Category talk:Active administrators of this wiki: Difference between revisions

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{{AdminTalkPageHeader}}{{TOCright}}<center><big>'''''[[Category talk:Active administrators of this wiki/archive|Archived discussions — 2008–2009]]'''''</big></center>
{{AdminTalkPageHeader}}
==Die freie Verschwörungsenzyklopädie==
==wF asking from others what we do not provide ourselves?==
Hey guys. [[Die freie Verschwörungsenzyklopädie]] has been renamed to "Verschwoerungen.info" but I can't rename the article because there exists a [[redirect]] with that title. Could you please do that for me? ^^ --[[User:Koveras|Koveras]] 03:40, 22 January 2011 (PST)
Since the server move and including update of the software we do not provide the popular-pages function any more, needed to determine the [[wikiFactor]]. This functionality is not any more included in the general [[:Category:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] software. One needs to install it a add-on. But we do not have this add-on. That looks quite inconsistent to me. --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style="color: orange;">Manorainjan</span>''']] 16:22, 19 April 2016 (PDT)
: Done :) --[[Wolf Peuker|Wolf]] | <small>[[User talk:Peu|talk]]</small> 13:32, 22 January 2011 (PST)
:Can you provide a link to the add-on?  Then we can ask [[Brandon]] to install it. ~~ [[MarkDilley]] (21 April 2016)
:: Thanks a bunch. :) --[[User:Koveras|Koveras]] 23:06, 22 January 2011 (PST)
::{{U|Thedugganaut}} had informed us about the exclusion of this functionality on 26 May 2015, a day after it happened. A month later {{Mw|Extension:HitCounters}} became available. I left the info here: [[Talk:WikiFactor#New versions of WikiMedia no longer have popular pages page]] --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style="color: orange;">Manorainjan</span>''']] 09:08, 18 August 2016 (PDT)


==Lots of spam in the past few days==
==Merging of articles==
Question, I have marked the article pages with the [[Template:Spammer|spam tag]] so they can be found, but do we also mark the user's page with the [[Template:Spammer|spam tag]] as well? And if you need more help with this, I'm willing to [[WikiIndex:Spamcop|spamcop]] things. [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 12:36, 13 March 2011 (PDT)
Please someone merge these two: [[:Category:Body modification]] and possibly take another look in [[:Category:Articles to be merged]]. --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style="color: orange;">Manorainjan</span>''']] 09:06, 18 August 2016 (PDT)
: Yikes, I've forgotten to check this site for the past few days and suddenly there's a big spambot attack and 30+ pages needing deletion. If you or anyone else wants to be an admin ask [[User talk:MarkDilley|this guy]]. '''[[User talk:Elassint|Elassint]]''', 03 16 2011
:Took first step. ~~ [[MarkDilley]]
:: Yikes, Tera - thanks for tagging the spam.  My goal will be to try and get a new captcha on now - or push on the upgrade asap.  Best, [[MarkDilley]]
::: Glad I could do some good for the site, and Mark, it's up to you about the Admin stuff, if you want to get in touch, my email is in my profile and so on. Thanks for all you do! [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 11:06, 16 March 2011 (PDT)
:::: an upgrade is longggggggggggggggg overdue :) ...--[[User:Comets|Comets]] 16:07, 5 April 2011 (PDT)
: ''you are correct - will start creating an upgrade project, maybe you can help. Best, [[MarkDilley]]


==[[:Category:Wikis to add]] Thoughts==
=={{U|BrandonCsSanders}}==
Sorry if I overstep my bounds, but I have been looking through this [[Special:Categories|category]] and I am finding that many of the links are dead, inaccurate, or spammy. I would like to know whether or not it is acceptable to simply delete those [[wiki]]s that are obvious spam magnets or otherwise are [[:Category:Dead|dead sites]] from the list. Assuming that the dead sites have to stay, can we mark them in the [[Template:Wiki dead|Dead Wiki]] category and then remove the add Category on them? I'm asking because having that many to correct and straighten out, over 600, seems excessive to me and do we need to keep wikis that were entered with little or no information on them? Thoughts? [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 15:45, 4 April 2011 (PDT)
Seems he is dead. No reaction, even on direct email since one year. --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style="color: orange;">Manorainjan</span>''']] 04:49, 22 August 2016 (PDT)
: ''Practice so far on this wiki is to [http://wikiindex.org/index.php?title=Dan_Dascalescu%27s_Wiki&diff=81813&oldid=80517 change the template].  Would be open to discussing different ways of handling past wiki.  That list is mostly from me.  It is my basic way of building [[WikiIndex]].  Originally I had called the project [[SwitchWiki]] - all I did was collect wiki - then in alphabetical lists - here in that list - until people asked that it not be used any longer.  So - now I keep a text file of wiki that I want to add - some of the more important ones I add pretty quickly - others languish on my text file! :-) As far as any spam or dead wikis on that list - I think it is fine to edit them away.  Best, [[MarkDilley]]''
:So, nobody knows his whereabouts? [[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style="color: orange;">Manorainjan</span>''']] 03:54, 15 September 2016 (PDT)


==I call spammer on this==
==Verification of new accounts==
If you look in the recent changes [[User:Emijrp|Emijrp]] has posted, a load of sites that are incomplete, generally have nothing to do with anything in a [[wiki]] format, and honestly, I think is just an attempt at a link farm to their pages. I call [[Template:Spammer|spammer]] on this, and want to remove it all and spam the user. Comments please before I do something? [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 12:16, 8 April 2011 (PDT)
In the light of such announcements: [http://SteamCommunity.com/id/dswissk ** WARNING !!! I AM CURRENTLY BEING IMPERSONATED BY SEVERAL SCAMMERS !!! **] one should check the validity of new accounts like [[User:DSwissK]].
: LOL. I was adding all the deceased wikis of the dead [[elwiki]].com [[wiki farm]]. Is that wrong? I think that it has historical value and they are marked as [[:category:dead|dead]] correctly. [[User:Emijrp|emijrp]] 12:32, 8 April 2011 (PDT)
:: (EC) [[User:Emijrp]] is not a spammer at all, he is posting sites in typical [[WikiIndex]] style. If you look closely, you can see that s/he used the proper templates on most pages and all the sites he's listed are wikis. '''[[User talk:Elassint|Elassint]]''', 04 8 2011
: Adding them in the template [[Template:Inactive|Inactive]] would be better than adding the [[:Category:dead]] - and Emijrp is here from a conversation we had in IRC I think. :-)  Thanks Tera for checking in here.  Great instincts!! Going to a crazy editor and saying, 'What the heck are you doing, I don't understand' is good too :-)  - Very happy with how we are all working to figure stuff out.  Best, [[MarkDilley]]
::: Well I wasn't going to do something rash or otherwise without checking on what the heck was going on... Was on my phone and this was the only way I could think of to get a message across with my concerns... Thanks for understanding! [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 15:24, 8 April 2011 (PDT)
:::: Thus the definition of WikiRockstar for you!! :-)  Best, [[MarkDilley]]


: Happy editing to all : ) [[User:Emijrp|emijrp]] 16:09, 8 April 2011 (PDT)
Currently there seems do be no procedure of verification whatsoever. How You want to deal with that? --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style="color: orange;">Manorainjan</span>''']] 03:01, 18 October 2016 (PDT)
:: i have known Emijrp since my [[:Category:Wikipedia|Wikipedia]] days..he is anything but a spammer...jeez TeraS u just became an admin recently..stop jumping to conclusions.. :P ...--[[User:Comets|Comets]] 02:52, 9 April 2011 (PDT)
::: Would someone check on these pages and tell me if I am right that they are spam? [[User:John s]] [[User talk:John s]] Thank you... [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 06:27, 21 April 2011 (PDT)
:::: Definite linkspam as far as I am concerned. I see that Elassint agreed. They're gone now. --[[User:MarvelZuvembie|MarvelZuvembie]] 17:53, 21 April 2011 (PDT)


