No open proxies: Difference between revisions
Pathoschild (talk | contribs) moved language list above English content, moved disputed policy note into {{process header}} and reworded (this *was* Foundation policy for several years, regardless of whether you now agree with it) |
Pathoschild (talk | contribs) expanded (added rationale based on original discussion and experience, added note about legitimate users, merged see-also sections) |
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| notes = '''This Foundation policy is disputed.''' |
| notes = '''This Foundation policy is disputed.''' |
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This page provides information about prohibition on open proxies on Meta and other Wikimedia projects. It was discussed in February 2004, and this page was created in March 2006. |
This page provides information about prohibition on open proxies on Meta and other Wikimedia projects. It was discussed in February 2004, and this page was created in March 2006. (If you have been blocked as an open proxy, please see [[m:WM:OP/H|Help:blocked]].) |
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{{#ifeq:{{ns:Project}}|Meta||<div style="width:100%; margin:0 0 .5em 0; padding:0.2em; border:1px dotted #888;">This policy is copied from [[m:Meta:No open proxies|Meta:No open proxies]]. Edits should be made to that page, or they will be lost in the next update.</div>}} |
{{#ifeq:{{ns:Project}}|Meta||<div style="width:100%; margin:0 0 .5em 0; padding:0.2em; border:1px dotted #888;">This policy is copied from [[m:Meta:No open proxies|Meta:No open proxies]]. Edits should be made to that page, or they will be lost in the next update.</div>}} |
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==Policy== |
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[[w:open proxy|Open or anonymising proxies]] may be blocked for any period at any time. While this may affect legitimate users, they are not the intended targets and may freely use proxies until those are blocked. No restrictions are placed on ''reading'' {{ns:Project}} through an open or anonymous proxy. |
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Proxies are left open due to deliberate or inadvertent configuration or because hackers have changed the configuration. Non-static [[w:IP address|IP addresses]] or hosts that are otherwise not permanent proxies should typically be blocked for a shorter period of time, as it likely the IP address will eventually be transferred or dynamically reassigned, or the open proxy closed. Once closed, the IP address should be unblocked. |
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'''[[w:open proxy|Open or anonymous proxies]]''' are banned from editing Wikimedia projects and may be blocked. Although {{ns:Project}} encourages anyone in the world to contribute, such proxies are often used abusively. '''If you have been blocked as an open proxy, please see [[m:WM:OP/H|Help:blocked]]'''. Proxies are left open due to deliberate or inadvertent configuration or because hackers have changed the configuration. No restrictions are placed on ''reading'' {{ns:Project}} through an open or anonymous proxy. |
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==Rationale== |
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Anonymizers and other companies or organizations that offer open proxies may be blocked indefinitely by an administrator. Non-static IPs or hosts that are otherwise not permanent proxies typically warrant blocking for a shorter period of time, as the IP is likely to be transferred, the open proxy is likely to be closed, or the IP is likely to be re-assigned dynamically. |
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Although {{ns:Project}} encourages anyone in the world to contribute, such proxies are often used abusively. Since [[w:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] (the wiki software) depends on IP addresses for administrator intervention against abuse, open proxies allow users to completely circumvent administrators. The use of scripts or bots allow malicious users to rapidly rotate IP addresses, causing continuous disruption that cannot be stopped by helpless administrators. Several such attacks have ocurred on Wikimedia projects, causing heavy disruption and occupying administrators who would otherwise deal with other concerns. |
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| ⚫ | This policy is known to cause difficulty for some editors, who must use open proxies to circumvent [[w:censorship|censorship]] where they live; a well-known example is the government of the [[w:People's Republic of China|People's Republic of China]], which sporadically attempts to [[w:Internet censorship in China|prevent its citizens]] from reading or editing Wikipedia. Chinese readers who wish to edit {{ns:Project}} should read [[w:Wikipedia:Advice to users using Tor to bypass the Great Firewall|advice to users using anonymizing proxies to bypass the Great Firewall]]. |
