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EDITORIAL April 10, 2000 VNN5828 Comment on this story Privacy On COM BY PURIDAS EDITORIAL, Apr 10 (VNN) — In his article on VNN The Death Of COM Kurmarupa Krishna Prabhu makes a few points. Some of them true, some I would not agree completely. I would not agree that there is a connection between Harikesh Prabhu and PAMHO. It is definitely true that accounts are being monitored. Raktambara himself wrote the message a few weeks ago that he is changing the system of mail filtering for COM (PAMHO). But it is a standard thing.
Even AOL have filters. However one who uses AOL can choose if he wants to receive that mail but in case of COM Sysop will decide for you. There are some advantages of COM. You can keep your mail for a few month on the server, something that isn't done for secuirty reasons on regular mail servers or you can have a secretary (also an exclusive feature that was designed for the person who was in-charge of COM). Ones or twice Raktambara would look through a mail. It is not substitutes crime of COM. However it is not true that he is doing it constantly, no one cold manage to do it. PGP key is sent to him so he can read your mail that is encrypted. But it is only Sysop and no one else. Only a few devotees have sysop privileges in COM. I don't think that the 25 dollars a year is a very high price. It is actually quite cheap for what you get. It is true that anything is becoming free on the web but the price is not too high. If you can assume that all 2000 of COM users will pay it will be a lot, but most of the devotees don't want to stay or pay to Raktambara, so you are talking about odd 300 users. I'm not sure if Prishnigarbha has been reading the mail, but ones sysop sent my letter back to me and said that he will take me off COM if will again use "s.. word". It was my private letter to a friend and I don't feel that I have to obey that "rule". But com software is not pirated. It is completely rewritten and only thing that remains from the old UNIX version is set of commands and principles of mailing. Even name is changed now to PAMHO (funny name isn't it?). So many devotees are using COM so I doubt it will die. Devotees in general are not taking changes easy. It will be difficult for them to change from WinCOM software to something else. But I'm sure that eventually Raktambara and Ramakantha will start marketing their product and will start making real money on-line. The software is quite suitable for small KGB-type operation where the sysop is the boss or his assistant. One will have to take a course I guess, since the software is too complicated to manage. I personally quess that more then 95% will stay on COM. In fact Sysop will not remove anyone. He will just not let one to receive his letters and mail. Others will be in perfect illusion that you are on-line and will keep dropping you letters. "Haribol! Why aren't you writing me back?..." So don't worry. Everything is covered. Your servant, Puri Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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