New in BBS reddit / bbs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honest-Deer · 2023-12-14 21:21 I like retro things and I stumbled into BBS. This is something very new for me. I'm using a Chromebook (ChromeOS Flex) and installed a client called PuTTY. But I'm a bit lost. Is there any security risks associated with BBS? Do you recommend the use of a VPN? Where do you find BBS? Is there a way of previewing them without registering? Thanks ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Aplos9 · 2023-12-14 21:50 Download syncterm: [https://syncterm.bbsdev.net/](https://syncterm.bbsdev.net/) Putty is good for managing servers and stuff, but for this make sure you have a terminal program that displays all the character sets right. Do some google searches for popular BBS systems. Enjoy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honest-Deer · 2023-12-14 21:56 Thank you 😊 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- IAmRootAtDBZ · 2023-12-14 22:10 Syncterm on chrome os? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- hrimthurse85 · 2023-12-14 22:12 BBS are so old there is practically no security risk. Unless you download files, they can always contain viruses. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- scubascratch · 2023-12-14 23:41 Assume everything you type is visible to others, including your password. So don’t re-use passwords that protect your other accounts ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PolarBear541 · 2023-12-14 23:50 Since BBS’s are set up by the owner, usually called a SysOp (system operator). The sysop controls most aspects of the BBS. Some allow for “guests”, but most require signing up an account. PuTTY may get you onto a system, but to fully experience the system you need terminal software that support protocols like ANSI graphics. For a Mac there is software called Muffin Term that works good. You’ll have to look for software for Chrome OS. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PaulLee420 · 2023-12-15 02:26 Heres a few Youtube links that might help you - the first is my video, shameless plug. The last, Back to the BBS, is my favorite BBS documentary - over 6 hours of all the BBS info you could ever need!!! ​ [BBSes in 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NZpbQM08kQ) [Connecting to the Past 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANnmrLqIhSA) [Connecting to the Past 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I50Wb6sdfZs) [Back to the BBS Documentary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0OwGSX2 IiQ&list=PLop3s1hMlSJKXqmuFjK7gbJh2WAyllTTY) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nevarro · 2023-12-15 06:07 If you prefer to use Putty, it can be configured to work with BBSes really well. Here's a guide on how to do it: https://serionbbs.com/bbs-news#putty ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BananaSlug888 · 2023-12-15 11:19 Mystic BBS is closed source, how does one know if it has backdoors or not? Synhronet is open source, and the dev had fixed reported vulnerabilities. Lastly, logging into a BBS over telnet is by very nature not secure (telnet is not encyrpted communication). Check the brief history of BBS hacks and backdoors [on this link](http://www.textfiles.com/bbs/DESTRUCTION/). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BananaSlug888 · 2023-12-15 11:28 > Is there any security risks associated with BBS? Yes, many. Don't telnet login to BBSes, all traffic is unencrypted. Don't ssh login to BBSes that require downgrading to a deprecated/disabled cipher. > Do you recommend the use of a VPN? BBS community is quite friendly, I don't think you need this. > Where do you find BBS? Here's the link: \[bbs guide\](https://www.telnetbbsguide.com). > Is there a way of previewing them without registering? Yes, at least Synchronet BBSes allow guest logins. Not all BBSes have that feature. > PuTTY Getting BBSes to display correctly will be a challenge on PuTTY. Some might, some might not. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honest-Deer · 2023-12-15 13:10 Manages to install sycterm :) Thank you for the suggestion. https://preview.redd.it/qn7dmy05kg6c1.png?width=1918&format=png&auto=w ebp&s=3db1b2ebd80946a06c19ce3dd8386897842e4977 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honest-Deer · 2023-12-15 13:15 It was a but difficult, and I tried to follow several tutorials. At the end I installef WineZGui (from flatpak) and then one of the executable windows files from Syncterm. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honest-Deer · 2023-12-15 13:17 Thank you :) I was able to install SyncTerm, now I'm ready to explore. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honest-Deer · 2023-12-15 13:21 Thank you so much. I will explore more about the types of login (telnet, and ssh) Good that I don't need a VPN because, using ChromeOS, I'm not sure if VPN also works within the linux environment. I will look at the website with the list of BBSes ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honest-Deer · 2023-12-15 13:32 OMG, I was able to access it, though I went for some suggestions here and I'm using Synterm https://preview.redd.it/hto6eko2og6c1.png?width=1028&format=png&auto=w ebp&s=0086fb34be5fe3ac8f9e71bcf9cc44a360ba1a73 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honest-Deer · 2023-12-15 13:53 Thank you all. I think I'm ready to go :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honest-Deer · 2023-12-15 14:09 Thank you for the links. I'm watching the first one. Excellent! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Distribution-Radiant · 2023-12-15 14:39 God, this. I didn't realize one of my cosysops was digging through user files and looking at passwords. Happened to get home from school early one day and saw it happening. They're stored in plaintext and visible to any sysop/cosysop. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Aplos9 · 2023-12-15 15:08 Awesome! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PolarBear541 · 2023-12-15 18:09 Have fun. BBS was what got me started in my interest in computers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- IAmRootAtDBZ · 2023-12-15 19:01 There's a lot of stuff I don't know about Chrome OS but it seems like everything is a workaround from a linux/windows machine. You got me curious about the program you mentioned though. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honest-Deer · 2023-12-15 19:25 I'm keeping this in mind. I will go to the extent of creating with different usernames and different passwords. Maybe too extreme but better be safe and sorry. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Distribution-Radiant · 2023-12-15 23:25 Different password for each system should be sufficient, and a much more complicated password with 2 factor authentication for your email. Use a password manager (except for Lastpass) to keep track, use random alphanumeric passwords (any good password manager can generate one). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honest-Deer · 2023-12-16 16:47 Thanks for the tips 🙂 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Distribution-Radiant · 2023-12-16 17:01 Honestly that's just good practice for everything these days. I've had too many accounts get hacked thanks to password reuse. Fast food apps, ebay, and banks are particular targets. You can get a password manager for both your phone and browser that will link together and autofill for you. I just have to use my fingerprint to unlock the password manager on my phone. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dmine45 · 2023-12-16 21:31 If you're brand new to BBSing, check out The BBS Corner and look at the BBS User section. [https://bbscorner.com](https://bbscorner.com) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honest-Deer · 2023-12-16 22:41 This is super useful. Thank you :)