Many thanks for the update Katie :) I appreciate that I'm sounding like a
broken record, and for that I do wholeheartedly apologise!
Given the recent announcement of the 2022 UK Wikimedian of the year, I'm
not sure pointing people at https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/UK_Wikimedian
_of_the_Year_2022 is the best idea until this is resolved.
Could I at least get SSH access to the web server and make the changes I
suggested at https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/Spam#LocalSettings.php — I'm
happy to sign whatever NDA/agreements necessary if my WMF staff ones don't
cut it?
These small changes should only take a few minutes and will give y'all some
breathing space to implement a more permanent solution.
Kind regards,
--
* Sammy Tarling
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:TheresNoTime-WMF> *(she/her)
Software Engineer
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>
On Tue, 30 Aug 2022 at 10:09, Katie Crampton <
katie.crampton(a)wikimedia.org.uk> wrote:
> Hi all
>
> Just to highlight, the server needs updating, so it's not a 10 minute fix.
> Our developer has been contacted and we're awaiting a response from her.
> Agree it's very annoying, thanks for highlighting some of the articles,
> I've deleted the ones you linked.
>
> Best wishes
> Katie
>
> On Mon, 29 Aug 2022 at 09:35, Lucy Crompton-Reid <
> lucy.crompton-reid(a)wikimedia.org.uk> wrote:
>
>> Many thanks for the offers of help to sort this out. Most
>> staff/contractors aren't working today as it's a bank holiday (and I am
>> currently in my painting dungarees!) but I'm going to highlight this to the
>> relevant people again tomorrow and will let them know of the practical
>> offers of help that have been made to sort this out. I agree it's very
>> frustrating. Best, Lucy
>>
>> On Sun, 28 Aug 2022 at 16:40, Dreamy Jazz <dreamyjazzwikipedia(a)gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I agree with the previous. Its not a good thing to have this much spam
>>> on a wiki. I am also happy to help clean up spam (enwiki admin, OS and CU
>>> who also does patches for CheckUser).
>>>
>>> On Sun, 28 Aug 2022, 14:53 Richard Jenkins, <richardjenkins28(a)gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I agree re: AbuseFilter, but I was starting with the low-hanging fruit.
>>>> Installing AbuseFilter and copying some of the basic Wikimedia anti-spam
>>>> filters would be a better permanent solution!
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, 28 Aug 2022 at 14:19, Lewis Cawte <lewiscawte(a)googlemail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I'll add to this one - I'm not even convinced the Captcha is set up
>>>>> correctly. QuestyCaptcha is showing as enabled, but, it is terrible
>>>>> (particularly as soon as a bot operator has solved the question(s)) and I
>>>>> don't see ConfirmEdit enabled. I'd also expect to see AbuseFilter, which
>>>>> isn't enabled either.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'd be hesitant of locking down account creation long term, but, it's
>>>>> certainly a good temporary move as the wiki is getting barraged by spambots
>>>>> currently.
>>>>>
>>>>> Still happy to help/advise on the wiki, drawing from both my personal
>>>>> experience of plenty of MW setups and running ShoutWiki.
>>>>>
>>>>> Lewis Cawte ([[User:Lcawte]])
>>>>> Wikimedia user, occasional developer / ShoutWiki tech lead
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sun, 28 Aug 2022 at 13:55, Richard Jenkins <
>>>>> richardjenkins28(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Apologies if I sound like a broken record, but I want to raise the
>>>>>> issue of spam on the Wikimedia UK wiki again as it seems nothing has
>>>>>> happened since Sammy/TheresNoTime reported the issue a few weeks ago.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There are currently over 75,000 pages on the wiki, and I'd wager that
>>>>>> about 95% of them are spam. Hundreds of pages of vacuous crap are created
>>>>>> every day.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> [Warning - links contain adult text content]
>>>>>> The spam ranges from the bizarre
>>>>>> <https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/Penis_goes_in._Penis_comes_out._Can%E2%80%99t….>
>>>>>> to the offensive <https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/Raise_your_dongers.>,
>>>>>> and includes links to services that may be illegal in the United Kingdom
>>>>>> and elsewhere (e.g. unregulated pharmacies
>>>>>> <https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/The_Secret_Guide_To_List_Of_Approved_Canadian…>,
>>>>>> cannabis products
>>>>>> <https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/How_To_THC_Edibles_The_Planet_Using_Just_Your…>,
>>>>>> and supplements making medical claims
>>>>>> <https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/Penis_Enlagment_And_Growth_Of_Hir_On_Penis_An…>).
