Previous Next Table of Contents

12. Using nyms

This section describes how to create and use nyms, which are accounts for sending and receiving anonymous mail. The most popular and well known nymserver is alpha.c2.org. The FAQ explains how to set up and use nyms by hand, but it's much easier to do (and more secure!) with premail.

To create a new nym, type

premail -makenym

and follow the prompts. This command is also good for updating an existing nym, which is important if one of the nym's remailers goes down.

You can also create or update a nym from the command line, as follows:

premail -makenym you@alpha.c2.org your@real.email.address

When premail creates a nym, it chooses random passphrases (one for each remailer in the chain). The passphrases and other details of the nym are stored in the premail secrets file. Thus, the nym is fairly secure (much more so than, say, anon.penet.fi).

The decode mechanism handles responses to nyms, again looking up the passphrases in the premail secrets file.

You can also send mail from your nym, in one of two ways. Assume for the sake of example that your nym is you@alpha.c2.org. Then, you would use a chain of 2;alpha=you. Alternatively, you can use a chain of 2;alpha and include this header field:

Anon-From: you@alpha.c2.org (You Know Who)

If you want the nymserver to send you a confirmation every time you send mail from your nym, add a $config{'ack'} = 'yes'; line to your preferences file.

To delete a nym:

premail -makenym you@alpha.c2.org delete

Please delete nyms if you are not actually using them; this helps free up disk space and prevents the nymservers from being overloaded.


Previous Next Table of Contents