Automatic or Manually Assisted: automatic
Programming Language(s): level 60 magic, dragon tears (jellybeans), and toadstools.
Function Summary: It basically harvests open proxies listed on public proxy lists, then checks to make sure the proxy is world-usable and then blocks them here pre-emptively.
Edit period(s) (e.g. Continuous, daily, one time run): continuous
Already has a bot flag (Y/N): N
Function Details: First and foremost, my apologies to those who will think that adminbots are evil/automation is evil/zOMG adminbots/whatever, but this bot truly is needed. I created it as an emergency response to an influx of quick-fire spammers from a specific website (e.g., [1] [2]) then, once it was clear that it had squashed them, I disabled my script, but actual (failed?) spambots started emerging in early january (e.g. [3], [4]). The common trend was that all of the edits were from open proxies listed in public proxy lists. I therefore revised my script into a more streamlined, multi-site version to crawl more sites and do better checks to make certain that a proxy is open and to block the exit ip instead of the entrance IP in instances where the two differ.
As a result, the measurable incidence of new vandalism/spam from these spambots has significantly decreased (e.g., now about 1 address gets through a week as opposed to 12 or more a day). Presumably, the amount of sockpuppetry and vandalism from proxies has decreased as well, but there's no real way to test it; however, from some of the unblock requests on the proxies ( [5] [6] for admins) that claim that I rape+cannibalize babies as well as some threatening to kill me (not to mention the increase in attack accounts created that mention me and other proxy blockers), it would seem that the blocks are doing a decent job at preventing vandalism with almost non-existent collateral damage— only one now-closed proxy unblock request the entire time, which I quickly unblocked.
The bot has been and continues to run on my main account. Again, this is because I felt it was urgent and simply didn't have the time to come here first. To give you perspective: at one time there were 14 single edits made from 14 different proxies in a 2 minute period, and I felt that the situation clearly demanded an automated solution to prevent recurrence.
I don't intend to release either the source code or any intimate details of the bot's operation. I apologize in advance, but I hope you understand that I don't want to give vandals/spammers/socks an easy-to-use, automated method for harvesting and using proxies, OCR-reading images, and all sorts of other things.
Cheers. -- slakr\ talk / 02:27, 19 January 2009 (UTC) reply
This bot is defiantly needed -- Chris 02:38, 19 January 2009 (UTC) reply
Care to say what language the bot is really written it? I doubt "level 60 magic, dragon tears (jellybeans), and toadstools" is a language. :P
Also, is the source code available?
Foxy Loxy
Pounce! 02:55, 19 January 2009 (UTC)
reply
Assuming anyone can comment here...
Endorse the idea. Would accept closed code on the basis that if it acts up, it's blocked like any other admin account making questionable edits. Some questions that I'd consider, though i understand you won't be giving too much detail:
Some questions. FT2 ( Talk | email) 04:47, 20 January 2009 (UTC) reply
I'm looking to approve this bot tomorrow as it seems the concerns have been addressed.
MBisanz
talk 03:00, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
reply
Automatic or Manually Assisted: automatic
Programming Language(s): level 60 magic, dragon tears (jellybeans), and toadstools.
Function Summary: It basically harvests open proxies listed on public proxy lists, then checks to make sure the proxy is world-usable and then blocks them here pre-emptively.
Edit period(s) (e.g. Continuous, daily, one time run): continuous
Already has a bot flag (Y/N): N
Function Details: First and foremost, my apologies to those who will think that adminbots are evil/automation is evil/zOMG adminbots/whatever, but this bot truly is needed. I created it as an emergency response to an influx of quick-fire spammers from a specific website (e.g., [1] [2]) then, once it was clear that it had squashed them, I disabled my script, but actual (failed?) spambots started emerging in early january (e.g. [3], [4]). The common trend was that all of the edits were from open proxies listed in public proxy lists. I therefore revised my script into a more streamlined, multi-site version to crawl more sites and do better checks to make certain that a proxy is open and to block the exit ip instead of the entrance IP in instances where the two differ.
As a result, the measurable incidence of new vandalism/spam from these spambots has significantly decreased (e.g., now about 1 address gets through a week as opposed to 12 or more a day). Presumably, the amount of sockpuppetry and vandalism from proxies has decreased as well, but there's no real way to test it; however, from some of the unblock requests on the proxies ( [5] [6] for admins) that claim that I rape+cannibalize babies as well as some threatening to kill me (not to mention the increase in attack accounts created that mention me and other proxy blockers), it would seem that the blocks are doing a decent job at preventing vandalism with almost non-existent collateral damage— only one now-closed proxy unblock request the entire time, which I quickly unblocked.
The bot has been and continues to run on my main account. Again, this is because I felt it was urgent and simply didn't have the time to come here first. To give you perspective: at one time there were 14 single edits made from 14 different proxies in a 2 minute period, and I felt that the situation clearly demanded an automated solution to prevent recurrence.
I don't intend to release either the source code or any intimate details of the bot's operation. I apologize in advance, but I hope you understand that I don't want to give vandals/spammers/socks an easy-to-use, automated method for harvesting and using proxies, OCR-reading images, and all sorts of other things.
Cheers. -- slakr\ talk / 02:27, 19 January 2009 (UTC) reply
This bot is defiantly needed -- Chris 02:38, 19 January 2009 (UTC) reply
Care to say what language the bot is really written it? I doubt "level 60 magic, dragon tears (jellybeans), and toadstools" is a language. :P
Also, is the source code available?
Foxy Loxy
Pounce! 02:55, 19 January 2009 (UTC)
reply
Assuming anyone can comment here...
Endorse the idea. Would accept closed code on the basis that if it acts up, it's blocked like any other admin account making questionable edits. Some questions that I'd consider, though i understand you won't be giving too much detail:
Some questions. FT2 ( Talk | email) 04:47, 20 January 2009 (UTC) reply
I'm looking to approve this bot tomorrow as it seems the concerns have been addressed.
MBisanz
talk 03:00, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
reply