>>>>>> I found these examples with a *thirty second* search, and I do not
>>>>>> doubt that there are worse ones out there.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I realise & respect that most of the people involved with the running
>>>>>> of the site are volunteers or only employed by WMUK on a part-time basis,
>>>>>> but given that the initial actions Sammy proposed (preventing anonymous
>>>>>> editing and locking down account creation) would take about ten minutes
>>>>>> maximum I am befuddled as to why they've not been implemented.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I know that Sammy offered their help, and I am also happy to assist
>>>>>> with the fixes and clean-up. (I'm an administrator on the English Wikipedia
>>>>>> and have administered MediaWiki installations myself, if it helps.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks for reading,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Richard / (User:Firefly on Wikimedia projects)
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> Wikimedia UK mailing list
>>>>>> wikimediauk-l(a)wikimedia.org
>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l
>>>>>> WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Wikimedia UK mailing list
>>>>> wikimediauk-l(a)wikimedia.org
>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l
>>>>> WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Wikimedia UK mailing list
>>>> wikimediauk-l(a)wikimedia.org
>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l
>>>> WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Wikimedia UK mailing list
>>> wikimediauk-l(a)wikimedia.org
>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l
>>> WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Lucy Crompton-Reid (she/her)
>> Chief Executive
>> _______________________________________________
>> Wikimedia UK mailing list
>> wikimediauk-l(a)wikimedia.org
>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l
>> WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk
>
>
>
> --
>
> Katie Crampton (she/her)
>
> Communications & Governance Coordinator
>
>
>
>
> <https://donate.wikimedia.org.uk/>
>
> *Wikimedia UK* <https://wikimedia.org.uk/> is the national chapter for
> the global Wikimedia open knowledge movement.
>
> Follow us on Twitter <https://twitter.com/wikimediauk>, Facebook
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>
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> No. SC048644. Company Limited by Guarantee, Registration No. 6741827.
>
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> WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk
Dear all
I'm delighted to invite you to an informal meeting with Maryana Iskander -
CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation - on *Friday 16th September from 2 -
3.30pm. *Other members of Foundation staff will be attending, along with
staff and trustees from Wikimedia UK.
The meetup is taking place on the lovely Roof Terrace of Coin Street
Conference Centre (weather permitting):
https://www.coinstreet.org/space-and-venue-hire/roof-terrace
There will be refreshments provided, and we have a backup room at the
centre in case of rain!
It would be great to get a sense of numbers for catering purposes, so
please let me know if you are planning to attend.
With best wishes
Lucy
--
Lucy Crompton-Reid (she/her)
Chief Executive
Hello all,
Apologies if I sound like a broken record, but I want to raise the issue of
spam on the Wikimedia UK wiki again as it seems nothing has happened since
Sammy/TheresNoTime reported the issue a few weeks ago.
There are currently over 75,000 pages on the wiki, and I'd wager that about
95% of them are spam. Hundreds of pages of vacuous crap are created every
day.
[Warning - links contain adult text content]
The spam ranges from the bizarre
<https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/Penis_goes_in._Penis_comes_out._Can%E2%80%99t….>
to the offensive <https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/Raise_your_dongers.>, and
includes links to services that may be illegal in the United Kingdom and
elsewhere (e.g. unregulated pharmacies
<https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/The_Secret_Guide_To_List_Of_Approved_Canadian…>,
cannabis products
<https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/How_To_THC_Edibles_The_Planet_Using_Just_Your…>,
and supplements making medical claims
<https://wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/Penis_Enlagment_And_Growth_Of_Hir_On_Penis_An…>).
