View source for No open proxies

<languages/>
{{process header
 | title    = <translate><!--T:1--> No open proxies</translate>
 | section  =
 | previous = {{pa|prev}}{{ll|Meta:Policies and guidelines|<translate><!--T:24--> Policies and guidelines</translate>}}
 | next     =
 | shortcut = [[NOP]]<br>[[WM:NOP]]
 | notes    = <translate><!--T:2-->
This page provides information about the blocking of open proxies on {{ns:Project}} and all other [[<tvar name="wp">m:Special:MyLanguage/Wikimedia projects</tvar>|Wikimedia projects]]. Projects may have local policies which go beyond this global policy. It was discussed in February 2004, and the policy page was created in March 2006.</translate>
}}
<!-- Update by copying everything below this line over the corresponding text -->
{{#ifeq:{{ns:Project}}|Meta||<div style="width: 100%; margin: 0 0 .5em 0; padding: 0.2em; border: 1px dotted #888;"><translate><!--T:41--> This policy is copied from [[<tvar name="1">m:Special:MyLanguage/No open proxies</tvar>|Meta:No open proxies]]. Edits should be made to that page, or they will be lost in the next update.</translate></div>}}
<translate>
== Policy == <!--T:3-->

<!--T:4-->
Publicly available proxies (including paid proxies) may be blocked for any period at any time. While this may affect legitimate users, they are not the intended targets and may freely use proxies until those are blocked. [[<tvar name="1">{{lwp|The Onion Router}}</tvar>|Tor]] editing, on the other hand, is automatically prevented. No restrictions are placed on ''reading'' {{ns:Project}} or another Wikimedia project through an open or anonymous proxy.

<!--T:5-->
Non-static [[<tvar name="1">{{lwp|IP address}}</tvar>|IP addresses]] or hosts that are otherwise not permanent proxies should typically be blocked for a shorter period of time, as it is likely the IP address will eventually be transferred or dynamically reassigned, or the open proxy closed. Once closed, the IP address should be unblocked.

== Exceptions == <!--T:6-->

<!--T:7-->
Editors can be permitted to edit by way of an open proxy with the [[<tvar name="IPBE">Special:MyLanguage/IP block exempt</tvar>|IP block exempt]] flag. This is granted on local projects by [[<tvar name="admin">Special:MyLanguage/administrator</tvar>|administrators]] and globally by [[<tvar name="stewards">Special:MyLanguage/stewards</tvar>|stewards]].

<!--T:8-->
However, many users are known to access through open proxy unknowingly due to the default setting of their browser. Before you apply for the IP block exemption (which may take time and is not guaranteed to be granted), you should check the internet connection preference of your browser and change it to no proxy access.

=== Global exceptions and appeals === <!--T:9-->

<!--T:10-->
If your IP address has been blocked on all wikis<ref name="globalblocking-ipblocked">Error message like this:<tvar name=error1>
----
{{int:wikimedia-globalblocking-ipblocked}}</tvar></ref> and you believe this was by mistake, or if you need to use Tor/proxies for valid reasons and can't,<ref name=torblock-blocked>Error message like this:<tvar name=error2>
----
{{int:wikimedia-torblock-blocked}}</tvar></ref> you can contact the stewards. They can remove the global block or grant your account an exemption.
</translate>

* <translate><!--T:28--> The '''recommended way''' is to use the {{<tvar name="utrs">plainlinks|https://utrs-beta.wmflabs.org/</tvar>|Unblock Ticket Request System}}.</translate>
* <translate><!--T:11--> Alternatively, you may privately email <tvar name="mail">stewards{{@}}wikimedia.org</tvar> ([[<tvar name="form1">Special:Contact/stewards</tvar>|direct contact form]]). You can use any language, we'll do our best. Include:</translate>
*# <translate><!--T:29--> the IP mentioned in the error message you got,<tvar name="refs"><ref name=globalblocking-ipblocked /><ref name=torblock-blocked /></tvar></translate>
*# <translate><!--T:30--> the username you use or would like to use and</translate>
*# <translate><!--T:31--> the reasons why you think the global block was in error or why you need to use Tor.</translate>
* <translate><!--T:12--> It's also possible to use the [[<tvar name="1">m:SRIPBE</tvar>|Meta-Wiki request page]], if you are able to edit it and don't mind sharing your IP (for global blocks) or your reasons to desire privacy (for Tor usage). Global blocks don't apply to Meta-Wiki.</translate>

<translate><!--T:13-->
If your IP ''is'' an open proxy, it will not be unblocked. It is more likely for an exception to be granted if you provide good reasons to think you won't abuse it; obvious cases are, for instance, users blocked by the Chinese Great Firewall and accounts with substantial past contributions.

<!--T:14-->
If a Tor exception is granted to you, and you don't have an account yet, the steward will also create one for you, and you'll receive a temporary password to your email address.

<!--T:27-->
Please do {{<tvar name="1">small-caps</tvar>|not}} place a local unblock request on your user talk page, they are reserved for local blocks. Local administrators are unable to remove global blocks, and will simply repeat the general instructions.

