KidzSearch Wiki

KidzSearch Encyclopedia:Vandalism

Vandalism is making changes to Wikipedia content so that it becomes incorrect or does not make sense. This also includes removing content for no reason. Vandalism is a very bad problem. People who vandalize may be blocked so they are no longer able to make changes. Test edits are usually not vandalism. There are two Wikipedias in English; the Simple English Wikipedia and English Wikipedia (here). Sometimes, vandals from the English Wikipedia will come here to vandalize. This is called cross-wiki vandalism.

What vandals might do
Add nonsense.
Add information that they know is wrong.
Remove information from pages without writing a reason.
Make personal attacks to other editors on Wikipedia.
Move pages to other names, usually names that make no sense or are offensive.
Make the same page over and over, after it has been deleted.

How to fight vandalism

  1. Go to the New changes.
  2. Look at some of the changes by pressing the diff link to see the changes. Look out for anonymous users - most vandals contribute with just their IP address rather than a user name.
    1. If it is a new page and meets the quick deletion policy place {{QD|reason}} on it and replace reason with why it should be deleted.
    2. If it is not, revert the page.
  3. Warn the vandal by putting a warning template on their talk page; some are listed below.
  4. They may have vandalized other pages before, so check their changes by clicking the "changes" link next to their username on the 'history' tab. If it is an anonymous user, you can click on their IP address.
  5. If they continue to vandalize pages, report them to Administrators at Vandalism in progress. If there are no Administrators online to block the users, try to contact them through their other talk pages if they have one, or through the email links on Wikipedia:Administrators.

For repeated vandalism by an anonymous IP addresses, it is helpful to do the below:

  1. Trace the IP address and add {{SharedIP|Name of owner}} to the user talk page of the address.

Warnings and notices

Multi-level templates

  • Level 1 – Assumes good faith. Generally includes "Welcome to Wikipedia" or something similar.
  • Level 2 – Does not assume whether or not the editor is acting in good faith.
  • Level 3 – Assumes bad faith; warns editor to stop what he or she is doing.
  • Level 4 – Assumes bad faith; a strong, final warning to the editor to stop what he or she is doing.
  • Level 4im – Assumes bad faith; a strong, first and only warning to the editor to stop what he or she is doing.

Contents

Hover over the template syntax to see a summary of the contents.

Don't forget to substitute these templates

Description Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 4im
Various types of nonconstructive edits
Negative unsourced changes to biographies of living people {{subst:uw-biog1}} {{subst:uw-biog2}} {{subst:uw-biog3}} {{subst:uw-biog4}} {{subst:uw-biog4im}}
Making bad pages {{subst:uw-create1}} {{subst:uw-create2}} {{subst:uw-create3}} {{subst:uw-create4}} {{subst:uw-create4im}}
Breach of copyright {{subst:uw-copyright1}} {{subst:uw-copyright2}}
Not applying the Manual of Style {{subst:uw-mos1}} {{subst:uw-mos2}} {{subst:uw-mos3}} {{subst:uw-mos4}} {{subst:uw-mos4im}}
No neutral point of view {{subst:uw-npov1}} {{subst:uw-npov2}} {{subst:uw-npov3}} {{subst:uw-npov4}} {{subst:uw-npov4im}}
Editing tests {{subst:uw-test1}} {{subst:uw-test2}} {{subst:uw-test3}} {{subst:uw-test4}} {{subst:uw-test4im}}
Vandalism {{subst:uw-vandalism1}} {{subst:uw-vandalism2}} {{subst:uw-vandalism3}} {{subst:uw-vandalism4}} {{subst:uw-vandalism4im}}
Removing content from pages {{subst:uw-delete1}} {{subst:uw-delete2}} {{subst:uw-delete3}}
Deliberately adding wrong information {{subst:uw-error1}} {{subst:uw-error2}}
Unacceptable page moves {{subst:uw-move1}} {{subst:uw-move2}} {{subst:uw-move3}} {{subst:uw-move4}} {{subst:uw-move4im}}
Adding spam, such as promotions of objects or ideologies
Adding spam links {{subst:uw-spam}}
Using Wikipedia for advertising or promotion {{subst:uw-advert1}} {{subst:uw-advert2}}
Behavior towards editors and articles
Not assuming good faith {{subst:uw-agf1}} {{subst:uw-agf2}} {{subst:uw-agf3}}
Personal attack directed at a specific editor {{subst:uw-npa1}} {{subst:uw-npa2}} {{subst:uw-npa3}} {{subst:uw-npa4}} {{subst:uw-npa4im}}
Changing others' talk page comments {{subst:uw-tpv1}} {{subst:uw-tpv2}} {{subst:uw-tpv3}} {{subst:uw-vandalism4}}
Description Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 4im