I found these examples with a *thirty second* search, and I do not doubt
that there are worse ones out there.
I realise & respect that most of the people involved with the running of
the site are volunteers or only employed by WMUK on a part-time basis, but
given that the initial actions Sammy proposed (preventing anonymous editing
and locking down account creation) would take about ten minutes maximum I
am befuddled as to why they've not been implemented.
I know that Sammy offered their help, and I am also happy to assist with
the fixes and clean-up. (I'm an administrator on the English Wikipedia and
have administered MediaWiki installations myself, if it helps.)
Thanks for reading,
Richard / (User:Firefly on Wikimedia projects)
Hello UK Wikimedia community,
There are two sets of in-person Wikimedia events in Greater London over
this Wikimania weekend - today and tomorrow at Newspeak House, and Sunday
at Penderel's Oak.
I've collated the information into one page on the Wikimania wiki for
convenience and wiki-linking purposes:
https://wikimania.wikimedia.org/wiki/2022:In-person_events/London
Hope to see you sometime (if not already)
With much wiki-love,
Deryck
Hi folks
Our Wikimania sessions kick off tomorrow at 2pm, and on Saturday from
10:30am. There's a really great list of sessions on the Zoom events
<https://events.zoom.us/e/view/SnEL_wj-SECEZbx00N6yiw>, for which you can
sign up to attend *in person and online*.
There's two WikiData sessions for both beginners and experts, an editathon
for South Asian Heritage Month, short Lightning Talks from our community,
and much more :)
We'll be at Newspeak House in Bethnal Green: 133 - 135 Bethnal Green Road,
London, E2 7DG. Information on how to get to Newspeak House can be found on
the ‘Visit’ page here: https://newspeak.house
We will have refreshments, wifi, an outside terrace to keep cool and some
fizz for celebrations.
Hope to see you there.
Best
Katie
--
Katie Crampton (she/her)
Communications & Governance Coordinator
<https://events.zoom.us/e/view/SnEL_wj-SECEZbx00N6yiw>
Wikimedia UK <https://beta.wikimedia.org.uk/> is the national chapter for
the global Wikimedia open knowledge movement.
Wikimedia UK is a Registered Charity No.1144513.Company Limited by
Guarantee registered in England, Scotland and Wales, Registered No. 6741827.
Registered Office Ground Floor, Europoint, 5-11 Lavington Street, London
SE1 0NZ
<https://maps.google.com/?q=5+-+11+Lavington+Street,+London+SE1+0NZ&entry=gm…>
.
_______________________________________________
Wikimedia UK mailing list: wikimediauk-l(a)wikimedia.org
Hi all
It's Wikimania this weekend, and we'll be doing the UK community festival
in Newspeak House in Bethnal Green on Friday and Saturday (sign up here
<https://events.zoom.us/e/view/SnEL_wj-SECEZbx00N6yiw>)
Would anybody like to volunteer to take photographs? We have the camera
equipment so no need to bring your own.
Best
Katie
--
Katie Crampton (she/her)
Communications & Governance Coordinator
<https://events.zoom.us/e/view/SnEL_wj-SECEZbx00N6yiw>
Wikimedia UK <https://beta.wikimedia.org.uk/> is the national chapter for
the global Wikimedia open knowledge movement.
Wikimedia UK is a Registered Charity No.1144513.Company Limited by
Guarantee registered in England, Scotland and Wales, Registered No. 6741827.
Registered Office Ground Floor, Europoint, 5-11 Lavington Street, London
SE1 0NZ
<https://maps.google.com/?q=5+-+11+Lavington+Street,+London+SE1+0NZ&entry=gm…>
.
_______________________________________________
Wikimedia UK mailing list: wikimediauk-l(a)wikimedia.org