============================================================
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS alt.binaries.... for macs

version 1.6.1 - 29 Mar 96

Please save, add your comments, change the version and date,
add yer name below, and repost weekly.
TEXT BY: Altrus, Gone, Pinochle, Fetcher, Sheepdog, Side of Beef
nobody, Tech Junkey, Tygyr, Peaches
=============================================================

>>>>>>>>> Of GREATEST IMPORTANCE use VA-NewsWatcher. <<<<<<<
It's easier, safer, quicker, and more 'free' than emailing or ftp.
See section VIII on how to get it.

   * I. What is alt.binaries.mac.games?
   * II. How Do I Download and Decode the Binaries?
   * III. How Do I Upload Binaries?
   * IV. When the crossposting THREADS attack.
   * V. About other mac binary and warez groups & ftp sites.
   * VI. Cracks and Serial Numbers for Programs.
   * VII. Posting anonymously, security, and getting busted.
   * VIII. Specific Applications Notes.
   * IX. Sources of decoding applications.

===========================================================

I. What is alt.binaries.mac.games?

alt.binaries.mac.games is a newsgroup where people post
softwares. Originally, this group is for posting games,
however, since most Internet Server Providers (ISP) do not
carry the alt.binaries.warez.mac this newsgroup doubles as the place
where people post warez.

Since this is a binaries newsgroup, please keep the non-binaries
posting to minimum. This group is for mac users and warez,
not for discussions, advertising, or other useless crap.

DO NOT POST:

"Please e-mail me"
"ME TOO" regarding requests, trades, or emails
"I've a new homepage, come look"
"Let's trade warez"
"Gimme an ftp site"
dicussion topics/threads of any nature
items readily available elsewhere on the net
demos posted as the actual 'full' application
demos in general
pictures, sounds, non-application items
numerous requests for a missed post - one REQ: is enough

The reason we post is that because
most of us don't want to or don't have time to e-mail softwares
many times to individuals. If you must post a request, ask the
person to POST it so that other people can benefit from it too.
The best way is to post some software first and hope that
someone will post what you want to return your favor.
And besides, for every app you post instead of email,
there will be one REQ message.

About ftp sites - if you can handle the load and possible trouble,
you may announce your ftp site. Please no ftp site trading.

Just like Pinochle said : "EITHER POST OR SHUT UP!".

IMPORTANT:
This newsgroup is alive because of the posters. Please help out by
reposting softwares if you download them. Posters hate reposting
a million times everytime they post a software. Remember that you
get them for "free" (aside from your ISP or phone bill), that's the
least you can do for this group if you don't have new softwares to post
And the posters may leave the group when they get sick of reposting.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
II. How Do I Download and Decode the Binaries?
Files are compressed, coded into TEXT and then posted.
It's easiest with VA-NewsWatcher.

(1) DOWNLOADING
How you download depends on what software you use. Read the README
file or the manual that comes with the software first. Most
newsreader for Macs have features to download binaries. See the bottom
of the FAQ for locations to get applications to de/compress the below.

(2) DECODING and DECOMPRESSING
(i) What do these .*** means?
The most common compression and conversion to ASCII schemes used
in this newsgroup are below. To get the decoder programs see

cpt
WHAT: Compact Pro (Shareware)

hqx
Coded files begin with "(This file must be converted with BinHex 4.0)"
and end with a ":"
You must remove evertything before and after the above and below lines
if you work with it manually.
WHAT: BinHex 4.0 (Freeware) or Dehqx (Freeware)

image
DiskCopy from Apple (Freeware) or Shrinkwrap (Freeware)
Creates an exact duplicate of the original disk.
Some programs, like Speed-doubler and Ram-doubler have to be
in disk images, because that is the way the installers work.
Best for putting items back onto disk if yer hardrive is too small
or for installing certain applications that require the disk version.
WHERE: ftp://ftp.apple.com/dts/utils/diskcopy-4-2.hqx
ShrinkWrap is best for the latter use. If there is an application
that needs to be installed, the Apple Installer will not recognize
the tomes and the script if they were not posted in images of the the
original master disks. The advantage of ShrinkWrap over DiskCopy is
that it will mount the image, so that the your Mac will believe there
are as many physical floppies inserted as the number of images you
have mounted. In other words, you do not have to deal with real
floppies, so the process is faster and easier.