==Category:Wiki Topic==
:I verified this account by emailing them from one of their wiki accounts elsewhere. This method is probably not perfect. I don't see verification of accounts to be an issue here. [[MarkDilley]]
Okay, there was a long mess of edits and new articles added this morning which I removed and blocked the users that did the [[Template:Spammer|spamming]]. I think, not 100% sure, but I think that the page [[:Category:Wiki Topic]] is correct now. I messed up and deleted it and then in my attempt to fix that I might have messed it up further. It looks okay. I think it's right, but can someone check me? Thanks and sorry again! [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 07:10, 3 June 2011 (PDT)
: Looks good to me!  No worries!!  You and everyone else battling spam are great!  My personal goal is to get an upgrade done by June 21st!! Fingers crossed. Best, [[MarkDilley]]


==Holzminden page==
::Mark, please be precise! Do not say "elsewhere". What account did You take? [[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style="color: orange;">Manorainjan</span>''']] 06:54, 18 October 2016 (PDT)
Hello, I have more questions than habilities ;-))  Can't get rid of the things appearing close to the link Holzminden right side.  Can you pls check and correct?  would be great! And pls don't cancel this page or change it, unless it's trouble making... Holzminden is a very special and very small town, but known worldwide, thx, amalie
: But that's not a [[wiki]], not on it's own, so why is it here when this is supposed to be an index of Wikis and not a Wiki page? [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 11:24, 14 June 2011 (PDT)


===Holzminden page 2===
==[[:Category:Pages for deletion|Pages for deletion]]==
Hello, I've problems to understand, why my page should be deleted.  Am I not alowwed to make a page or is something wrong with it?  pls let me know and thanks for answering. amalie
Is any of the [[Sysop|admins]] taking care if this? --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style=color:orange>Manorainjan</span>''']] 16:43, 18 November 2016 (PST)
: [[WikiIndex]] is supposed to be a index of [[wiki]]s. In order to create a page here, it must be about an wiki. The page you previously linked to was just an article on the [[German Wikipedia]], and I don't think http://www.holzminden.de is a [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki wiki] either, since I can't seem to edit any pages.<br>If you feel that this city deserves its own wiki, I recommended you create it [http://www.referata.com/wiki/Creating_a_Referata_site/de at this site], then you can list it here.  Creating a wiki is a great way to share information about any subject of interest. '''[[User talk:Elassint|Elassint]]''', 06 17 2011
:From time to time? On a regular basis? --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style="color: orange;">Manorainjan</span>''']] 20:26, 5 December 2018 (UTC)


==Some suggestions==
::There are 17 Pages waiting to be processed ... --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style="color: orange;">Manorainjan</span>''']] 00:49, 19 April 2019 (UTC)
'''[[WikiIndex:Community portal|Community Portal]]''' — would it be worthwhile adding [[:Category:Active administrators of this wiki]] onto the Community Portal page?  Maybe in the pink section on the right under 'Community information'.  Sometimes it is handy to have a direct link to the Admins which is clearly visible from some of the 'main' or 'front pages'.
: ''Great idea! ~~ [[MarkDilley]]''
:: OK, now done.  [[User:Hoof Hearted|Hoof Hearted]] 12:35, 21 June 2011 (PDT)


'''[[WikiIndex:AntiSpamMeasures|Spam]]''' — I've searched through the two main documents on the issue: [[WikiIndex:Spam Control Policy]] and [[WikiIndex:AntiSpamMeasures]] – and I'm struggling to find a definative spam control 'method' (or maybe I'm having a 'senior moment' . . .).  I noticed under the 'Spamming the spammers' heading that a [[:Category:Templates|template]] was considered – I went ahead and created a template for spammer users ([[Template:Spammer]]) – but I also think we need a similar template to place on actual articles that individuals ''think'' may be spam.
==[[Argopaedia]]==
Please [[protect]] that wiki page, not the [[Talk:Argopaedia|talk page]], in order to protect it against erosion of this information. --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style="color: orange;">Manorainjan</span>''']] 12:19, 11 December 2016 (PST)
:Manorainjan is inserting and maintaining false information. The website is neither [[:Category:Active|active]] and no longer a wiki. To suggest otherwise is a lie. His [[Edit summary|edit summaries]] are also false. To restore the article to it's long held status is not [[vandalism]]. Someone should pull up Manorainjan on his misleading and nonsensical edit summaries both here and his other edits. [[User:Databoy|Databoy]] ([[User talk:Databoy|talk]]) 12:37, 11 December 2016 (PST)
::'''Removal''' I'm not sure why you are removing things like [[:Category:Founded in 2010]]. We don't just keep info that is presently true but we try to make an overview of the history of the [[Wikisphere]] as well. It's fine to provide links to [[:Category:Archived|archived]] wikis or have categories on pages for wikis which are no longer live. If you know about how and why the site went down, then add it to the article. [[User:Koavf|Koavf]] ([[User talk:Koavf|talk]]) 13:39, 11 December 2016 (PST)


Your thoughts please . . . [[User:Hoof Hearted|Hoof Hearted]] 07:33, 20 June 2011 (PDT)
==Suspect mail configuration with mandrillapp.com==
: ''I am not sure how much this is needed here at [[WikiIndex]].  Can you say how you would use it this? ~~ [[MarkDilley]]''
I'm getting phishing warnings from my security software. The notification mails from WikiIndex are stragenly configured. The visible linktext in the mail is like
:: OK, I'm thinking of a kind of warning header banner, like say the 'unreferenced' on [[:Category:Wikipedia|Wikipedia]]. If we have a spam banner for actual wiki entry articles, then an editor may place said spam banner on article if he/she ''thinks'' the article is spam (but isn't 100% sure) – and this would then promt other editors, or even the original poster to weigh in with a discussion (on its talk page). Sometimes, it isn't obvious that you've been spammed, especially on an indexing site such as this.  [[User:Hoof Hearted|Hoof Hearted]] 12:35, 21 June 2011 (PDT)
<nowiki>http://wikiindex.org/Category:Active_administrators_of_this_wiki</nowiki>
but behind this is hidden the link:
<pre style="overflow-x:scroll; overflow-y:hidden">
https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30345700/wikiindex.org?p=eyJzIjoiX2kycEJ4SkRCaDJQVHFubzVCVWRVNXdrMEc0IiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDM0NTcwMCxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd2lraWluZGV4Lm9yZ1xcXC9DYXRlZ29yeTpBY3RpdmVfYWRtaW5pc3RyYXRvcnNfb2ZfdGhpc193aWtpXCIsXCJpZFwiOlwiY2JiNTllMDE3MTcxNGU2NGFiN2NiY2Q1YTYzNmY5NDJcIixcInVybF9pZHNcIjpbXCJlNDNjMDkyMDQ5NjcyMzRiYTIwYjM2M2ZmOTRmODhiNzczZjYwYzFjXCJdfSJ9</pre>


==Change from reCaptcha to FancyCaptcha for blocking spam?==
This is a technique normally used by scammers. Why do we have this in the mails and since when and who introduced that and for whos benefit? --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style=color:orange>Manorainjan</span>''']] 12:50, 8 May 2017 (PDT)
Hi guys. I've noticed several reports that reCaptcha has been (at least partially) broken. There is also a note to this effect on the page for the [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:ConfirmEdit ConfirmEdit Extension]. From the reports I've seen on the MWusers.com forums (I'm a moderator there, so I see almost every post, but these are anecdotal, so take with a grain of salt), FancyCaptcha still seems to work. -[[User:Gwsuperfan|Gwsuperfan]] 23:48, 4 July 2011 (PDT)


==Proposal to end anonymous editing==
==How to deal with open proxies and anonymous IPs?==
We have been hammered with spam in the past day. Well over 100+ edits of spam and garbage have occurred from anonymous editors. Should we end the allowance for anonymous editing? Just a thought, but if this continues we will be dealing with spam and not improving our wiki I think. Thoughts? [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 07:56, 29 July 2011 (PDT)
*How to deal with {{Wp|Open proxy}}s and [[IP editor|anonymous IPs]]?
I suggest to [[block]] all IP ranges of any known open proxies. Again, here we can learn from [[:Category:Wikipedia|Wikipedia]]. We could save us a lot of hassle. Remember, that my "success" in totally enervating [[wiki:DaveVoorhis|Dave Voorhis]] was mainly based on the use of few open proxies and a script kid tool. ;-) --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style=color:orange>Manorainjan</span>''']] 03:49, 3 June 2017 (PDT)
:Generating a list of all [[IP address]]es from open proxies would be difficult--do you have such a list that already exists? [[User:Koavf|Koavf]] ([[User talk:Koavf|talk]]) 09:15, 3 June 2017 (PDT)


