Subj : Re^2: Question for the nominees
To   : Dan Clough
From : Tim Schattkowsky
Date : Thu Feb 27 2025 06:12 pm

//Hello Dan,//

on *27.02.2025* at *16:52:05* You wrote in Area *FTSC_PUBLIC*
to *Tim Schattkowsky* about *"Re: Question for the nominees"*.

 TS>> - improving security and privacy in fidonet, making it a viable
 TS>> alternative for safe communication. Existing approaches are dated and
 TS>> incomplete.

 DC> Doesn't seem like a big concern to me.  I don't expect communications to
 DC> be secure in Fidonet.

I know that WinPoint is used for example in Ukraine and other regions because it provides a level of security through obscurity. Still, neither the transmissions nor the payload are properly protected. Available mechanics from MD5 BinkP to PGP-encrypted netmails have tool support issues are are just not safe by todays standards.

 TS>> - often writing a fido messages feels crippled compared to
 TS>> an email, mostly because of the lack of support for embedded images and
 TS>> attachments, but also because text formatting becomes an issue. This,
 TS>> providing compatible mechanics for transporting larger messages with
 TS>> richer content is a major area for advancement. This means option more
 TS>> reliable text formatting and the inclusion of Images. Something that is
 TS>> simple to implement based on existing internet- and FTSC standards.

 DC> I don't mind going on record here to say that I'd be opposed to this.  I
 DC> don't want "richer content" in Fidonet messages.  I want them to remain
 DC> as plain text.  If I want fancy formatting and images, I'll use some
 DC> other platform for that.  I like that Fidonet is plain and simple.

And other people sometimes like to send a screenshot to explain their problem. The ability to get a picture through if needed is commonplace everywhere else. While the straightforward solution would be MIME and co, I actually also would like something simpler that just gets pictures into the classic text messages. 

But the interesting part of your response is: Like many others, you seem rather uninterested in true advancement. Instead, people calling themselves the whatever police want to be important in advising others about character encoding. Maybe it helps their ego. It certainly doesnt help Fidonet to get better.

Regards,
Tim

--- WinPoint 415.0
 * Origin: Original WinPoint Origin! (2:2/29)

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