Wikisource:WikiProject on open proxies/Help:blocked

This page is part of the WikiProject on open proxies, and is intended to be a source of information for users who find themselves blocked as open proxies.

Open proxy explanation

Every computer connected to the Internet has a unique numerical IP address assigned to it. Computers can also indirectly connect to the Internet through other computers; a computer network that allows computers to connect through it is called a proxy server. Such proxy servers can be highly useful, but are usually protected so that only authorised users can make use of them. An open proxy, however, is a proxy that anyone can use freely, by design or due to security vulnerabilities. Such security holes are often present without the knowledge of the owner, as in the case with many badly-configured ISP servers.

Block reason

Because every computer is assigned a unique IP address, an effective method to stop a user who is abusing his editing priviledges on this wiki is to block that address from editing. A problem arises with vandals who can change their IP address at will. Open proxies allow this, since connecting through them allows users to edit using that address instead of their own; blocks against that new address can be circumvented by switching to another address, and so forth. Automated scripts capable of doing this are especially disruptive.

For this reason, open proxies are indefinitely blocked from editing this wiki as soon as they are detected.

Fixing the problem

Note: Many Internet service providers rotate customers through IP addresses, so it's entirely possible that you've been temporarily rotated to a blocked proxy. In that case, you should be able to edit again within a few hours or after reconnecting.

If you would like to edit Wikisource, you can contact your Internet service provider to notify them that their proxy is open. Open proxies will be unblocked as soon as they are found to be closed. Due to the huge number of open proxies, these messages are not regularly sent out.

Editing despite the fact

In certain conditions, you can have special permission to edit using an open proxy. If you would like to request permission, you may email the Wikipedia founder at jwales@DoNotSpam_wikia.com (remove "DoNotSpam_") and he will consider your case and make appropriate arrangements.

If you are knowingly using an open proxy to protect your identity, please note that your IP address is hidden when you register a username, and only a select few administrators and developers can check your IP address. Registering an account protects your identity without compromising your ability to edit these wikis.

If you are using an open proxy to circumvent a firewall, such as the national Chinese censor, please see Wikipedia:Advice to Tor users in China for a possible solution.

Appeal options

If you have good reason to believe that you aren't editing from a blocked proxy, please contact any verified administrator on the list of verified users. Your address will be tested again to verify if it is open.