==Wiki1001 under resources?==
::From the above mentioned wp article: {{Wp|Category:Open proxies blocked on Wikipedia}} --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style=color:orange>Manorainjan</span>''']] 09:19, 3 June 2017 (PDT)
Is there any reason the now defunct [[Wiki1001]] is listed as a resource?  That's my sarcastic way of suggesting its removal from the sidebar be considered.  :)  --[[GregVarnum]] | <small>[[User talk:Varnent|talk]]</small> 04:17, 30 July 2011 (PDT)
:::You're suggesting that we preemptively block 17,000+ IP addresses who haven't edited here? [[User:Koavf|Koavf]] ([[User talk:Koavf|talk]]) 09:20, 3 June 2017 (PDT)


==Image spam==
::::Regardless of the number of IPs in question, my opinion is, to block open proxies preemptively is in the long run, safer and less work, than dealing with destructive elements one by one. On the other hand I regard it as necessary to be absolutely transparent about which IPs are blocked here. The list of blocked IPs should be available to everyone and also the sources of the list should be named. Ideally it should be an automated function. I see two possibilities:
Can anyone tell me how to protect an image page and then remove the spammy image on it? Seems to be a new issue for us. Or it is possible to redirect an attempted image upload to a single protected page? Vague thoughts... [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 10:13, 19 August 2011 (PDT)
::::#To get the IPs from a knowledgeable service en block.
::::#To automatically test any IP - that would like to [[edit]] here or open an account - regarding open proxies and block it right away if it is an open proxy. Not without an error message telling that any kind of editing by use of open proxies is not permitted.  
::::{{Mw|Manual:Configuration settings#Proxies}} may com handy here. --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style=color:orange>Manorainjan</span>''']] 10:13, 3 June 2017 (PDT)


==Possible spam solution?==
:::::I don't have access to the server, so the only option I have is manually blocking 17,000 times. Maybe Brandon, Mark, or Ray can help you or give me access. [[User:Koavf|Koavf]] ([[User talk:Koavf|talk]]) 12:13, 3 June 2017 (PDT)
A thought about all of the [[Template:Spammer|spammers]] creating the same pages over and over again. Would it work to [[WikIndex:Redirect|redirect]] or rename those pages to a single admin edit only page thus making it impossible for them to actually post those pages? For example Talk:ABCWiki -> Redirect to -> Spammer Trap (Admin Only Edit Page)  [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 09:51, 8 September 2011 (PDT)
: Hi Tera. Thanks for the hard work you've been putting in. We'd been discussing it a bit on Elassint's talk page, although this is probably a more logical place for it. There may be some [[:Category:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] extensions we can use to prevent this from happening. I have noticed that some pages get hit more than others, but at other times, it seems like the bot is using the "Random Page" link. If the pages they hit are not random, then protecting the pages would work. If they are random, we'll need to have a system-wide solution. --[[User:MarvelZuvembie|MarvelZuvembie]] 16:02, 8 September 2011 (PDT)
:: Well, it's worth a try to see at least... Would like to add a spam blacklist, best one I have seen is one I suggested a while back if you recall? [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 17:41, 8 September 2011 (PDT)


==Need someone to check a few Templates for possible errors==
::::::I did not mean to create a lot of manual work for You. Regardless of the possible implications I wanted to bring up the topic of open proxies to '''all''' the [[Sysop|admins]]. I do not know, why You are the only one who responds. All the other admins should also be concerned with [[WikiIndex:Anti-spam measures|spam fighting]] and [[:Category:Security|security]] issues. Maybe You check with Your "fellow" admins if at all they are regularly reading this board? And it is in no way whatsoever, that any of the admins should help '''me'''. I'm not responsible for [[WikiIndex:Spam control policy|spam fighting]] and security issues, IP blocking or anything here at all. It is me who helps '''You''' admins by raising consciousness to the issue of open proxies.  --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style=color:orange>Manorainjan</span>''']] 14:14, 3 June 2017 (PDT)
I removed a ton of spam today, but some of it was directed at [[:Category:Templates|Template pages]]... Can someone please check the following to be sure there are no errors?


[[Template:Tag]], [[Template:Wiktionary]], [[Template:SizeCat‎]], [[Template:RightTOC]]
[[Special:Contributions/70.71.90.6]] also at https://tools.WMFLabs.org/meta/stalktoy/70.71.90.6 is just another example of what I'm talking about. --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style=color:orange>Manorainjan</span>''']] 06:35, 24 June 2017 (PDT)


I haven't a clue how the Templates are supposed to look or work... Thank you!  [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 09:57, 18 October 2011 (PDT)
==Inactivity of administrators==
Hello. What {{U|Manorainjan}} said above made me think that there are many inactive admins on this wiki and I just wanted to tell you who they are. This is just a suggestion, you decide if they have to be demoted or not. :-)
The majority of them last edited in [[:Category:Account used in 2015|2015]] (which means two years of inactivity).
<div style=column-width:12em>
*[[User:Arcane]]
*[[User:Comets]]
*[[User:DavidCary]]
*[[User:Emijrp]]
*[[User:Emufarmers]]
*[[User:Peu]]
*[[User:Spud Gun]]
*[[User:TedErnst]]
*[[User:TeraS]]
*[[User:WikiIndexSysop]]
*[[User:Zhuyifei1999]]</div>
Thanks, --[[Special:Contributions/13Reasons|13Reasons]] ([[User talk:13Reasons|talk]]) 00:00, 4 June 2017 (PDT)


==New account creation spambots==
:In the light of progressive thinking, one should not think of demotion but find out, why there is no activity. Every person will most likely have their own, their individual reasons for that. On the base of that information there could be the possibility of a reactivation. To demote admins does not increase admin-activity. And to leave the admin status on an inactive user does not incur any kind of cost. [[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style=color:orange>Manorainjan</span>''']] 03:09, 4 June 2017 (PDT)
how are they getting past the captcha system? or is there a captcha in place for new accounts creation ?--[[User:Comets|Comets]] 23:15, 31 October 2011 (PDT)
: how about using the [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:SimpleAntiSpam SimpleAntiSpam Extension]? [[User:Escyos|Escyos]] 04:13, 1 November 2011 (PDT)
:: for now, add spamlinks which gets added all the time here > [[MediaWiki:Spam-blacklist]]..--[[User:Comets|Comets]] 05:46, 1 November 2011 (PDT)
::: something needs to be done about this ? [[mw:Extension:ConfirmEdit|ConfirmEdit]] is just not working ..how about [[mw:Extension:AntiBot|AntiBot]] and [[mw:Extension:AntiSpoof|AntiSpoof]] for the next update ?--[[User:Comets|Comets]] 17:51, 6 November 2011 (PST)
:::: [[mw:Extension:ConfirmEdit|ConfirmEdit]] is working if you activate the best module for the job. So far it seems that only [[mw:ConfirmEdit#QuestyCaptcha|QuestyCAPTCHA]] is doing the job. After it was enabled spam decreased by > 95% on e.g. [http://www.semantic-mediawiki.org semantic-mediawiki.org]. I guess Mark should organise the change asap. Cheers --[[User:Kghbln|&#91;&#91;kgh&#93;&#93;]] 09:28, 1 December 2011 (PST)


: I have asked [[Raymond King]] to add this extension a few weeks ago, I am not sure what is next for it.  Best, [[MarkDilley]]
::''[message removed]
:: ''he emailed today to say: "Changed it to FancyCaptcha for both creation of login and making edits that include external links (but the later does not apply to logged in people)."''


