[Wikipedia-l] Info on SORBS, blocking of open proxies

[Tony Sidaway]

Walter van Kalken said:
> Elisabeth Bauer wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> Since yesterday the blocklist of SORBS is used on the wikimedia
>> servers to block open proxies.
>>
>> If someone is having troubles to edit now, here are the steps he can
>> do to solve the problem:
>> * he first has to determine the IP address wikipedia is blocking,
>> that's not too hard, it's on the blocking page
>> * then he has to get someone on another computer to check if it's an
>> open proxy. the procedure is described here:
>> http://www.sorbs.net/faq/proxy.shtml
>> * if it is, then he should complain to whoever controls the server to
>> fix the configuration
>> * if not, he should request a retest
>> (http://www.sorbs.net/faq/retest.shtml) to be taken out of the list.
>> the status of the proxy might have changed since it was last scanned.
>>
> So we have to go to another project to get unblocked on wikipedia. This
>  is unbelievable and sickening
>

Why do you find this sickening?  This is the internet.  The SORBS
identifies open http proxies, which are usually *not* open through any
choice of the owner, but because the owner has not made them secure. 
Using SORBS protects Wikipedia from the negligence of your ISP.