Newsgroups, Listservs, Chats & PhishingElectronic Writing &

Publishing

What is a Newsgroup?

• Traditionally: part of the usenet news system

• Now: – Article-based electronic “newsletter” or– A topic-based discussion forum or– Still part of the usenet news system, with

hierarchies based on topic (soc, alt, comp, talk)– Accessed/received via email, website (often

requiring login), or a newsreader – Topics can be almost anything

Where can I find Newsgroups?• Goggle Groups search: http://groups-

beta.google.com/• Newzbot: http://www.newzbot.com/ • FAQ on usenet newsgroups:

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/by-newsgroup/• Brief intro to newsgroups with a selection

of newsgroups: http://www.geocities.com/findnewsgroup/

What is a Listserv?

• An electronic mailing list for discussion– often topic based

• A public forum or community• Requires a subscription (usually easy

to obtain by sending an email to the listserv email address)

• Messages sent to all members• Available: email sent to inbox, digest

form, online

How a Listserv works

Image from Tri-Service Toxicology Consortium

Where can I find Listservs?

• Catalogue of listservs with a search: http://www.lsoft.com/catalist.html

• Use a search engine (google, yahoo,…) and search for your topic and listserv [Example search: cats listserv]

• Look up professional organizations in your field. Many should have listserv

• For more info, including how to join & hints of being part of a listserv: – http://edtech.utb.edu/listserv/– http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/vis/online/html/l

istserv.htm

What is Chat?

• Synchronous online communication• Usually between just two people & fairly short• Various “types”

– Instant messaging (IM)– AOL Instant Messenger (AOL IM)– ICQ (“I seek you”)– Yahoo Chat (Y!)– IRC: not owned by a company, requires client program

• Universal clients available that allow you access several chat types at the same time (Trillian, Zango,…)

Examples of Chat Interfaces

Example chat window

Example interface

Phishing• “crackers” send fraudulent emails “from” a trustworthy

source to lure victims to give up sensitive info (such as passwords, account numbers, credit card numbers, and the such), often require people to log in at fake sites and in the process giving the info to the phishers, often use scare tactics to get people “hooked”– Examples: emails from a bank asking for account info, email

from ebay wanting info– Started on AOL– DO NoT follow the email– DO NOT use the url in the email– if unsure go to the real website type in the URL yourself orcall

the company• Most companies want you to send any phishing email your received

“from” them to them

Phishing Example

The End