sea
Self Extracting Archive
No software needed, just double click the icon to extract. Often
disabled (type-creator affftected) after decoding if your using GateKeeper.

sit
WHAT: StuffIt Expander (Freeware), StuffIt Deluxe

uu / .uue
Coded files begin with "BEGIN -- Cut Here -- cut here"
and end with a "end" "END -- Cut Here -- cut here"
You must remove the "BEGIN..." and "END...." lines before decoding
Not a preferred format for anything on a mac.
WHAT: UUDecode (Freeware), UUUndo (Freeware), UULite (Shareware)

(ii) TROUBLESHOOTING
Sometimes, since people use different compression programs or because
it is uuencoded, the file to be decoded does not have a type-creator
associated with it. There are 2 ways to fix this.

* ResEdit / Super ResEdit
Go to the FILE menu and choose "Get File/Folder Info"
Change the TYPE and the CREATOR of the file to match the extension

* SetItsType
Open the file and select the appropriate type and creator. If

=======================================================
FILE TYPE CREATOR Software
=======================================================
.sit SITD SIT! StuffIt Deluxe
.sea APPL SIT! StuffIt Deluxe
.sea APPL EXTR Compact Pro
.cpt PACT CPCT Compact Pro
.image dlmg dCpy Disk Copy
.image dlmg Wrap ShrinkWrap

(3) MISC.
If the file is corrupted, there is nothing you can do but ask the
poster to repost the file. There are many compression / coding
formats around, but we try to use only the above forms.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. How Do I Upload Binaries?

(1) Place all the desired files and folders into one folder.
Include the serial number, if necessary, as a folder name.
Compress the software into one of the above formats.
Then convert the compressed file to ASCII Text by
BinHex 4.0 (the best choice) or UUEncode (a very poor choice).
UUencoding strips away needed resource fork information that the
Mac finder and file system needs to properly identify file types.
If your apps are serial'd with your name, you must 'crack' the program
opne and change the info. For simple apps, use ResEdit to 'find' and
change the info. For more complicated apps, you must use special
cracking software that's often posted or found on some WWW sites.

(2) When posting, please provide disk images for
applications which come with installers. If you don't, then
posting is often a complete waste of time. To the poster
and to the untold numbers of users who retrieve the files to
find that they don't work. There is NOTHING more aggravating
then to spend hours downloading a file or files and finding out
it's complete junk!

(3) Segmenting
Some servers remove the postings when the size exceeds 900KB, so try to
keep it under that. Posting in smaller segments causes problems too
sometimes since you'll need many segments and it is not uncommon that
segments get lost, leaving the entire posting worthless.
Many found it best to set it about 600KB segments which divide
a disk image to about 3 or 4 segments. Others prefer 200 or 800KB.

(4) Posting: Just copy/paste into or attach it to a post.
You need to give a very good description of the item in the
subject line. You should begin with a "- ", and include the name
of the application, total memory when decompresseed (23M total)
segemnt size (400k), total number of segments (01/05),
which disk (disk 1/5), and always give a (00/05) description post.
(VA-Newswatcher automates much of this.)

(5) Description of post. The first post you make (called segment (0/3))
should include a description of the software, how you compressed and
coded it, requests for other items, serial #'s, and any comments.
Please be as complete as possible, include the above info and tell us
what that program does, if you like it, and who's it good for.

(6) If yer new, always run a test post - compress, code, post, d/l
decode, decompress, run. In the subject line say "test."

