Click to go back to the information page

NOTE: All identifying data or language of a strong sexual graphic nature as well as obscene language have been removed from each example used on this page

One of the older uses of the Internet and still thriving is the feature known as “Newsgroups”. Newsgroups are a massive collection of pseudo “bulletin boards” whereby a specific topic is the subject of each board and related material is “posted” to it. Posting refers to placing an ad, editorial or file in relation to a topical request or theme. In essence, it is bears a resemblance to another feature of the Internet known as a “Bulletin Board” with some distinctions that separate it. The various themes or “subjects” of each specific newsgroup is so myriad that many of the topics available are ones which may border on literal imagination. Morality is of little concern when creating a newsgroup as many illegal or socially scorned themes may be found on a multitude of servers. With the explosion of the Internet technological revolution, newsgroups role as a mainstay for internet users has diminished considerably but it still has its place among the “fringe” of society. What is known is that a large number of newsgroups exist and that on them you may find material that is not just illegal but decadent as well. It is not uncommon to find such subject matter as necrophilia, pedophilia or bestiality as the central theme of a newsgroup. Newsgroups are also an area where the introduction of computer viruses is common. A file claiming to be of a specific nature is uploaded. On the surface it is seen as a particular extension but, it is actually a corrupted file meant to introduce a virus into a computer once downloaded. Access to newsgroups is achieved through a “news server” and uses a “news reader” to scan the posted material. Some of the more popular news readers are “Agent” or “Microsoft Outlook”.

The above graphic is an example of the sheer number of divergent subjects that branch off newsgroup topics and how the subject of any one particular newsgroup is limited merely by the imagination of its creator. As a theme, the subject “alt.sex” is shown to contain many varying groups such as “alt.sex.oral” or “alt.sex.pedophilia” to name a few.

This is an example of what is viewed upon entering a newsgroup. This particular newsgroup is “alt.sex.pedophilia” and, as can be seen, contains many examples of topical matter related to that specific group. There can be queries posted about a particular subject through which replies are eventually given. You may find attachments of carrying formats that provide additional material through which a person may “see” or “hear” further examples of related material. As stated earlier, the actual topic of the newsgroup is limited to the imagination of the person – a notion supported by the many newsgroups shown to be available from this particular server.

Clicking on one of the subjects listed in a newsgroup will reveal a posting that may, or may not, have an imbedded file or a file linked as an attachment for download. In the above example, found in the newsgroup “alt.sex.pedophilia”, is a posting entitled “Japanese Schoolgirls”. In looking at the area labeled “Attach” you will notice that a file “japans.jpg” is found as an attachment to the post. In this case, it is a pictorial, a “jpeg” formatted file, that depicted pornography meant to illustrate Japanese girls in school uniforms.