Possible hack on the wiki?

[Smile44]

Just a query about a possible issue. Neovalen's SR wiki page was edited recently by someone who appeared to have no clue as to how the STEP forum and wiki worked but had managed to make a couple of minor edits which seemed relatively clueless in themselves.

 

I know the wiki is ultimately designed to be able to be accessed by all but I assumed they had to be members of the community and this fellow (assumption) appeared not to be.

 

Since the move to a new server is it possible that security on the wiki has been compromised in any way? Or that it has been hacked?

 

I don't know what the situation is or what happened exactly but i'd rather raise the question and appear foolish than leave it and there is a potential problem.

 

:)

[stoppingby4now]

The user that made the edits does have a forum account created on 3/6/13. The edits that the user made were also reverted by Neovalen, but after reviewing them I don't see anything malicious. Just someone that obviously isn't familiar with Wiki etiquette.

[Farlo]

Unfortunately that's the nature of a Wiki, anyone with an account can edit any page unless it's in the "STEP" namespace (as all the official STEP stuff is).

[Smile44]

That is as I hoped - anyway better to be safe than sorry. I didn't think that they were obviously malicious but was worried that there might be a trend towards random ill-informed wiki editing - perhaps a number of posts should be achieved e.g. that needed to become a citizen to then be able to edit. By that time new members may have a chance to become familiar with the site and how the community works.

 

Probably impossible to sort though. Anyway mind put at ease. Thanks.

[TechAngel85]

I thought that other users couldn't edit content under another user's Userspace? For example: "/User:Techangel85/Sandbox", would only be editable by me and those with admin privileges. If that's not the case, is there a way to make it so?

[z929669]

I thought that other users couldn't edit content under another user's Userspace? For example: "/User:Techangel85/Sandbox"' date=' would only be editable by me and those with admin privileges. If that's not the case, is there a way to make it so?[/quote']

Not simply, no. This is just the nature of a wiki, and it is not an issue, because there are usually a lot more watchdogs than blunderers (or ******s), so bad edits are naturally minimized and always revertible.

[stoppingby4now]

That is as I hoped - anyway better to be safe than sorry. I didn't think that they were obviously malicious but was worried that there might be a trend towards random ill-informed wiki editing - perhaps a number of posts should be achieved e.g. that needed to become a citizen to then be able to edit. By that time new members may have a chance to become familiar with the site and how the community works.

 

Probably impossible to sort though. Anyway mind put at ease. Thanks.

That is a good idea, and something we could implement.

[stoppingby4now]

I thought that other users couldn't edit content under another user's Userspace? For example: "/User:Techangel85/Sandbox"' date=' would only be editable by me and those with admin privileges. If that's not the case, is there a way to make it so?[/quote']

As has been mentioned already, Wiki's are open by nature. Most (MediaWiki being one of them) do not have granular ACL's, and weren't designed for that purpose. Other users being able to write in another Users main page also enables a crude form of messaging in the Wiki by design.