== Might need a IP range block ==
:::Sure. And next we give {{u|Rock-O-Jello}} and {{‎u|Amanda}} backend access. Hahahah, what a crazy joke :-D
:::That was a bit to easy to find out from which crew You are ;-)
:::Open another account and try again! --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style=color:orange>Manorainjan</span>''']] 07:10, 4 June 2017 (PDT)


There is an anonymous user that is vandalizing the site. They have done so from two IP addresses in this range:  216.66.128.0 - 216.66.207.255 Is it possible to place a range ban on these IPs? [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 21:08, 16 April 2012 (PDT)
::::''[message removed]
:Okay, I've had enough and I used the nuclear option on the anonymous user that has been causing mass attacks on the site. I've banned their IP range for one year as a temporary measure. Further action or modification I leave for Mark to decide on. [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 15:04, 17 April 2012 (PDT)


== Universal Edit Button on mainpage ==
:::::It is getting funnier by the hour ;-) While I hint You might be part of a crew, which is certainly no insult, unless You think that the other members of that crew are real lowlifes with whom You do not want to be associated in any way. On the other hand You call me mentally ill specifying this as {{Wp|Persecutory delusion}}. Obviously I've hit the mark here ;-) --[[User talk:Manorainjan|'''<span style=color:orange>Manorainjan</span>''']] 09:31, 4 June 2017 (PDT)


The main page features the Universal Edit Button for Firefox, but that extension is no longer supported (it was unsupported more than 1 year ago). You may want to remove it from the main page. --[[User:Ciencia Al Poder|Ciencia Al Poder]] 13:11, 13 April 2012 (PDT)
::::::''[message removed]
:::I'll leave Mark to decide on this happening or not. [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 12:05, 4 May 2012 (PDT)


Firefox has been changing so rapidly that I have not put the effort to find someone to upgrade the button. Chrome button is working - so maybe just highlight that for now?  Best, [[MarkDilley]]
==Disruptive behavior towards Miraheze by Amanda==
Hello. I am requesting action taken (warning / interaction [[ban]] / [[block]]) about [[User:Amanda]]. They were banned by the [[:Category:Miraheze|Miraheze]] community for disrupting the project. They were given many chances, but failed by using [[sockpuppet]]s. Since they are banned, they continuously [[spam]] our channels as well as other test wiki channels, and wikis. Now they have come here to disrupt the [[Miraheze]] page, as well as my own [[user page]] which I find unacceptable. [[User:Reception123|Reception123]] ([[User talk:Reception123|talk]]) 21:54, 8 August 2017 (PDT)
:Thank you for the heads-up. I have just blocked the troublemaker in question and will take any further remedial action needed to curb their little reign of [[vandal]] terror. [[User:Arcane|Arcane]] ([[User talk:Arcane|talk]]) 05:56, 9 August 2017 (PDT)


== Recentchanges accesskey ==
==[[:Category:Search engine|Search engine optimisation]] for [[WikiIndex]] on [[:Category:Google|Google]]==
Found a very handy, and very important issue regarding [[:Category:Search engine|SEO]] for [[:Category:MediaWiki|MediaWiki]] sites.  Rather than reinventing the wheel, the page on [[MediaWiki.org]] is this:  {{Mw|Manual:generateSitemap.php}}.  Basically, it will generate a specific site map of WikiIndex.org for use by spiders and crawlers.


A sysop should edit [[MediaWiki:Sidebar]] and change this:
Do we have this included and enabled here on WikiIndex?  And how often is it updated?
* recentchanges-url|RecentChanges
to this:
* recentchanges-url|recentchanges
That way it uses [[MediaWiki:Recentchanges]], so it will display the proper localized text for every language and the link will automagically have the accesskey (r). Edit [[MediaWiki:Recentchanges]] if you want the link title to remain "RecentChanges". Thanks! --[[User:Ciencia Al Poder|Ciencia Al Poder]] 13:17, 13 April 2012 (PDT)
:::So done. [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] 12:02, 4 May 2012 (PDT)
: Thanks! ~~ [[MarkDilley]]


== split resources into two sections in the sidebar ==
Thoughts and comments please!  --[[User:Hoof Hearted|<big>Sean</big>, <small>''aka'' Hoof Hearted</small>]] • <sub>[[:Category:Active administrators of this wiki|Admin]] / [[WikiIndex:Bureaucrats|'Crat]]</sub> • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 05:27, 6 December 2021 (UTC)
 
I just split the resources sections into two sections. Hope this is ok. If not - just revert. Cheers --[[User:Kghbln|&#91;&#91;kgh&#93;&#93;]] ([[User talk:Kghbln|talk]]) 12:03, 25 September 2012 (PDT)
:Great!  Love the separate section for the help pages (and thanks for fixing my help language errors).  Should the 'Recent Changes' be in the toolbox section rather than the community section.  And can the orange 'refresh' be toned down a little - I feel it is a little overpowering at the moment. :-/  [[User:Hoof Hearted|Hoof Hearted]] • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 07:10, 26 September 2012 (PDT)
:: Cool that you like it. I think that Mark wants to have "Recent changes" in that spot. That's why I did not change this. I just changed the colour of the purge button to something less striking. However, if you feel that it still should be changed you may adjust the background colour. Cheers --[[User:Kghbln|&#91;&#91;kgh&#93;&#93;]] ([[User talk:Kghbln|talk]]) 07:26, 26 September 2012 (PDT)
::: For me, Recent Changes is where community has grown. To see what everyone is doing, it is pretty inspiring.  Ultimately, I would like to talk via Recent Changes, using the summary affordance.  Best, [[MarkDilley]]
 
== It's happening again ==
 
Well, it appears that the individual who was vandalizing the site in March of this year is at it again. I've blocked their user account, but I suggest that Admins watch for the next while as I am sure they will return again. [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] ([[User talk:TeraS|talk]]) 18:43, 29 September 2012 (PDT)
::And again it happened. I have protected several critical pages to stop editing as a result. Is it possible to restrict editing by new users? Say max of 10 pages or something? Just an idea... [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] ([[User talk:TeraS|talk]]) 22:52, 29 September 2012 (PDT)
::: I think no. But MediaWiki contains the option to add them manually to the editors group (this is currently - and by default - done automatically). But then, some admins have to observe the RSS feed for newly registered users and then, just after enabling them (for editing), watch them... It's also just an idea... --[[Wolf Peuker|Wolf]] | <small>[[User talk:Peu|talk]]</small> 05:42, 30 September 2012 (PDT)
::::Actually, I've seen wikis implement edit throttles for non-autoconfirmed (new) users, the user is only allowed to make a certain amount of edits within a certain period of time. I think that would be a better idea then having the admins manually authorize each and every new account created. '''[[User talk:Elassint|Elassint]]'''  30 September 2012
::::: This makes me curious. Is it done by a regular MediaWiki extension? Can you point on this example wiki, any further description? --[[Wolf Peuker|Wolf]] | <small>[[User talk:Peu|talk]]</small> 06:44, 30 September 2012 (PDT)
:::::: I liked [[EditThrottling]] - will see if I can dig up anything on it. (Thanks for pinging me on this [[Wolf Peuker|Wolf]] Best, [[MarkDilley]]
 
I really think that we need to look at appropriate MediaWiki keyword filter extensions.  I briefly raised this issue [[User talk:Elassint#Spammers - and new account names|here]].  Personally, I'm not sure that total 'open editing' is compatible with our current protection against spammers/vandals - in our current software config.  Yes, we do have active sysops who can help out - but I'm sure that after our latest bombardment, and the gallant efforts of [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] - this is likely to lead to grumpy sysops . . . because we seem to be constantly 'fire-fighting', rather than letting the software do the work for us.  WikiIndex should ''not'' be used for blatant promotion of religious opinions, sexual disfunction drugs, or financial help products (unless they are clearly referring to an established and fuctional wiki).  [[User:Hoof Hearted|Hoof Hearted]] • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 06:49, 30 September 2012 (PDT)
 
: On a related note, WikiIndex's system administrators should '''really''' install the [[mw:Extension:CheckUser|CheckUser extension]] and give bureaucrats/administrators/a new group access to the CheckUser special page (the privacy policy ''may'' need to be adjusted), because right now, it's all too easy for a vandal to register multiple accounts from the same IP address and vandalize. With the CheckUser extension installed & properly configured, administrators (or other privileged users) can get the user's underlying IP and ban it in case of persistent vandalism.
 