TROUBLESHOOTING
(a) If your posts are not being shown:
1) it could be because your computer link failed to upload the files
--- to fix, repost
2) a cancelbot killed your post (see below)
--- to fix, post only to .binaries groups
3) your expiration date was set too early
--- to fix, check your newsreader prefs
4) your server failed to display the post when you went back to check.
--- to fix, wait a few minutes and reload your newsfiles
5) your newsfeed / ISP killed your post for various reasons,
------- to fix, switch news providers

(b) Where to get another news provider?? Just change the numbers/location
in VA-NW's preferances to something like the open servers at
194.6.183.101, 204.107.208.3, or 204.191.105.5
or for more servers see
http://wopr.cs.utas.edu.au/open-news-servers
http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~jwa/open-sites.html

(c) Canceled Posts
Most of the posts are being cancelled by these people:
jem@xpat.com (John Milburn)
red@redpoll.mrfs.oh.us (Richard E. Depew)
Both of them run cancel bots that target binary posts in ANY Usenet
newsgroup that doesn't have the word "binaries" in its name. But here's the
asinine part: if your upload was also cross-posted to a groups that WANT
binaries, like this group and a.b.w.m, it'll disappear along with the ones
in the "non-binary" groups. Milburn targets alt.cracks and alt.crackers,
canceling (supposedly) ANY binary over 300 lines. You can find his
forged cancel messages by subscribing to the newsgroup "control"
or "control.cancel" on your server's group list. Search on "jem@xpat.com."
Depew's dumbot targets ALL unmoderated Usenet "discussion-only"
newsgroups for ANY "large" binary. Depew has his "own" newsgroup,
alt.retromod, which stands for "Retromoderation," to which he posts
notices of what he's cancelled, as well as spamming every newsgroup
affected by his actions with the same notice.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
IV. When the THREADS attack.

Recently alt.binaries.warez.mac was rendered useless by zillions
crossposts of the Mac vs PC nature. When this happens, DO NOT
post to mac binaries telling them to knock it off. The crossposters
never read the posts in the warez groups. Instead post a reply
to all BUT the binary groups asking them nicely to quit
crossposting to the binary/warez group. Many people don't even
realize they were posting to a warez group.
Or alternatively, create a major flame which would engulf
the _other_ groups you posted it to and thus keep them busy on
something else. Mature newgroupers IGNORE all the discussion
crap & just wait for the others to mature.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
V. Other binary, warez, and assorted items.

alt.binaries.warez.mac
alt.binaries.mac.games
alt.binaries.mac.applications

Shareware is all over the net. Just hop on a search engine & ask
for shareware, freeware, mac, and/or macintosh. Only post shareware
when you're testing.

FTP sites were well protected secrets since they are often illegal,
operate w/out the administrator's knowledge, and quickly become
overrun by people bent on getting all the good stuff. You won't
the sites advertised or posted. You make yerself look like a dork
by asking for a ftp site address, so don't. Just post and be happy
if by posting someone offers you a ftp site outta kindness.

For a list to find your own, anonymous open site see
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/ftp-list/sitelist/top.html
Just start at a random location, open the ftp site, try sending a test
file and see if it works. If so, try trading. But beware that the site
will likely close down very shortly.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
VI. Cracks and Serial Numbers for Programs

Not all the warez you get from binaries comes with the serial
number included. You may need to find one. Look for C&N, which
is an application and a series of data files that contains many
numbers. It's been suggested that C&N data files not be posted
since companies may make those numbers crash your system, but
but there's no proof of this. The programers usually
are busy creating the next version rather than modifying the old
versions not to accept the serial numbers. Other names beside C&N
are Black Library and Hackers Helper. Beware of viruses.

________________________________________________________________

VII. Posting anonymously, security, & getting busted.

Doing warez is risky, you may lose your account or be booted
from school if caught. Businesses have greater
risk since software man'f rarely go for individuals.

You can always be found out. Fortunately, not too many people have
the time nor desire to hunt you down. To somewhat hide yourself,
change the name/ address personal information in your newsreader's
preferances section or post via an anonymous remailer. Note that many
remailers won't handle binaries because of the load and if they do,
they take a long time. To help cover yourself, post items at off
times when admin won't likely be watching.
To see what information you're letting free,
look at the complete header of a test post. Since e-stuff isn't
protected like phone calls or regular mail, anybody can look at
your transmitted stuff and you can't do anything about it.
Remember to ask around to see what the locals have done to
others they've busted before. Almost always it a "Now behave and
say that you won't do it again" sort of a punishment.

