Install the YAMN client on Debian/Ubuntu

YAMN can be run as a client or a remailer server. In this tutorial we are interested only in the client portion of the program. Currently there is no GUI for Yamn under Linux. What exists is a command line app written in Golang.

First we will download the source code for YAMN, and then we will build a yamn binary using Go Language to compile it. If you would like to skip the compiling process and just grab a pre-compiled YAMN binary for various architectures click HERE.

  • If you haven't already done so install the Go language by following the tutorial HERE.

  • Now, as root or as a sudo, install Unzip:

    root@vps:~$ apt install unzip 

  • Logout of root. Login as regular user 'yamn' or whichever user in whose home directory you installed Go.

  • Download the YAMN source code:

    yamn@vps:~$ mkdir tmp && cd tmp
    yamn@vps:~/tmp$ wget https://github.com/crooks/yamn/archive/refs/heads/master.zip
    yamn@vps:~/tmp$ unzip master.zip

  • If you encounter an error trying to use unzip then you probably don't have the Unzip program installed. As root or as sudo user do "apt install unzip" and try again.)

  • Now move into the folder with the source code files and build the YAMN binary:

    yamn@vps:~/tmp$ cd yamn-master
    yamn@vps:~/tmp/yamn-master$ go build
    yamn@vps:~/tmp/yamn-master$mv yamn ~/go/bin

  • You have moved your new YAMN binary into the go/bin folder, a good place for it since go/bin is already in your $PATH. Now, let's create a proper yamn folder for our configuration file (yamn.yml) and other files.

  • yamn@vps:~/tmp/yamn-master$ mkdir -p ~/yamn/Maildir/{cur,new,tmp}
  • You will need to place a configuration file in that folder and then you will be ready to go. Here is a sample yamn.yml for you to start with. Download it to your new yamn directory:

  • yamn@vps:~/tmp/yamn-master$ cd ~/yamn
    yamn@vps:~/yamn$ wget https://www.sec3.net/yamnhelp/debian/client/yamn.yml
  • While in your yamn folder compose your outgoing message in file message.txt. Here is a sample for you: message.txt.

    yamn@vps:~/yamn$ wget https://www.sec3.net/yamnhelp/debian/client/message.txt
  • Change recipient@example.com to a valid recipient address.

  • Once your outgoing message.txt is composed, at the command line do:

    yamn@vps:~/yamn$ yamn --mail < message.txt
  • This will create an encrypted YAMN message chained through 3 random remailers and placed into ~/yamn/pool

  • To send out the messages in your pool do:

    yamn@vps:~/yamn$ yamn -S
  • More Examples

    # Create an anonymous email through 3 random remailers
    yamn --mail < message.txt
    # Create an anonymous email, multiple copies
    yamn --mail --copies=2 < message.txt
    # Create an anonymous email, with a user-defined chain
    yamn --mail --chain="middleman,*,*,yamn2" --copies=2 < message.txt
    # Generate one dummy message and place it in the pool
    yamn -d

  • Done!



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