=== Local exceptions === <!--T:15-->

<!--T:16-->
If you are interested in editing only one or a few wikis, you may want to ask for a local exception. Projects with a policy permitting exemptions are listed as examples here:
</translate>
* [[m:Special:MyLanguage/Meta:IP block exemption|{{int|Project-localized-name-metawiki}}]]
* [[b:en:Wikibooks:Administrators#Blocking users|{{int|Project-localized-name-enwikibooks}}]] {{int|parentheses|2=<translate><!--T:43--> you may contact any local sysop or post in <tvar name="1">[[b:en:WB:AA]]</tvar></translate>}}
* [[w:en:Wikipedia:IP block exemption|{{int|Project-localized-name-enwiki}}]]
* [[w:fr:Wikipédia:Exemption de blocage d'IP|{{int|Project-localized-name-frwiki}}]]
* [[w:zh:Wikipedia:IP封禁例外|{{int|Project-localized-name-zhwiki}}]] {{int|parentheses|2=<translate><!--T:44--> please follow the instruction inside [[<tvar name="1">w:zh:Wikipedia:通过Unblock-zh申请IP封禁例外指南</tvar>|this page]] to request via email</translate>}}
* [[w:ja:Wikipedia:IPブロック適用除外|{{int|Project-localized-name-jawiki}}]]
<translate>
<!--T:26-->
For other projects, check with their policies or contact a local sysop there.

== Rationale == <!--T:17-->

<!--T:45-->
Proxy services change a contributor's internet connection, so that instead of connecting to Wikimedia projects directly, the connection is rerouted through services of the proxy provider.

<!--T:18-->
Although {{ns:Project}} encourages anyone in the world to contribute, such proxies are often exploited for abusive purposes. Because [[<tvar name="1">{{lwp|MediaWiki}}</tvar>|MediaWiki]] (the wiki software) depends on IP addresses for administrator intervention against abuse, open proxies allow users to completely circumvent administrators. The use of scripts or unapproved {{ll|bot|bots}} allow malicious users to rapidly rotate IP addresses, causing continuous disruption that cannot be stopped by helpless administrators. Several such attacks have occurred on Wikimedia projects, causing heavy disruption and occupying administrators who would otherwise deal with other concerns.

<!--T:19-->
This policy is known to cause difficulty for some editors, who must use open proxies to circumvent [[<tvar name="1">{{lwp|censorship}}</tvar>|censorship]] where they live; a well-known example is the government of the [[<tvar name="2">{{lwp|People's Republic of China}}</tvar>|People's Republic of China]], which sporadically attempts to [[<tvar name="3">{{lwp|Internet censorship in China}}</tvar>|prevent the people in China]] from reading or editing Wikipedia.

==Notes== <!--T:20-->
</translate>
<references />

<translate>
==See also== <!--T:21-->
</translate>

* [[Talk:No open proxies/Unfair blocking|<translate><!--T:22--> Unfair blocking due to open proxy</translate>]]
* [[Special:MyLanguage/Global blocks|<translate><!--T:40--> Global blocks</translate>]]
* [[Special:MyLanguage/WikiProject on open proxies/Help:blocked|<translate><!--T:39--> Help about being blocked</translate>]]
* <translate><!--T:42--> Diff posts December 2022</translate>
** https://diff.wikimedia.org/2022/12/02/whats-happening-with-proxy-blocks/
** https://diff.wikimedia.org/2022/12/09/proxy-blocks-automation-and-scope/
** https://diff.wikimedia.org/2022/12/16/proxy-blocks-equity-and-growth/
* <translate><!--T:38--> [[<tvar name="1">{{ns:Project}}:WikiProject on open proxies</tvar>|WikiProject on open proxies]] (obsolete)</translate>
* <translate><!--T:37--> [[<tvar name="1">Special:MyLanguage/Editing with Tor</tvar>|Editing with Tor]] (obsolete)</translate>
* [[{{lwp|Wikipedia:Advice to users using Tor}}|<translate><!--T:36--> Advice to users using Tor</translate>]]<!--
The link to Meta below allows simple copy&paste updates to other projects
-->{{#ifeq:{{ns:Project}}|Meta
||* <translate><!--T:35--> This policy is copied from [[<tvar name="1">:m:Special:MyLanguage/NOP</tvar>|No open proxies]] on the Meta-Wiki.</translate>}}
* <translate><!--T:23--> Original discussion:</translate>
** <translate><!--T:32--> [[<tvar name="1">mailarchive:wikien-l/2004-February/010605.html</tvar>|WikiEn-l: "Anonymous proxies (was Re: Desysop Morwen)"]], [[<tvar name="2">User:Tim Starling</tvar>|Tim Starling]] on 15 February 2004</translate>
** <translate><!--T:33--> [[<tvar name="3">mailarchive:wikien-l/2004-February/010659.html</tvar>|WikiEn-l: "Anonymous proxies (was Re: Desysop Morwen)"]], [[<tvar name="4">User:Jimbo Wales</tvar>|Jimmy Wales]] on 16 February 2004</translate>
** <translate><!--T:34--> [[<tvar name="5">mailarchive:wikien-l/2004-February/010660.html</tvar>|WikiEn-l: "Anonymous proxies (was Re: Desysop Morwen)"]], [[<tvar name="6">User:Jimbo Wales</tvar>|Jimmy Wales]] on 16 February 2004</translate>

[[Category:Global policies{{#translation:}}]]
[[Category:Edit blocks and bans{{#translation:}}]]