: For this particular vandal, blocking the IP range <code>216.66.0.0/16</code> might help. --[[User:Jack Phoenix|Jack Phoenix]] ([[User talk:Jack Phoenix|talk]]) 06:59, 30 September 2012 (PDT)
 
:: Thanks for your thoughts Jack.  I think I blocked the IP range OK ([[Special:Contributions/216.66.0.0/16|here]] - did I do it correctly?).  I'm only a sysop, so I don't think I can access the relevant IP tools to check these types of features.  Can you recommend any specific MW extensions we can use to block specific words or phrases - for both username creation, and body text editing?  [[mw:Extension:AbuseFilter|AbuseFilter]], as recommended by [[User talk:Elassint|Elassint]] [[User talk:Elassint#Spammers - and new account names|here]] looks promising, but it appears way to complicated for me :(  [[User:Hoof Hearted|Hoof Hearted]] • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 07:29, 30 September 2012 (PDT)
 
I think words / phrases / websites can be [[Blacklist|blacklisted]], will that help right now? [[MarkDilley]]
: Our current system is 'reactive', and relies on crats with specific expertise on editing said blacklist AFTER we have been bombarded (of which I have no expertise, and other sysops which do appear to have, arn't crats).  But as we are at the moment, I don't see how we can blacklist 'usernames' . . . . JugglingTooManyBalls.com :p  [[User:Hoof Hearted|Hoof Hearted]] • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 08:49, 30 September 2012 (PDT)
: I agree, but that is the system we have now.  Look forward if we can come up with a plan of action - preferably [[Meatball:SoftSecurity]].  (I still don't know what the difference is between a bureaucrat and sysop - much prefer flat wiki with way less the control being wielded with MediaWiki) - Best, [[MarkDilley]]
::On MediaWiki, it is detailed at [[Special:ListGroupRights]].  Basically, a bureaucrat is basically the top-tier level of management - and obviously have by far the greatest range of controls of the wiki site.  Sysops are the next level down, and obviously have less controls (sysops can protect pages, delete pages, block users, and edit the MediaWiki namespace - but not much more).  Sysops have no way of interrogating say blocks of IP users, sysops can't say re-name user accounts, and sysops have no way of installing software extensions.  We really DO need a couple more bureaucrats here . . . my nominations are still for TeraS, emijrp and Jack Phoenix. :-)
 
::[[Meatball:SoftSecurity]] goes over my head . . . I'm only experienced in MediaWiki, whereas I suppose 'wiki old-timers' might be more experienced in other wiki engines.  OK, I've just re-read the Meatball article.  I agree in principle with its sentiments . . . we already [[AssumeGoodFaith]], along with all the other related values, and we also work 'UnlockedDoors' principle.  But they leave us very vulnerable.  OK, we have different sysops who operate in different timezones, but if a determined spammer/vandal wishes to flood WikiIndex, a lone sysop can be easily overwealmed (and will often 'spoil' an otherwise constructive editing session for said sysop).  'Peer Pressure' wont stop religious vandals or online loan spammers - they have NO consience!  Best, [[User:Hoof Hearted|Hoof Hearted]] • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 15:37, 30 September 2012 (PDT)
 
===The religious vandal RETURNS again!===
It's back - check the [[Special:Log/newusers]] - look at 21:48, 29 September 2012 - so dispite me blocking an entire IP range as above, they return yet again.  Tera has already blocked the latest creations - but this isn't really acceptable.  PLEASE, consider urgently installing an appropriate MW extension to automatically prohibit username creation for specific terms.  [[User:Hoof Hearted|Hoof Hearted]] • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 00:23, 1 October 2012 (PDT)
 
==Just looked at the "spam"==
I don't think it is spam.  I think it is an attack on the wiki because so many pages are being protected (previous to the "attack"). I agree with the sentiment - obviously not the methods of voice being chosen.  Best, [[MarkDilley]]
::I call it vandalism, repeatedly so Mark, not spam but regardless of that, it was disruptive to the purposes and goals of WikiIndex. It attacked pages that were important to the functioning of the site in several instances as well. The time spent in fixing their attack was substantial and in the end, this sort of action should never occur. Setting that all aside, and yes I understand the desire for an OpenWiki, there has to be a point where some protections are needed. At the minimum we should all understand the function and use of BlackList which can limit the damage. Sorry for this mess Mark and all, at least it was less than it was earlier this year. One other thing that I do not understand, just how do you figure out the IP of a user here? That would be something useful for me to have knowledge of. Anyway, thanks for the support all, best always... [[User:TeraS|TeraS]] ([[User talk:TeraS|talk]]) 10:08, 30 September 2012 (PDT)
:::'Spam' or 'vandalism' - pedantic, but whatever name-tag you wish to give it, that last episode was forcibly destructive to WikiIndex.  And I don't agree at all that ''"so many pages are being protected"'' - yes, OK, I personally have protected most of the high-importance [[:Category:Templates|templates]] (but most of the lesser templates have no edit protection).  But for the namespace articles, with the exception of the WikiIndex front page, you can probably count on one hand the number of namespace articles which are protected.  And I also don't see how protecting pages can increase an attack of spam or vandalism!  [[User:Hoof Hearted|Hoof Hearted]] • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 08:56, 1 October 2012 (PDT)
 
We need to have a very clear look at this.  If you look correctly at the [http://wikiindex.org/index.php?title=Special:RecentChanges&limit=500 RecentChanges] (the 'Recent changes options' days may need to be manually increased in the url to view the full history) - along with the [[Special:Log/newusers]], on 29 September 2012 at 21:48, the prolific religious vandal/spammer created FOUR user accounts within a minute!  Surely, that in itself shouldn't be possible with correctly configured MediaWiki software.  This user then appeared to lay dormant for four hours - presumably regularly checking the [[Special:RecentChanges]] and [[Special:WhosOnline]], and when I had finished for the evening - at 01:54 (UTC) on 30 September 2012, this evil vandal spammed '''93''' separate pages (some twice), the last one at 06:24 (UTC) - under two different usernames.  If you check [[Special:Log/block]], you will see that [[User:TeraS|Tera]] blocked the first of their usernames - [[User:ABIDEEN0]] at 02:18 (UTC), 30 September 2012 - and there was a brief respite in the spamming.  Then at 06:07 (UTC), 30 September 2012 - [[User:ABIDEEN1]] continued spamming in the same prolific manner, until they were blocked by Tera at 06:25 (UTC), 30 September 2012.  Two further accounts were blocked by Tera [[User:ABIDEEN01]] (06:57, 30 September 2012) and [[User:ABIDEEN10]] (06:58, 30 September 2012).  As a result - a WikiIndex sysop is going to have to manually revert '''93''' separate articles/talk pages, then apply appropriate protection.  Is that really how you want the sysops here to be working ... reverting 93 edits?  Tera deserves a medal for battling with that!  Sysops have [[RealLives]], and shouldn't be railroaded into all this firefighting - when the software can be configured to do the job for us automatically!  Frustratedly yours!  [[User:Hoof Hearted|Hoof Hearted]] • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 08:56, 1 October 2012 (PDT)
 
:Can we maybe a bot to do that? --[[YiFei]] | <small>[[User talk:Zhuyifei1999|talk]]</small>  03:15, 4 May 2013 (PDT)
 
Maybe we take down the who is online function.  Please start a page called [[Upgrades needed]] or something to clearly state what you think needs to happen, in terms of software mods / additions.  Once we have a plan we can get it implemented.  As far as an OpenWiki - what I think may be happening is that a person is vandalizing the wiki because any pages are being protected.  So, do we have a fight with that person, who can create accounts as much as they want, or do we put a wet blanket on them?  ~~ [[MarkDilley]]
 
