Talk:No open proxies/Archives/2020
 | Please do not post any new comments on this page. This is a discussion archive first created in 2020, although the comments contained were likely posted before and after this date. See current discussion or the archives index. |
Welcome to 2020
I think there is a long-overdue need to revisit the question of a 2006 policy, fourteen years later in a world where the majority of internet users are advised to use safety-tips like VPNs to ensure their freedom online.
Using a VPN myself to make over a thousand edits and 250 uploads, I am constantly befuddled by the fact the template still tries to block me while claiming it is a proxy-ban...indeed as proof of how antiquated this policy is, it doesn't even address the existence of VPNs.
At this point the policy would just as easily ban private servers, custom domains and other bastions of online freedom...there is no more point to banning proxies, muchless VPNs and private servers, than there is to banning IRC cloaks...which most Wikimedia staff use themselves.
The world has evolved, why hasn't Wikimedia? FaNoFtHeAiRiCeLaNd (talk) 22:23, 14 January 2020 (UTC)
- This page is about open proxies, and still stands. Other proxies, that are not covered by this page, like VPNs, depend on the amount of abuse that comes from the range. They only come to our attention when abused, so that will be when they are likely to be blocked, so they are blocked for the abuse and the lack of controls. Solutions exist like IPBE for numbers of these. — billinghurst sDrewth 09:29, 15 January 2020 (UTC)
- Yes, it only comes to my attention though because this is the page that non-proxied users get sent to when Wikimedia detects they don't like their IP...and it offers no guidance on VPN/VPS-usage at all. Just thinking there should be some discussion about actual policy on the issue of why this page is used to cover VPNs, private servers and everything in between...and that it might be time for WMF to consider loosening its restrictions (somebody abused this IP address in 2016 and therefore I cannot use it? surely that troll gave up a month after his vandalism was noticed?) FaNoFtHeAiRiCeLaNd (talk) 09:51, 15 January 2020 (UTC)
- Since my previous post got archived, I'd like to throw my two cents in here. I understand the necessity to block abusive IPs, but I think it would be nice for WMF to recognize the (registered) users' choice for privacy. Your current solution for blocked VPN users who legitimately work on WMF projects is a manual process, though. Wouldn't it be possible to partially automate this by including a check for legitimate activity? I could see metrics like overall edit count and sudden increase in recent edits to be helpful. If this was introduced, I'd oppose loosening the duration of the blocks. Seeing as I've used my VPN for years and the block(s) have just been made recently, and this situation will only affect more users as blocked IP ranges grow, could we get a statement from WMF about whether something like that would be possible? --Saftorangen (talk) 17:32, 9 February 2020 (UTC)
- @Saftorangen: The decision is Wikimedia community based not WMF. My view on this is that there are several important needs here. Security is a big concern. I advocate for more consistent VPN access for some class of trusted users, but this is not easy because of the security issues. If someone feels strongly about this then I recommend collecting all past conversations as a next step (10+ in different places, with no central list), summarizing their resolutions, and using all those past decisions to have a new conversation. Combining discussions into one thread is a common way to advance the conversation. Blue Rasberry (talk) 18:06, 9 February 2020 (UTC)
- Totally agree here Jakesyl (talk) 10:26, 29 February 2020 (UTC)
Logged in Users
Little clarification here: is this supposed to apply to logged in/auto confirmed users. Can they not edit? Jakesyl (talk) 10:27, 29 February 2020 (UTC)
- "While this may affect legitimate users, they are not the intended targets and may freely use proxies until those are blocked." Registered users are sometimes collateral damage when an open proxy is used by other registered users to evade blocks. The policy addresses this issue by offering a process to report mistake and get exempted by the block. Nemo 12:13, 1 March 2020 (UTC)
- I'm not seeing how I would get exempted on the block (beyond the site wide appeal which is not what you're referring to), can you point me in the right direction Jakesyl (talk) 04:21, 4 March 2020 (UTC)
- @Jakesyl: To override global blocks placed by stewards or if you plan to edit with Tor, see IP block exempt here on meta. If you're mainly affected by blocks on enwiki, see WP:IPBE (at which point you're welcome to drop me an email). -- zzuuzz (talk) 09:01, 4 March 2020 (UTC)
- Got it, will do Jakesyl (talk) 10:28, 4 March 2020 (UTC)
- @Jakesyl: To override global blocks placed by stewards or if you plan to edit with Tor, see IP block exempt here on meta. If you're mainly affected by blocks on enwiki, see WP:IPBE (at which point you're welcome to drop me an email). -- zzuuzz (talk) 09:01, 4 March 2020 (UTC)
- I'm not seeing how I would get exempted on the block (beyond the site wide appeal which is not what you're referring to), can you point me in the right direction Jakesyl (talk) 04:21, 4 March 2020 (UTC)