This is an example Nym Book which creates a basic medium-security nym account. You need to have a basic mastery of sending anonymous messages before attempting to create a Nym Account. Please read the JBN2 Beginner's Guide available from the Help menu, and review the Nym Book section of the User's Manual before continuing. Failure to do so may jeopardize your security.
This nym account uses two reply-blocks, which means if all the remailers are working you will get two copies of each message. Each reply-block uses three remailers with conventional encryption at each. The remailers are "AUTO" which means JBN will select currently reliable remailers for you.
To create your nym account, please follow these instructions carefully:
1) SELECT AN ACCOUNT USERNAME and nym server, and enter your desired account address on the Account tab in the Account Address field (Account|Account Address). For example: examplenym@nym.alias.net Try to select an address which is not in use. You can do this by using a unique name, or by sending a message to (or fingering) list@nym.alias.net (or whichever nym server you're using) to see which accounts are in use. [Note that by contacting list@ you are revealing the fact that you are creating a nym account, so this method is NOT recommended. It is better to select a unique name.]
2) CREATE A PGP KEY pair for your new account. PGP 2.6.x users may select Tools|Create PGP Key. When PGP asks for a key size (1, 2, or 3), type 2048 for good security. PGP 5/6 users should use PGPKeys to create their key. Note that nym servers require RSA keys up to 2048 bits. After the key has been created, press the asterisk (*) button next to Account|Account PGP Key and select the key you just created.
3) ENTER YOUR PSEUDONYM in Account|Name. Do not enter an email address, just a nickname. This will appear in the From header of your messages. For example: My Nym.
4) On the Reply-Blocks tab, select tab 1 (block 1) and in the Final Headers section, ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS in the blank field next to Anon-To:. This is the final terminating address of the reply-block - or where you will receive your encrypted mail. (Leave the Subject and Newsgroups headers blank.)
5) Select tab 2 (block 2) and enter the same or a different email address in the blank field next to Anon-To:. This is the terminating address of the second reply-block.
6) SELECT FILE|SAVE AS and save this Nym Book with a new name corresponding to the account name. Each account should have its own Nym Book.
7) SELECT EDIT|REPLACE PASSPHRASES. This will generate unique random passphrases and replace the passphrases in the example book. You may be asked (at the bottom of the window) to move your mouse randomly.
8) SELECT REMAILERS|REFRESH STATS. If you receive errors, you may need to update the URLs in Window|Stats Config|CPunk with current URLs. (See JBN2 Beginner's Guide.)
9) PRESS CREATE. The configuration request will be created. You may receive an error stating that insufficient random remailers are available. In this case you need to either use a more up-to-date stats URL, or you need to slightly reduce the minimum uptime or latency criteria in Windows|Remailers Config|Auto. Examine Window|Stats Browser to determine appropriate values.
10) WHEN YOUR REQUEST IS CREATED, a Message Book window will open. This book is used to send your creation request anonymously to the nym-server. Select several remailers and press Queue. (Leave the Nym field blank.)
IF ALL GOES WELL, you should receive two identical confirmation requests from the nym-server within about 24 hours. You must reply (anonymously) to one of these to activate your reply-blocks. (From the View Mail window select Reply-Via|Default.TBK, select several remailers and press Queue. Leave the Nym field blank.) You can send more than one reply through different chains if you like. Within about 24 hours you should receive a message stating that your account is active.
IF YOU ONLY RECEIVE ONE confirmation message, or receive no confirmation messages, then one or both of your reply-blocks probably contain a remailer which is not working, or a remailer combination which is troublesome. In this case, just open your Nym Book and repeat steps 7 thru 10. Do this once per day until you get results. Sometimes finding a remailer combination which works can take several tries.
IF YOU RECEIVE a message stating that your signature is bad, this indicates that the account username you selected is already in use. Select a different Account Address and try again. (You may wish to change the userID on your PGP key to reflect the correct name or create a new key.)
ONCE YOUR ACCOUNT HAS BEEN CREATED you can send and receive mail. To send mail, just select your nym account address in the Nym field of the Message Book (and use several remailers). REMEMBER TO NEVER communicate directly with your own nym account. For other security advice please read the Beginner's Guide.
MAKE A NOTE of which remailers your reply-blocks use by examining the Log tab. Keep an eye on the stats for these remailers, and if the remailers go down, recreate your reply-blocks. TO UPDATE YOUR REPLY-BLOCKS or account configuration, open your Nym Book. Uncheck Account|Create New Account. Press create, and a new set of reply-blocks will be generated. Your current reply-blocks will remain in effect until you confirm the new ones.
FOR GREATER SECURITY: Check Options|Remix Compliant; add Latency settings to some of your remailers, or hand-pick your remailers for desired latency. Please see the User's Manual for more advanced features.