Single-level notices

Hover over the template syntax to see a summary of the contents.
Notices Warnings
Description Template Description Template
Adding incorrect categories {{subst:uw-badcat}} Creating or changing articles to attack people {{subst:uw-attack}}
"Biting" newcomers {{subst:uw-bite}} Project disruption {{subst:uw-disruption}}
Direct copying of article from English Wikipedia {{subst:uw-encopypaste}} Removing quick deletion templates from articles {{subst:uw-qd}}
Information on cross-wiki attribution {{subst:uw-encopyright}} Long term abuse {{subst:uw-longterm}}
Making inappropriate jokes {{subst:uw-joke}} Userpage or subpage is against policy {{subst:uw-userpage}}
Changing between national types of English without a good reason {{subst:uw-lang}} Edit warring {{subst:uw-3rr}}
Tips on creating new articles {{subst:uw-newarticle}} Conflict of interest {{subst:uw-coi}}
Use "Other websites", not "External links" {{subst:uw-otherweb}}
Removing the sandbox header {{subst:uw-sandbox}}
Reverting self tests {{subst:uw-selfrevert}}
Not making changes in simple English {{subst:uw-simple}}
Not making changes in English {{subst:uw-notenglish}}
Check spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. {{subst:uw-spellcheck}}
Remember to subst: templates {{subst:uw-subst}}
Not signing posts {{subst:uw-tilde}}
Image uploads not allowed in Simple English Wikipedia {{subst:uw-upload}}
Not warning vandals {{subst:uw-warn}}

Blocks

Hover over the template syntax to see a summary of the contents.
Don't forget to substitute these templates. Block templates are for admin use only.
Description Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 (Indefinite)
Blocks {{subst:uw-block1}} {{subst:uw-block2}} {{subst:uw-block3}}
Username block {{subst:UsernameBlocked}}
Username hard block {{subst:UsernameHardBlocked}}

Other

Hover over the template syntax to see a summary of the contents.
Page headers New user Deletion notifications

{{ISP|ISP Name}}

{{SharedIP|Organization}}

{{SchoolIP|Organization}}

{{anonblock|Optional comments}}

{{schoolblock|Optional comments}}

{{unblock|Reason}}

{{pp-semi-usertalk}}

{{pp-usertalk}}

{{subst:welcome}}

{{subst:welcomeg}}

{{subst:welcomeip|Your username}}

{{subst:welcomespam}}

{{subst:firstarticle}}

Quick deletion nominations

Note: Not all of these warning templates are for vandalism.

Tracing IP addresses

The owners of IP addresses can be found using:

If an address is not in one, it will might be in a different one.

Anti vandalism Tools

Twinkle

Twinkle is a script that allows autoconfirmed users to revert and warn vandals.

Vandal Warner

Vandal Warner is a gadget you can use to warn the vandals more easily. In order to use it, you should click on the my settings link and go to the "Gadgets" tab. Then you should select Vandal Warner and save the settings. Of course, you can use gadgets only when you are logged in.

Navigation popups

Navigation popups has revert script in it that lets you revert to a specific version, to add this:

  1. Go to My Settings
  2. Go to Gadgets
  3. Check Navigation popups (API)
  4. Click save

After that you'll need to flush your old monobook.js from your cache. Pressing Ctrl+F5 on some browsers might work, or Ctrl-R on some others. Then it will work, if not ask for help. There are also other anti vandalism gadgets there besides these.

Related pages

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