strange message on alt.test

[llp]

Hi,
I've noticed that on the alt.test group, a user posts a message every
5 minutes from months.
Do you have any idea what this is ?

For example:

From: Test User <test-***@nospam.example>
Newsgroups: alt.test
Message-Id:
<***@52989dccacae3eb5.78e0286b383466a7>
Subject:
6705db03d618d0eb-37a24843797800f3-325ab381f16573e3-105b0d1331234dcf
Organization: XSNews
Path: (...)!abp001.abavia.com!news.xsnews.nl!not-for-mail
Lines: 2
Injection-Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2024 22:24:41 +0100
Injection-Info: news.xsnews.nl; mail-complaints-to="***@xsnews.nl"
X-Received-Bytes: 614


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


44f5caa6dc2490ac

[candycanearter07]

Post by llp
Hi,
I've noticed that on the alt.test group, a user posts a message every
5 minutes from months.
Do you have any idea what this is ?
Newsgroups: alt.test
6705db03d618d0eb-37a24843797800f3-325ab381f16573e3-105b0d1331234dcf
Organization: XSNews
Path: (...)!abp001.abavia.com!news.xsnews.nl!not-for-mail
Lines: 2
Injection-Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2024 22:24:41 +0100
X-Received-Bytes: 614
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44f5caa6dc2490ac

Maybe it's some automated system?

[Ivo Gandolfo]

-------- Original Message --------
From: llp <***@usenet.ovh>
Date: mar, mar 5 2024 10:26:46PM GMT+00:00
Subject: strange message on alt.test

Post by llp
Hi,
I've noticed that on the alt.test group, a user posts a message every
5 minutes from months.
Do you have any idea what this is ?

It's a bot, testing reaching the system and "ping". It's used for the
Tor (or similar) network for testing reachability.
Have used my server too.

[llp]

Post by Ivo Gandolfo
-------- Original Message --------
Date: mar, mar 5 2024 10:26:46PM GMT+00:00
Subject: strange message on alt.test

Post by llp
Hi,
I've noticed that on the alt.test group, a user posts a message every
5 minutes from months.
Do you have any idea what this is ?

It's a bot, testing reaching the system and "ping". It's used for the Tor (or
similar) network for testing reachability.
Have used my server too.

Okay, that makes more sense.
Sincerely

[Nigel Reed]

On Wed, 6 Mar 2024 08:25:11 +0100

Post by Ivo Gandolfo
-------- Original Message --------
Date: mar, mar 5 2024 10:26:46PM GMT+00:00
Subject: strange message on alt.test

Post by llp
Hi,
I've noticed that on the alt.test group, a user posts a message
every 5 minutes from months.
Do you have any idea what this is ?

It's a bot, testing reaching the system and "ping". It's used for the
Tor (or similar) network for testing reachability.
Have used my server too.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of running a usenet server that's
accessable via tor. While usenet can be fairly anonymous, there is
still some sort of accountability for those users who abuse it. That
said, I suppose it's like any other VPN or whatever.

[D]

Post by Nigel Reed
On Wed, 6 Mar 2024 08:25:11 +0100

Post by Ivo Gandolfo
-------- Original Message --------
Date: mar, mar 5 2024 10:26:46PM GMT+00:00
Subject: strange message on alt.test

Post by llp
Hi,
I've noticed that on the alt.test group, a user posts a message
every 5 minutes from months.
Do you have any idea what this is ?

It's a bot, testing reaching the system and "ping". It's used for the
Tor (or similar) network for testing reachability.
Have used my server too.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of running a usenet server that's
accessable via tor. While usenet can be fairly anonymous, there is
still some sort of accountability for those users who abuse it. That
said, I suppose it's like any other VPN or whatever.

google didn't need tor to abuse usenet with impunity, temporarily;
sites and services that reject tor users tend to become isolated,
like moderated newsgroups, moderated social media, the "in-crowd"

[wolfgang rothe]

On Wed, 6 Mar 2024 14:40:56 -0600, Nigel Reed

Post by Nigel Reed
On Wed, 6 Mar 2024 08:25:11 +0100

Post by Ivo Gandolfo
-------- Original Message --------
Date: mar, mar 5 2024 10:26:46PM GMT+00:00
Subject: strange message on alt.test

Post by llp
Hi,
I've noticed that on the alt.test group, a user posts a message
every 5 minutes from months.
Do you have any idea what this is ?