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Once "closed", the IP address should be unblocked. {{ns:Project}} administrators and editors frequently check IP addresses from which vandalism originates, to see if they might be proxies. There is also a {{ns:Project}} project, the [[{{ns:Project}}:WikiProject on open proxies|WikiProject on open proxies]], which seeks to identify and block open proxy servers. |
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| ⚫ | This policy is known to cause |
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* [[{{ns:Project}}:WikiProject on open proxies|WikiProject on open proxies]] |
* [[{{ns:Project}}:WikiProject on open proxies|WikiProject on open proxies]] |
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* [[m:Editing with Tor]] |
* [[m:Editing with Tor]] |
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<!-- The link to Meta below allows simple copy&paste updates to other projects --> |
<!-- The link to Meta below allows simple copy&paste updates to other projects --> |
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{{#ifeq:{{ns:Project}}|Meta||* This policy is copied from [[m:WM:NOP|No open proxies]] on the Meta-Wiki.}} |
{{#ifeq:{{ns:Project}}|Meta||* This policy is copied from [[m:WM:NOP|No open proxies]] on the Meta-Wiki.}} |
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* Original discussion |
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== External Links == |
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* [http://mail.wikipedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2004-February/ |
** [http://mail.wikipedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2004-February/010659.html WikiEn-l: "Anonymous proxies (was Re: Desysop Morwen)"], [[User:Jimbo Wales|Jimmy Wales]] on 16 February 2004 |
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* [http://mail.wikipedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2004-February/ |
** [http://mail.wikipedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2004-February/010660.html WikiEn-l: "Anonymous proxies (was Re: Desysop Morwen)"], [[User:Jimbo Wales|Jimmy Wales]] on 16 February 2004 |
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| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:Policies|No open proxies]] |
[[Category:Policies|No open proxies]] |
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Revision as of 13:53, 18 June 2007
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This page provides information about prohibition on open proxies on Meta and other Wikimedia projects. It was discussed in February 2004, and this page was created in March 2006. (If you have been blocked as an open proxy, please see Help:blocked.)
Policy
Open or anonymising proxies may be blocked for any period at any time. While this may affect legitimate users, they are not the intended targets and may freely use proxies until those are blocked. No restrictions are placed on reading Meta through an open or anonymous proxy.
Proxies are left open due to deliberate or inadvertent configuration or because hackers have changed the configuration. Non-static IP addresses or hosts that are otherwise not permanent proxies should typically be blocked for a shorter period of time, as it likely the IP address will eventually be transferred or dynamically reassigned, or the open proxy closed. Once closed, the IP address should be unblocked.
Rationale
Although Meta encourages anyone in the world to contribute, such proxies are often used abusively. Since MediaWiki (the wiki software) depends on IP addresses for administrator intervention against abuse, open proxies allow users to completely circumvent administrators. The use of scripts or bots allow malicious users to rapidly rotate IP addresses, causing continuous disruption that cannot be stopped by helpless administrators. Several such attacks have ocurred on Wikimedia projects, causing heavy disruption and occupying administrators who would otherwise deal with other concerns.
This policy is known to cause difficulty for some editors, who must use open proxies to circumvent censorship where they live; a well-known example is the government of the People's Republic of China, which sporadically attempts to prevent its citizens from reading or editing Wikipedia. Chinese readers who wish to edit Meta should read advice to users using anonymizing proxies to bypass the Great Firewall.
See also
- Original discussion
- WikiEn-l: "Anonymous proxies (was Re: Desysop Morwen)", Tim Starling on 15 February 2004
- WikiEn-l: "Anonymous proxies (was Re: Desysop Morwen)", Jimmy Wales on 16 February 2004
- WikiEn-l: "Anonymous proxies (was Re: Desysop Morwen)", Jimmy Wales on 16 February 2004