Anonymity online is hard to come by. Of course, you can always detour your messages through a remailer. (Variously known as a nymserver or an alias server, a remailer is a computer that shuttles your e-mail from its source to its destination with no trace of where it originated.) But remailers tend to be a hassle to use. Here's another alternative: John Doe is a US$25 mail utility from Net Services which lets you send e-mail or post messages in newsgroups anonymously. Note: Just because you're using a false identity doesn't mean readers can't respond to your messages. Their mail is similarly shuttled through a remailer to your mailbox.

John Doe works with any POP3 client, but be warned that it's no spy's picnic to set up. You need to install PGP, as well as vbrun300.dll. Configuring it the first time requires patience and tolerance for obscure technical details.

Before sending any mail that you create with John Doe, review it in your mail program's outbox. Both John Doe and PGP are included on this month's cover CD.