Newshosting is a popular Usenet solution that is ideal for those who don’t have previous experience with this technology. Newshosting offers a free trial that includes a newsreader, as well as indexer, which allows you to start enjoying Usenet without major hassle. In addition, Newshosting offers a VPN in the form of an add-on that brings an extra layer of security for your Usenet service. The VPN lets you browse the internet and newsgroups securely and it is a fully featured solution. Here is more about Newshosting.
Security and Privacy
The protocols supported by Newshosting are OpenVPN, L2TP and PPTP. The level of encryption used is 256-bit, which provides a high level of protection.All Newshosting users, even those who don’t get a subscription to the VPN service, can avail to a 256-bit SSL connection to secure their transfers. Nevertheless, a VPN solution is recommended since it can prevent ISPs from affecting your bandwidth. Newshosting states that it doesn’t keep any download logs and it would only hand over information about its users, if a court order is received. However, it is important to note that the provider is based in the United States, which makes it more likely to be targeted by major surveillance agencies. In addition, there may be DMCA takedown notices received. As a backup, users can rely on the NHXL plan, which provides access to EasyNews.
Features
There are over 100,000 discussion groups available and Newshosting offers 3,300-day retention period, which means that files are available for 9 years. Although some users have reported broken downloads, overall the service is effective and the download speeds can reach the maximum speed of your connection. The dedicated Usenet browser works on Windows, Mac and Linux and it is included for free as part of your subscription. It comes with a search function and video previews. It is possible to select an automated option for searching and downloading. This means that you won’t need to look for the latest episode of your favorite show as it will be downloaded automatically.
The app is very easy to use and you won’t need to set up a third-party newsreader solution. Newshosting bespoke browser makes things simple and it allows you to monitor downloads and keep track of how much data you have used. If preferred, you can also use Newshosting with third-party indexers and newsreaders like NZB.is and SABnzbd. The VPN service is included with the XL Powerpack plan and the VPN client supports Windows and Mac. It can be enabled from the webhosting browser without requiring a separate app. It is also possible to set up the service on Linux, but it has to be done manually.
There are over 70 servers distributed in 17 countries and there are over 7000 IP addresses available. Newshosting also comes with NAT firewall that stops any traffic from the Internet, unless the connection was initiated by you. You can switch between servers as often as you want and there are no limits imposed on bandwidth or data transfers. Newshosting supports up to two simultaneous connections, which gives you the possibility of securing your data on your computer or mobile device. It should be noted that although it is possible to use the VPN to browse the internet, the main purpose of Newshosting is to offer access to Usenet newsgroups. If this is not your priority and you are more interested in ensuring that your data is protected from security threats, a provider that is fully focused on offering a VPN service, would be a better choice.
Plans
There are three plans available: Lite, Unlimited and XL Powerpack. The first one costs $10 per month, the second one is available for $14.95 per month (or $12.95 when you pay for one year in advance) and the XL Powerpack, costs $19.95 per month, or $15.83 when you set up a yearly subscription. The VPN service comes free with the XL Powerpack, while those who are subscribed to the Lite and Unlimited plans will need to pay an additional fee (starting at $4.99) to get this technology as part of the service. The XL Powerpack also provides free access to Easynews and up to 60 connections, while the other plans only support up to 30. If you want to try Newshosting before setting up a subscription, you can take advantage of the free trial, which gives you the possibility of testing the service for up to 14 days or until you use up the 30GB that it offers.
Customer Support
While there is no live chat available, Newshosting offers 24/7 support via ticket system. There is also a useful knowledge base and you can find answers to the most common qeuries in the FAQ section. They also offer instructions that will allow you to set up the service on all the platforms supported.
Conclusion
If you are mainly interested on getting access to a large selection of Newsgroups and want to enjoy impressive retention, ease of use and the possibility of adding security through the VPN service that is on offer, Newshosting is a very good alternative. However, if Usenet is not your main concern and you want a high level of security and flexibility to unblock a wider range of content, it would be better to get a VPN that is available for a lower price and that covers other practical features.