WikiFur attacked by vandals

[altivo]

An overnight attack on WikiFur was averted by heroic efforts. See greenreaper's account here.

Apparently programmed bots connecting via an anonymous proxy network were used to erase and overwrite articles. Some (including two of my own) were simply blanked out. Others were clearly edited by a human hand to insert insulting commentary about furries being "teh gay" and "fat and ugly." Gives you great faith in the intelligence and respectability of the human race, eh?

Fortunately, the Wiki structure makes it possible to simply revert this sort of damage to the previous version, which is what has been done. The user accounts involved and addresses on the proxy network have been blocked, but I'm afraid this won't prevent similar attacks in the future. Ultimately, I suspect that all Wiki type sites will have to limit editing to known users who have been through some sort of identity screening process. There will be no other workable choice.

Comments

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Do not worry too much my great friend and Rider. Relax and just lie back. No Wiccan can take you from our friendship. Heh.

Yes, I know you... you.

Be good and real as you always are (One of my Rocks of Gibralter) and it will all just go away.

Imperator with his wings strong and wide and ready always to sweep you off your hooves.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

You swept me off my hooves long ago, love. I'm not sure they've touched the ground since. ;)

[drelonek.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's pretty sad that people can't just not be total fuckups sometimes. :/

[animist.livejournal.com]

Well, I have always been skeptical of all such utopian schemes lasting the in long run. Wiki is a great idea - to bad about the people suck! Any robust, stable system (computer or otherwise) has to have a way to deal with assholes.

[animist.livejournal.com]

That should be "to bad about the people who suck"

To bad I can't type!

[chibiabos.livejournal.com]

Actually, it is not the only option. On Tuesday, I will be attending Sibe's sentencing hearing for probation violation from violently coercing his former roommate. Charges of computer hacking are also being brought to bear by the FBI, for his hacking ... I believe it was ... FurryMUCK. Computer hacking is a federal felony, and even a non-profit organization like wikifur can protect itself by gathering evidence and going after these guys.

Wikifur has a lot of people working hard on it, and its administrators, staff, contributors and users deserve to have some level of protection. The people who attacked it need to face justice for what they did, else they will just keep doing it.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Getting sufficient evidence for a conviction in such cases is very difficult and costly, though. Sibe literally confessed, I believe, to his attacks on Tapestries.

[chibiabos.livejournal.com]

Someone gathered a lot of evidence against Sibe who doesn't have a dime to his name. It takes time, dedication and know-how, yeah, but not necessarily a lot of money. You gather evidence to back up a criminal charge against someone, its the state's job to prosecute.

[duskwuff.livejournal.com]

*shrug*

The English Wikipedia has seen similar vandalbot attacks before, though, and dealt with them easily. It's really only smaller Wikis that really have much to fear from such attacks.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Oh sure, Wiki is designed to shrug off such attacks. But it still bothers me greatly that anyone would bother to make them. What is wrong with us humans, and our society?

[hgryphon.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised there aren't more attacks overall. Not just on Wiki, either.

[pioneer11.livejournal.com]

I'm not "teh gay" though fat and ugly might work.

This is the usual bullshit though, humor aside.

>.<