:I'm not sure taking down the WhosOnline would work in isolation.  Anyway, I quite like using that function.  Maybe we can restrict it to say Sysops and Autoconfirmed users?  Maybe another tweak would be to change the 'Autoconfirmed' to a manual authorisation by a Sysop (or does that need Crat rights?) - can this be changed?
:I've created [[WikiIndex:Upgrades needed]] - it is only a 'skeleton' at the moment, but from small acorns . . . . :p
:OpenWiki - I don't think anyone is doubting or questioning your desire for an open wiki - I think the fact that we are all sticking around and continuing to help grow [[WikiIndex]] sorta vouches for our general support to your founding principles.  But I'm still failing to understand your logic that protecting pages attracts vandals.  That kinda logic may apply to say . . . telling your 13 or 14 year old kids not to take a swig of vodka from the bottle at the back of the parents cocktail cabinet when they are left alone!  The recent vandalism is simply a fanatical religious extremist (probably a muslim), who will attack any easy target - such as open edit wikis.  As far as protection standards, 'talk' pages should never be protected (at all, IMVHO), namespace pages should never be protected - unless specific pages are actual targets.  But high-use or high-importance templates (as recommended [[mw:Manual:Combating vandalism|here]]), along with the front page and policy pages ''should'' have appropriate protection.
:And I'm not sure I understand your wet blanket analogy!  But surely, we should be 'one person - one account' (apart from bot accounts).  So basically only one username can be created from one IP address.  Best, [[User:Hoof Hearted|Hoof Hearted]] • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 12:23, 2 October 2012 (PDT)
 
== vandalism strategies ==
Please text me at 313-942-9454 and I can jump in to help ~~ [[MarkDilley]]
 
== WikiNode Sidebar link broken ==
 
FYI, it's currently pointing at 'INVALID-TITLE'
[[User:Chris Garner|Chris Garner]] ([[User talk:Chris Garner|talk]]) 08:51, 7 October 2012 (PDT)
:Thanks for flagging this up - should be fixed now. [[User:Hoof Hearted|Hoof Hearted]] • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 09:13, 7 October 2012 (PDT)
 
== Wikis visible only when logged in. ==
I notice that some Wikis (including [[LGBT History UK]]) don't show up in the list of pages for a particular category/tag when I'm logged out, but do when I 'm logged in. Can you explain this, please? --[[User:Ross Burgess|Ross Burgess]] ([[User talk:Ross Burgess|talk]]) 15:42, 31 October 2012 (PDT)
 
: Which category are you specifically referring to, I am trying to recreate this bug.  Best, [[MarkDilley]]
::Mark, I think Ross was referring to the [[LGBT History UK]] article, and probably one of the categories relating to it - maybe [[:Category:LGBT]].  From my own perspective, I also notice WikiIndex looks very different between when I'm logged in and logged out - a specific example, when logged out, the sidebar reverts to the basic 'default' MediaWiki sidebar (looses the resources and help pages sections).  Also the position of the search box changes.  Maybe something to do with CSS pages . . . or maybe our local spam whitelist only works when logged in, but when logged out, the blacklist takes over . . . though I am not a programmer, so am just clutching at straws.  Best, [[User:Hoof Hearted|Sean, aka <small>Hoof Hearted</small>]] • <sub>[[:Category:Active administrators of this wiki|Admin]]</sub> • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 08:10, 1 November 2012 (PDT)
 
: Weird, I log out and get the same sidebar as logged in... We should try to track the bugs [[WikiIndex Bugs]]. [[MarkDilley]]
 
== Massive Spam User Creation ==
I blocked a huge number of spam accounts that were all added within two minutes here. I am wondering if there is a means to stop multiple user creations from the same IP which appears to have happened.[[User:TeraS|TeraS]] ([[User talk:TeraS|talk]]) 06:38, 1 March 2013 (PST)
: [[mw:Help:Range blocks|Here is some information on range blocks]]. If we can confirm it is the same IP, then we'd have to apply a range block. Unfortunately, we'd need the checkuser right, which only those with bureaucrat rights can grant. [[User:Arcane|Arcane]] ([[User talk:Arcane|talk]]) 07:09, 1 March 2013 (PST)Arcane
:: Spamfilter some in mediawiki, something that helps. Regards.- --[[User:Csuarezllosa|Csuarezllosa]] ([[User talk:Csuarezllosa|talk]]) 08:36, 1 March 2013 (PST)
::: Is there a way to put a limit on the number of accounts thst can be created during a certian time period from a certian IP? That might help. -ela <span style="font-size:smaller" class="autosigned">—Preceding [[WikiIndex:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/198.228.228.150|198.228.228.150]] ([[User talk:198.228.228.150|talk]]) 18:25, 1 March 2013 (UTC)</span><!-- Template:UnsignedIP -->
: This would be great ~~ [[MarkDilley]]
 
I've been noticing this kind of behaviour on many different MediaWiki sites - and whilst I think the spam-bots have cracked the [[mw:Extension:SpamBlacklist]] - I don't think that is our problem.  Our [[MediaWiki:Spam-blacklist]] (along with [[MediaWiki:Spam-whitelist]] and our local [[My spam blacklist]]) works only when someone creates or edits an article whereby their edit contains a URL - this does nothing to prevent account creation.
 
We really need a couple more extensions specific to account creation, namely [[mw:Extension:TitleBlacklist]], [[mw:Extension:Bad Behavior]] and [[mw:Extension:Check Spambots]] - but sadly, Mark seems very reluctant to implement any upgrades (and I'm not really sure why) :-(  And we also need [[mw:Extension:Nuke]] to mass-delete these rogue accounts in one click.
: these are discussed on [[Upgrades]] page right? ~~ [[MarkDilley]]
 
: Not very reluctant, very busy and we at [[WikiIndex]] don't have a dedicated developer type person to do it, so to upgrade or do anything under the hood, we have to find that person, anyone out there?  hint, hint.  ~~ [[MarkDilley]]
:: Ahh - OK - sorry :( - wasn't aware that we didn't have any devs :(  I'm certainly not a dev or programmer (just an enthusiastic MediaWiki user!), so I personally can't help.  But I ''can'' suggest two or three folks here whom are very proficient MW devs, whom all three should be promoted to [[WikiIndex:Bureaucrats|bureaucrat]] status here (as a minima) - '''[[User talk:Kghbln|kghbln]]''', '''[[User:Yaron Koren|Yaron Koren]]''' (thou Yaron seems to be a little dormant recently) and '''[[User:Jack Phoenix|Jack Phoenix]]''' (I'm shocked to find that Jack isn't even a Sysop on here!).  And I also think that [[User:Emijrp|Emijrp]] should also be prompted to crat (I'm not sure if he is a MW dev per se, but he is simply awesome with his MW bot work and other work such as backup stuff).  [[User:Hoof Hearted|Sean, aka <small>Hoof Hearted</small>]] • <sub>[[:Category:Active administrators of this wiki|Admin]]</sub> • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 03:20, 15 April 2013 (PDT)
: Many thanks for these ideas. ~~ [[MarkDilley]]
 
:: On the subject of bureaucrats - I'm not sure why [[User:Emufarmers|Emufarmers]] is a crat here, as he isn't exactly contributing to WikiIndex in any meaningful manner at all - see [http://wikiindex.org/index.php?limit=100&tagfilter=&title=Special%3AContributions&contribs=user&target=Emufarmers&namespace=&year=&month=-1 here] (click on 'diff' to see exactly what he has contributed - or the lack of!) ...  [[User:Hoof Hearted|Sean, aka <small>Hoof Hearted</small>]] • <sub>[[:Category:Active administrators of this wiki|Admin]]</sub> • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 03:20, 15 April 2013 (PDT)  (me neither ~~ [[MarkDilley]])
::: 18:09, 22 April 2013 MarkDilley (Talk | contribs | block) changed group membership for User:Emufarmers from bureaucrat and administrator to (none) (not sure what happened here, looks like a breach in security  - Emufarmers2 gave the bureaucrat status, but how?
 
