Wikipedia:WikiProject on open proxies/verification

So you want to help out with the WikiProject on open proxies and possibly become a verified user.

What is a verified user?

Verified users are editors who can be trusted to confirm whether an IP is an open proxy or not. Their advice may be relied on by admins and checkusers who need to decide whether to unblock an IP address requesting unblock, or whether to grant block exemption instead, or whether to block an IP address or range as an open proxy and how long for. Any blocking decision is ultimately up to the admin making it, but verified users can be very influential in the process. Verified users are not always right, but they recognise their limitations.

Experience

Verified users are likely to have some experience with nmap, telnet, DNS tools, and probably most importantly using a variety of open proxies and anonymity networks. They should be able to reliably assess how dynamic an IP address is, and the risks of collateral damage. They need to recognise the different types of open proxies - HTTP, CGI, exit servers, onion routers, etc. Experience of dealing with Wikipedia vandalism and block evaders is also useful.

Proxy confirmation

An IP which is an open proxy is relatively easy to confirm. You simply use it or edit with it and tell everyone how you did it so they can also confirm it. If you can't do that, you should be doubted, unless you can reasonably identify how you would use it if you could.

Confirming that an IP is not an open proxy is much more difficult. You need to take account of the different times it may be available, the different IP addresses and hostnames you might need to use to access it, and all the different ports and protocols available. This is where knowledge of DNS, ports, and IP assignments comes in useful. If an IP has been open or used recently, it may be necessary to leave the discussion open on the noticeboard for a period of time, and until a conclusion can be safely reached.

What an open proxy check is not

• An nmap scan shows open or closed proxy ports
• The IP is listed at project honeypot or in DNSBLs
• The IP was used by someone who uses open proxies, or by the same user in different countries

Verification process

Becoming a verified user basically consists of persuading members of the project, or an admin familiar with the project, that you have the necessary integrity and technical knowledge. Integrity is something you either have or don't have. However, if you've been an active user for some time and without too many problems, this should not be a problem for you. Technical knowledge can only be demonstrated by working on IP address reports, and being mostly correct with your assessments and findings. It is recommended that you start growing your experience and demonstrating your technical knowledge by listing some IP addresses onto this noticeboard for review. From there, you can start commenting on how each open proxy listed can be confirmed. Once you've made some useful comments for some time, and have grown a consistent history and demonstrable track-record, you should get in touch with the project, or one of its members on a talk page, for further advice with growing your experience further.