WikiIndex:Blocking and banning policy: Difference between revisions

An autoblock is an automatic block of an IP address. Autoblocks are the result of an attempt to edit from an IP address or account recently used by a blocked account.

Each time a user edits, the IP address from which the edit was made is logged with the account being used (this log is accessible only by a small number of trusted users, called [[Checkuser|checkuser]]s). If someone logs into a account that is blocked and attempts to edit, the IP from which they are trying to edit is being "autoblocked", (if the autoblock flag was not removed while blocking that account) to hamper their attempts to evade the block by back-falling to editing anonymously or by using a [[Sockpuppetry|sockpuppet account]]. If anybody then attempts to edit from the autoblocked IP while being logged into their unblocked account, that account is being autoblocked as well, and consequently - like above - any other IPs from which they attempt to edit logged in thereafter. Other logged in users who happen to use those blocked IPs will also get their accounts blocked automatically,unless they enjoy specific user rights that disallow their account being autoblocked, and so on. Therefore it is possible for some users, who have done nothing blockworthy, to be caught in this cascade of autoblocks. If You are an admin blocking an account, carefully consider if there is need to leave the autoblock flag standing.