Arcane is correct when he states only bureaucrats can examine checkuser - which is whats needed to examine IP ranges.  And it has been mentioned on a few previous occasions that we need more ACTIVE bureaucrats on this wiki - ideally a bureaucrat for each major timezone (so one from US timezones, one from European timezones, and one from Russian/Asian/Australian timezones) - so for example, whilst the US is asleep, an Aussie or European crat can be on guard.  We need crats who are here virtually every day - which is why in the past, I've pushed for TeraS being a crat, Wolf used to be our European crat (but seems to be on a sabatical), and I'm not sure if we have any regular users from Russia/Asia/Aus/NZ.
: I am still really fuzzy on what things I can do as a bureaucrat rather than a sysop. ~~ [[MarkDilley]]
 
Another suggestion would be to make registration under real names (without CamelCase) compulsory.  I accept that may deter folks, but as it stands at the moment, I have great difficulty in trying to determine the difference between an 'acceptable alias' username, and that of a pure spambot.  If forcing real names is not an option, then just ban CamelCase name registration, ban underscore, special characters and numbers in username registration - if someone desparately wants to be known by fancy characters and the likes, they can overcome that by creating a signature in their profile, or even creating a new user page with an incoming redirect.  Maybe if we had [[mw:Extension:Renameuser]], then any accounts created could be then subsequently changed to something more preferable to the individual.
: I like for people to use Real Names, however I don't like to force people to do that. ~~ [[MarkDilley]]
 
A final suggestion is to enable confirm e-mail for account creation.  Ha-ha . . . I hear my ears burning with Mark's ethos of open editing!  Well, we will still have open editing from IP editors (and those have to go through Captcha on every edit they make) - the whole reason spambots create accounts is so that they bypass the edit Captcha.  Having to confirm e-mail will virtually eliminate spambot account creation.  One big problem with this - something is wrong with the whole WikiIndex e-mail system . . . I've never been able to get e-mail working, and others have also reported this . . .
: (-;  ~~ [[MarkDilley]]
 
At the end of the day, if the status quo remains, then all of us sysops are effectively just janitors clearing up the crap on a day-to-day basis.  My $0.02 / £0.02 worth.  [[User:Hoof Hearted|Sean, aka <small>Hoof Hearted</small>]] • <sub>[[:Category:Active administrators of this wiki|Admin]]</sub> • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 14:11, 7 March 2013 (PST)
: obviously we don't want to burn people out (more than has already happened) - so will put thoughts on [[Upgrades]] page. ~~ [[MarkDilley]]
 
===Incoming traffic===
I don't know if Alexa.com has a window on the cause of our spam issue???  Open [http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/wikiindex.org this link], then click on the 'Clickstream' tab.  It basically states the two most significant sites people were viewing <u>before</u> they visitied WikiIndex.org.  One of those was MediaWiki.org (no problems with that site), and the other was 'GasyMagnifik.com' - which is a French SEO site (look at its traffic analysis on [http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/gasymagnifik.com Alexa] - interesting to note the 'webmaster rank' and other SEO sites - both upstream and downstream, and also its demographic).  Is there anything we can do to stop incoming traffic from gasymagnifik.com ???  [[User:Hoof Hearted|Sean, aka <small>Hoof Hearted</small>]] • <sub>[[:Category:Active administrators of this wiki|Admin]]</sub> • <small>[[User talk:Hoof Hearted|talk2HH]]</small> 04:43, 8 March 2013 (PST)
 
: Looks like their post www.GasyMagnifik.com/des-wiki-et-des-backlinks-une-histoire-de-seo.html – "The wiki backlinks: A History of SEO" – has a link to us... ~~ [[MarkDilley]]
::Interesting .... is there any way to add something like "nofollow from gasymagnifik.com" (or similar)?  It's also interesting that they link to us via a hyperlink, yet for WikiMatrix they just have a plain-text (non-hyperlink) url – and WikiMatrix get considerably less spam than us.  Oh, I removed the above hyperlink - don't want any more potential spam from them!  {{HoofHearted}}
 
== MediaWiki:Monobook.css and .js ==
 
Do you think [[MediaWiki:Monobook.css]] and [[MediaWiki:Monobook.js]] necessary? Now, the default skin is Vector, not Monobook. --[[User:Zhuyifei1999|Zhuyifei1999]] ([[User talk:Zhuyifei1999|talk]]) 17:46, 13 April 2013 (PDT)
:Of course. It's not like either of those pages are doing any harm by sitting there. Besides, I use MonoBook. '''[[User talk:Elassint|Elassint]]'''  16 April 2013
::Then I think it is a good idea to move them to pages like [[MediaWiki:Common.css]] and [[MediaWiki:Common.js]] since some of us use Vector.--[[User:Zhuyifei1999|Zhuyifei1999]] ([[User talk:Zhuyifei1999|talk]]) 19:45, 16 April 2013 (PDT)
 
== NAMESPACENUMBER ==
 
This is better for [[Template:NAMESPACENUMBER]] (with more existing namespaces, info from [[mw:Extension default namespaces]]):
 
{{#switch:{{NAMESPACEE}}|Talk=1|User=2|User_talk=3|WikiIndex=4|WikiIndex_talk=5|File=6|File_talk=7|MediaWiki=8|MediaWiki_talk=9|Template=10|Template_talk=11|Help=12|Help_talk=13|Category=14|Category_talk=15|Special=-1|Media=-2|Property=102|Property_talk=103|Form=106|Form_talk=107|Concept=108|Concept_talk=109|Filter=170|Filter_talk=171|0}}
 
--[[User:Zhuyifei1999|Zhuyifei1999]] ([[User talk:Zhuyifei1999|talk]]) 22:14, 13 April 2013 (PDT)
 
== Noarticletext ==
 
This works (the first link originally broken):
 
There is currently no text in this page, you can [{{SERVER}}/index.php?ns{{NAMESPACENUMBER}}=1&search={{urlencode:{{PAGENAME}}}}&searchx=Search search for this page title] in other pages or [{{FULLURL:{{FULLPAGENAMEE}}|action=edit}} edit this page].
 
Or try if there's any similar titled page: {{#switch:{{PAGENAME}}
| New Page for Yourself = [[WikiIndex:New page for yourself]]
| NewPageForYourself = [[WikiIndex:New page for yourself]]
| Wikis to Add = [[:Category:Wikis to add]]
| WikisToAdd = [[:Category:Wikis to add]]
| FindPage = [[Special:Search]]
| | no page(s) found | #default = no page(s) found
}}
 
--[[User:Zhuyifei1999|Zhuyifei1999]] ([[User talk:Zhuyifei1999|talk]]) 22:46, 13 April 2013 (PDT)

Latest revision as of 17:29, 11 January 2023

Welcome, 172.70.179.100, you have reached the discussion / talk page of the administrators group for WikiIndex.

If you have a question, problem, hint, want to report a spammer, and so on, please leave us a message
– and please don't forget to sign your comments with four tildes ~~~~.
Archived discussions — 2008–2009, 2010–2011, 2012–2013, 2014–2015.

wF asking from others what we do not provide ourselves?[edit]

Since the server move and including update of the software we do not provide the popular-pages function any more, needed to determine the wikiFactor. This functionality is not any more included in the general MediaWiki software. One needs to install it a add-on. But we do not have this add-on. That looks quite inconsistent to me. --Manorainjan 16:22, 19 April 2016 (PDT)

Can you provide a link to the add-on? Then we can ask Brandon to install it. ~~ MarkDilley (21 April 2016)
Thedugganaut had informed us about the exclusion of this functionality on 26 May 2015, a day after it happened. A month later Extension:HitCounters became available. I left the info here: Talk:WikiFactor#New versions of WikiMedia no longer have popular pages page --Manorainjan 09:08, 18 August 2016 (PDT)

Merging of articles[edit]

Please someone merge these two: Category:Body modification and possibly take another look in Category:Articles to be merged. --Manorainjan 09:06, 18 August 2016 (PDT)

Took first step. ~~ MarkDilley

BrandonCsSanders[edit]

Seems he is dead. No reaction, even on direct email since one year. --Manorainjan 04:49, 22 August 2016 (PDT)

So, nobody knows his whereabouts? Manorainjan 03:54, 15 September 2016 (PDT)

Verification of new accounts[edit]

In the light of such announcements: ** WARNING !!! I AM CURRENTLY BEING IMPERSONATED BY SEVERAL SCAMMERS !!! ** one should check the validity of new accounts like User:DSwissK.

