent (do not rely on just a kill-switch, notoriously unreliable), and using Proton should be fine.
EDIT: You may want to also research “nordvpn data breach” and “kape technologies malware” (Kape owns Private Internet Access) if one of those becomes an option for you. I’m not saying don’t use either of them, but you should be aware of those things and make your own decision. I switched from PIA to Mullvad when Kape bought PIA.
EDIT2: Just in case people don’t know, I believe Mullvad is still the provider for the “Mozilla VPN,” just rebranded. And they have their own Mullvad browser (from Firefox), but I haven’t tried it.
Thanks you for all the detailed information. I’ve been interested in usenet for a long, long time (not just since rarbg went down). The problem for me is, I’ve recently gone to “r/usenet Wiki” and there is just so much information there, in addition to a significant amount of providers and a significant amount of indexers to sift through. I appreciate the variety of info and choices, but to just get started, I feel like there is too much information to familiarize myself with just to jump in. I wish there was like a “starter pack” type area, like choose one of these three for this, choose one of these three for that, to just get a good start.
I have NZBGet, and I’ve used r/UsenetInvites to get invites to nzbplanet and drunkenslug (but have not paid for them yet). I haven’t taken the time to figure out what else I may need to just get rolling. I also think my main concern is, do I need to add one more in order to find old or “dated” TV shows, movies, or music?
Coming from using a VPN bound to qBit for years, to later learning how to automatically add ngosang & newtrackon trackers/indexers to each torrent I’m downloading, and eventually setting up qBit search plugins (like Jacket & Prowlarr), and being someone who likes to analyze all the options, I’m finding the entry barrier a little overwhelming. I believe the term would be “analysis paralysis.” I’m frustrated with too much information, especially because of who I am. I just want getting started a little more streamlined.
I don’t know enough about how all this works yet to specifically and accurately answer your question.
OPs question had to do with Piracy@lemmy.ml. If I go to the communities I’m subscribed to, I can see both Piracy “subs” (I believe called an instance here). So if I click on the link to that other one (Piracy@lemmy.ml) I still see older posts. However, when I’m there, the full link is “https://lemmy.one/c/piracy@lemmy.ml”.
So I’m assuming you’re saying that means I’m looking at a cached instance? Although, @lemann says below that “The community isn’t removed, it still exists at https://lemmy.ml/c/piracy@lemmy.ml but not https://lemmy.ml/c/piracy although it’s the same instance.” I can go to that link and see newer active posts, but when I try to subscribe to it (by searching for “!piracy@lemmy.ml”) I can’t seem to locate it the way I have others that have been outside my instance.
I don’t plan on going back to Reddit, but this fragmentation is rather frustrating at the moment.
Glad that worked out with AirVPN, they’re the main alternative to Mullvad that I was considering back then. I may still try them in the future. Yeah, I was shocked that Mullvad was so cool about handing out refunds. I’ve read about many other VPNs that wouldn’t consider that. I guess with Mullvad being the official rebranded Mozilla VPN they can afford to let some people go and still have a smile about it.