Sheep dog's opinion:
Don't bother posting anonymously. No matter what anyone says, if
someone wants to find out badly enough who posted what they can do
so. Posting through an anonymous emailer often screws up the
segment sequencing or results in parts missing, thus invalidating
the entire post.

For more info on remailers see: ???????????

For more on info on general security and privacy see:
http://www.well.com/user/abacard
http://www.eff.org

------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIII. Specific Applications Notes

The easiest way to up/l and down/l is to use VA-Newswatcher.
YA-NW is a FAT binary program. It should run on both 68K Mac and PowerMac.
VA-NW will automatically BinHex and Segment when you post items.
It will, with extras, automatically reassemble, decode and decompress posts.
It is the current standard for swapping binaries.

Get VA-Newswatcher at:
ftp://earth.execpc.com/pub/mac/
ftp://coli.uni-so.de/pub/comp/mac/comm/
ftp://wuarchive.wustl.edu/systems/mac/info-mac/Old/rec/
ftp://ftp.std.com/costumers3/src/macintosh/internet/

ftp://ftp.voicenet.com//macshare/News/newswatcher/va-newswatcher-21d3.hqx
(w/ decompression and anonymous info extras)

Get for automatic decoding and decompressing
StuffIt Expander 3.5.2 - for everything
uuUndo 1.0b5 - for uuencoded posts
Base64 - which is the linked MIME base64 format decoder.

Posting with VA or YA NewsWatcher is very easy.
1. create a compressed .sit, .sea, or .cpt file
2. Go to the File Menu and select "Preferences"
3. Within the Preferences settings go to "Message files"
4. Configure VA or YA to use "binhex" encoding.
5. Configure your posting segments size to 250-400K
6. Save your preferences.
7. Select "New Message" from the News menu. (your post will
automatically be posted to the newsgroup that is
highlighted or opened and being read)
8. Enter a brief Subject line
9. Enter a complete and informative file description.
10. Click on the "Attach File" button at the top of the message window.
11. Locate the .sit or .cpt file you wish to upload.
12. The file will be automatically binhexed and sent.

For Netscape Users:
Get VA-Newswatcher
Downloading: remember to remove the email like header
and "--" often found at the begining and end of posts
Reassemble with a text editor or automatic joiner program.
Decode and decompress with the above mentioned items.

___________________________________________________________

IX. Sources of decoding applications.

DE / COMPRESSION TOOLS:

Many of the below are available via anonymous FTP at
ftp://mac.archive.umich.edu/mac/utilities/compressionapps/
ftp://world.std.com/pub directory
ftp://sumex-aim.standford.edu/info-mac/util/

Some of the mirrors to Info-Mac:
================================
ftp://grind.isca.uiowa.edu/mac/infomac
ftp://ftp.hawaii.edu/mirrors/info-mac
ftp://ftp.orst.edu/pub/info-mac
ftp://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu/
ftp://ricevm1.rice.edu
ftp://mirrirs.aol.com/pub/info-mac

UULite Decoder for uuencoded files, Also concatenates article
parts, strips headers/trailers, and does creator/type
stamping. "Smart" decoder in every sense.

UUCat Decoder for uuencoded files.
UUTool Decoder for uuencoded files.
BinHex Decodes .HQX (BinHex) files.
DeHQX Decodes .HQX (BinHex) files.
CptExpand Decompresses .CPT (CompactPro) files.
MacCompress Decompresses .Z (UNIX compress) files.
MacLha Decompressor for .LZH (LHarc) files.
StuffIt Expander Decompressor for .SIT (StuffIt) files.
StuffIt Lite Decompressor for .SIT and .HQX (BinHex) files.
UnARJ Decompresses .ARJ format files.
UnZip Decompresses .ZIP files.

Please help to make this a more complete FAQ -- add your comments.
Please save and repost every few days for the NEWBIES.

Future plans/suggestions:
=========================

More in-depth discussion (highlighted by mores facts) of security
case histories, prosecution, and penalties involved with doing warez.
key excerpts from the Anonymous Remailer FAQ