Currently there seems do be no procedure of verification whatsoever. How You want to deal with that? --Manorainjan 03:01, 18 October 2016 (PDT)

I verified this account by emailing them from one of their wiki accounts elsewhere. This method is probably not perfect. I don't see verification of accounts to be an issue here. MarkDilley
Mark, please be precise! Do not say "elsewhere". What account did You take? Manorainjan 06:54, 18 October 2016 (PDT)

Pages for deletion[edit]

Is any of the admins taking care if this? --Manorainjan 16:43, 18 November 2016 (PST)

From time to time? On a regular basis? --Manorainjan 20:26, 5 December 2018 (UTC)
There are 17 Pages waiting to be processed ... --Manorainjan 00:49, 19 April 2019 (UTC)

Argopaedia[edit]

Please protect that wiki page, not the talk page, in order to protect it against erosion of this information. --Manorainjan 12:19, 11 December 2016 (PST)

Manorainjan is inserting and maintaining false information. The website is neither active and no longer a wiki. To suggest otherwise is a lie. His edit summaries are also false. To restore the article to it's long held status is not vandalism. Someone should pull up Manorainjan on his misleading and nonsensical edit summaries both here and his other edits. Databoy (talk) 12:37, 11 December 2016 (PST)
Removal I'm not sure why you are removing things like Category:Founded in 2010. We don't just keep info that is presently true but we try to make an overview of the history of the Wikisphere as well. It's fine to provide links to archived wikis or have categories on pages for wikis which are no longer live. If you know about how and why the site went down, then add it to the article. Koavf (talk) 13:39, 11 December 2016 (PST)

Suspect mail configuration with mandrillapp.com[edit]

I'm getting phishing warnings from my security software. The notification mails from WikiIndex are stragenly configured. The visible linktext in the mail is like 

http://wikiindex.org/Category:Active_administrators_of_this_wiki

but behind this is hidden the link: 

https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30345700/wikiindex.org?p=eyJzIjoiX2kycEJ4SkRCaDJQVHFubzVCVWRVNXdrMEc0IiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDM0NTcwMCxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd2lraWluZGV4Lm9yZ1xcXC9DYXRlZ29yeTpBY3RpdmVfYWRtaW5pc3RyYXRvcnNfb2ZfdGhpc193aWtpXCIsXCJpZFwiOlwiY2JiNTllMDE3MTcxNGU2NGFiN2NiY2Q1YTYzNmY5NDJcIixcInVybF9pZHNcIjpbXCJlNDNjMDkyMDQ5NjcyMzRiYTIwYjM2M2ZmOTRmODhiNzczZjYwYzFjXCJdfSJ9

This is a technique normally used by scammers. Why do we have this in the mails and since when and who introduced that and for whos benefit? --Manorainjan 12:50, 8 May 2017 (PDT)

How to deal with open proxies and anonymous IPs?[edit]

I suggest to block all IP ranges of any known open proxies. Again, here we can learn from Wikipedia. We could save us a lot of hassle. Remember, that my "success" in totally enervating Dave Voorhis was mainly based on the use of few open proxies and a script kid tool. ;-) --Manorainjan 03:49, 3 June 2017 (PDT)

Generating a list of all IP addresses from open proxies would be difficult--do you have such a list that already exists? Koavf (talk) 09:15, 3 June 2017 (PDT)
From the above mentioned wp article: Category:Open proxies blocked on Wikipedia --Manorainjan 09:19, 3 June 2017 (PDT)
You're suggesting that we preemptively block 17,000+ IP addresses who haven't edited here? Koavf (talk) 09:20, 3 June 2017 (PDT)
Regardless of the number of IPs in question, my opinion is, to block open proxies preemptively is in the long run, safer and less work, than dealing with destructive elements one by one. On the other hand I regard it as necessary to be absolutely transparent about which IPs are blocked here. The list of blocked IPs should be available to everyone and also the sources of the list should be named. Ideally it should be an automated function. I see two possibilities:
  1. To get the IPs from a knowledgeable service en block.
  2. To automatically test any IP - that would like to edit here or open an account - regarding open proxies and block it right away if it is an open proxy. Not without an error message telling that any kind of editing by use of open proxies is not permitted.
Manual:Configuration settings#Proxies may com handy here. --Manorainjan 10:13, 3 June 2017 (PDT)
I don't have access to the server, so the only option I have is manually blocking 17,000 times. Maybe Brandon, Mark, or Ray can help you or give me access. Koavf (talk) 12:13, 3 June 2017 (PDT)
I did not mean to create a lot of manual work for You. Regardless of the possible implications I wanted to bring up the topic of open proxies to all the admins. I do not know, why You are the only one who responds. All the other admins should also be concerned with spam fighting and security issues. Maybe You check with Your "fellow" admins if at all they are regularly reading this board? And it is in no way whatsoever, that any of the admins should help me. I'm not responsible for spam fighting and security issues, IP blocking or anything here at all. It is me who helps You admins by raising consciousness to the issue of open proxies. --Manorainjan 14:14, 3 June 2017 (PDT)

Special:Contributions/70.71.90.6 also at https://tools.WMFLabs.org/meta/stalktoy/70.71.90.6 is just another example of what I'm talking about. --Manorainjan 06:35, 24 June 2017 (PDT)

Inactivity of administrators[edit]

Hello. What Manorainjan said above made me think that there are many inactive admins on this wiki and I just wanted to tell you who they are. This is just a suggestion, you decide if they have to be demoted or not. :-) The majority of them last edited in 2015 (which means two years of inactivity).

Thanks, --13Reasons (talk) 00:00, 4 June 2017 (PDT)

In the light of progressive thinking, one should not think of demotion but find out, why there is no activity. Every person will most likely have their own, their individual reasons for that. On the base of that information there could be the possibility of a reactivation. To demote admins does not increase admin-activity. And to leave the admin status on an inactive user does not incur any kind of cost. Manorainjan 03:09, 4 June 2017 (PDT)
[message removed]
Sure. And next we give Rock-O-Jello and Amanda backend access. Hahahah, what a crazy joke :-D
That was a bit to easy to find out from which crew You are ;-)
Open another account and try again! --Manorainjan 07:10, 4 June 2017 (PDT)
[message removed]
It is getting funnier by the hour ;-) While I hint You might be part of a crew, which is certainly no insult, unless You think that the other members of that crew are real lowlifes with whom You do not want to be associated in any way. On the other hand You call me mentally ill specifying this as Persecutory delusion. Obviously I've hit the mark here ;-) --Manorainjan 09:31, 4 June 2017 (PDT)
[message removed]

Disruptive behavior towards Miraheze by Amanda[edit]

Hello. I am requesting action taken (warning / interaction ban / block) about User:Amanda. They were banned by the Miraheze community for disrupting the project. They were given many chances, but failed by using sockpuppets. Since they are banned, they continuously spam our channels as well as other test wiki channels, and wikis. Now they have come here to disrupt the Miraheze page, as well as my own user page which I find unacceptable. Reception123 (talk) 21:54, 8 August 2017 (PDT)

Thank you for the heads-up. I have just blocked the troublemaker in question and will take any further remedial action needed to curb their little reign of vandal terror. Arcane (talk) 05:56, 9 August 2017 (PDT)

Search engine optimisation for WikiIndex on Google[edit]

Found a very handy, and very important issue regarding SEO for MediaWiki sites. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the page on MediaWiki.org is this: Manual:generateSitemap.php. Basically, it will generate a specific site map of WikiIndex.org for use by spiders and crawlers.

Do we have this included and enabled here on WikiIndex? And how often is it updated?

Thoughts and comments please! --Sean, aka Hoof Hearted • Admin / 'Crat • talk2HH 05:27, 6 December 2021 (UTC)

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