It's a bot, testing reaching the system and "ping". It's used for
the Tor (or similar) network for testing reachability.
Have used my server too.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of running a usenet server that's
accessable via tor. While usenet can be fairly anonymous, there is
still some sort of accountability for those users who abuse it. That
said, I suppose it's like any other VPN or whatever.

google didn't need tor to abuse usenet with impunity, temporarily;
sites and services that reject tor users tend to become isolated,
like moderated newsgroups, moderated social media, the "in-crowd"

google couldn't find a way to make groups / usenet pay to support
themselves, so the cost cutting knife came out. If they were really
interested, they could have stopped the spamming easily enough.

Encountering Tor filtering will slow a skilled networker down for
a bit to work out what is needed. An adjustment or two and Tor access
continues unabated. Most users in this category are not abusers, but
there is the occasional exception.

[R Daneel Olivaw]

Post by wolfgang rothe

On Wed, 6 Mar 2024 14:40:56 -0600, Nigel Reed

Post by Nigel Reed
On Wed, 6 Mar 2024 08:25:11 +0100

Post by Ivo Gandolfo
-------- Original Message --------
Date: mar, mar 5 2024 10:26:46PM GMT+00:00
Subject: strange message on alt.test

Post by llp
Hi,
I've noticed that on the alt.test group, a user posts a message
every 5 minutes from months.
Do you have any idea what this is ?

It's a bot, testing reaching the system and "ping". It's used for
the Tor (or similar) network for testing reachability.
Have used my server too.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of running a usenet server that's
accessable via tor. While usenet can be fairly anonymous, there is
still some sort of accountability for those users who abuse it. That
said, I suppose it's like any other VPN or whatever.

google didn't need tor to abuse usenet with impunity, temporarily;
sites and services that reject tor users tend to become isolated,
like moderated newsgroups, moderated social media, the "in-crowd"

google couldn't find a way to make groups / usenet pay to support
themselves, so the cost cutting knife came out. If they were really
interested, they could have stopped the spamming easily enough.
Encountering Tor filtering will slow a skilled networker down for
a bit to work out what is needed. An adjustment or two and Tor access
continues unabated. Most users in this category are not abusers, but
there is the occasional exception.

I understand that some clients (not the one I use) can set an expiry
date on a posting, this would seem to be case where that should be
mandatory - and anything more than a few days would also be a form of abuse.

[Retro Guy]

Post by Nigel Reed
On Wed, 6 Mar 2024 08:25:11 +0100

Post by Ivo Gandolfo
-------- Original Message --------
Date: mar, mar 5 2024 10:26:46PM GMT+00:00
Subject: strange message on alt.test

Post by llp
Hi,
I've noticed that on the alt.test group, a user posts a message
every 5 minutes from months.
Do you have any idea what this is ?

It's a bot, testing reaching the system and "ping". It's used for the
Tor (or similar) network for testing reachability.
Have used my server too.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of running a usenet server that's
accessable via tor. While usenet can be fairly anonymous, there is
still some sort of accountability for those users who abuse it. That
said, I suppose it's like any other VPN or whatever.

I've been running a nntp server accessible via tor and i2p (including some peering) for a few years now, and have not had an issue. I do require a working email address to create an account to post (except for rocksolid.* groups where a user can post using the 'Anonymous' account)

[Blue-Maned_Hawk]

Post by Nigel Reed
Personally, I'm not a big fan of running a usenet server that's
accessable via tor. While usenet can be fairly anonymous, there is still
some sort of accountability for those users who abuse it. That said, I
suppose it's like any other VPN or whatever.

The same properties that make tor useful to people who need it also make
it useful to people who exploit it. Nothing can be done about this, but
it is worth the tradeöff.

[Eric M]

Post by llp
I've noticed that on the alt.test group, a user posts a message every
5 minutes from months.
Do you have any idea what this is ?

[...]

Post by llp
Path: (...)!abp001.abavia.com!news.xsnews.nl!not-for-mail

Maybe we should ban xsnews.nl :)

[Ray Banana]

Post by Eric M

Post by llp
Path: (...)!abp001.abavia.com!news.xsnews.nl!not-for-mail

Maybe we should ban xsnews.nl :)

Cry havoc and let slip the bots of war.

[Eric M]

Post by Ray Banana

Post by Eric M

Post by llp
Path: (...)!abp001.abavia.com!news.xsnews.nl!not-for-mail

Maybe we should ban xsnews.nl :)

Cry havoc and let slip the bots of war.

Maybe they have strange NoCems too !