This seems as good a time as any to forward the full text of this to the list. At worst, Alpha is a solid proof-of-concept of a possible "nym server" model. IMHO it's actually much better than that. I strongly recommend reading the below before asking basic questions about the workings of Alpha.... -Futplex <futplex@pseudonym.com> Forwarded message:
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 1995 04:41:01 -0700 X-Last-Updated-Date: Jan 9 1995 From: help@alpha.c2.org (Automated reply) Subject: Info on anonymous account service @alpha.c2.org Reply-To: admin@alpha.c2.org
This mail message was sent automatically in response to the message you sent to help@alpha.c2.org
This system allows you to create a pseudonymous address of the format username@alpha.c2.org. For security, all messages are encrypted with PGP.
To create a mail alias, first create an encrypted reply-block for a cypherpunk-style remailer. An encrypted reply block is a message encrypted with a remailer's PGP public key, which will be sent to your address, or to an address where you can receive messages.
To create a reply block, you would create a message for a remailer that goes back to you:
:: Request-Remailing-To: you@yoursite.org
Then you would encrypt that with a remailer's public key, and prepend the necessary Encrypted: PGP header. When this message is received by a remailer, it would decrypt it and send it to you. It would also send you any text appended to the end (outside the PGP wrapper). Thus, using a reply block, it is possible for people to send you mail without knowing your real address.
Next, choose a pseudonym and a password. The pseudonym-address may contain any alphabetical or numeric characters, or hyphens. The password may not contain any spaces. Then create a message of the following format:
From: yourname@alpha.c2.org New-Password: Your_Password Reply-Block: :: Anon-To: remailer@xs4all.nl
:: Encrypted: PGP
-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE----- Version: 2.3a
hIwC/nqSW1QDQfUBBACknZMV93wFS2CH0orlgslmEm+alhjI1eKwbbTTmeRWC5Rg /S3vZw+95ZuCZfqxKE0XrgZXzOEwfoyBcpVvf9Pb9D19TqEMTmmL/Jpl1xcxmbJ2 OGsHpQ/TxpazBCVhdBmPblj5wWvwfG1+ZKpIkQ5hiLJhryQM/TUDarEscs3zdaYA AAB5231aMcQ74AKoDZizABMF3Tw+olV4mm4jVo9cMn2B3Rj2XBFl4pV9VL3h0ZQB cPY/ytBRyZPugr0NpLgjO+q6mEjCcgQrxpYQ+1PvFPdDx1GmJ5ogZqW+AVHsNqAp vRoiG8ZhXs4r3E8liFsNtMMf6CUAsdV2ZoX1Hw== =Bla3 -----END PGP MESSAGE-----
Do not actually indent it; that's just for example purposes. Encrypt this with the following public key and mail it to alias@alpha.c2.org. Unencrypted mail sent to this address will be deleted automatically. If everything is correct, your mail alias will be created, and you will be sent a confirmation. If not, there will be no way for the software to reply to you, so the message will be deleted. If you don't receive anything, something is wrong, so try again. Be sure to test the reply block first, so that you will know it works! Also, don't forget to include the address of the remailer, and the Encrypted: PGP header at the beginning of your reply block.
Here is the public key:
-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: 2.6
mQCNAi7K8rQAAAEEAMiK09Nd+NfaL4Q14bKT0Ivdj3MdbCjAG6Cs5ULYBS1ZWSLA KiHsm0+kPNHqBVOufN7FT2iK0Mbuyk+dZgHG6ScicDkImysRkmso7eh5c9mU9V8K M0+ImKJyOwgVLEgyRK5e4h2XHpwSTtpx3zZpk4CsexLGCQNXF+ikm236U0rNAAUR tCpQc2V1ZG9ueW1vdXMgUmVtYWlsZXIgPGFsaWFzQGFscGhhLmMyLm9yZz4= =xmQf -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
When mail comes in for your address at alpha.c2.org, it will be encrypted with Your_Password, using pgp -cta, appended to the reply block and sent to remailer@alpha.c2.org. Be sure that you have the Encrypted: PGP header, and the address of the next remailer it is to be sent to! All messages are held and sent out in random order once an hour.
If you later wish to change your password, send an encrypted message to alias@alpha.c2.org containing a From: line with your nickname, a Password: line with your current password, and a New-Password: line containing your new password. If the old password is correct, the password will be changed to the new one. For example:
From: Dan_Quayle Password: Bush New-Password: Clinton
You can also include a new Reply-Block.
A mail alias can be deleted at any time by setting the password to nothing. (Send a password change request with nothing following the 'New-Password:')
Sending messages
Once you have created a working address, you can send mail from that address. Simply create a message with standard mail headers, and add your password in a Password header.
From: jdoe@alpha.c2.org (John Doe) Password: foobar To: alt.anonymous@demon.co.uk Subject: hello world
This is my message.
The message would be delivered as shown, minus the Password: header. If the password is not correct, the message is discarded.
Troubleshooting
Here are some common problems. If you're having trouble, check the following list:
- Be sure to use -t option with PGP - Test your reply block and be sure it works! - If you are having trouble creating a certain address, perhaps you already created it, but used the wrong reply block or a different password. - Usenet posts require a Subject: header. - Messages to alias@alpha.c2.org must be encrypted with PGP Be sure you use the correct PGP key; remailer@alpha.c2.org has a different one.
Problems may be reported to admin@alpha.c2.org
For more information about Community ConneXion, telnet to c2.org and login as guest, or if you have a WWW browser: http://www.c2.org/