User:Nihlus/CVUA/Tasks

Beginning Tools
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Before we start, I wanted to show you some useful tools for counter-vandalism work which can be used by any editor. We'll be using the first two, but the the second two are not required, just recommended. You may have already installed some of these in the past.

Twinkle
Twinkle is a very popular gadget which is helpful for a variety of tasks. To install it, go here and tick the box that says Twinkle. Then scroll down to the bottom of the page and click "save". When you refresh the page, a "TW" tab will be available on every page, next to the "More" tab. Scrolling over the TW tab will show a list of modules you can use on the particular page. Twinkle has a large number of useful modules, including but not limited to, one which can be used to warn users, one which can be used to request page protection, one which can be used to suggest a page is deleted, and many many more helpful features. It also adds a non-admin "rollback" feature on all diff pages. I highly suggest you enable Twinkle, as it's incredibly useful and poses no risk of harming your account.
 * Enable Twinkle, if you haven't already, and sign here to let me know that you have enabled it →

Lupin's Anti-vandal tool
Lupin's Anti-vandal tool is extremely helpful for monitoring recent changes in real time. To install it, simply add the following to your common.js:. Refresh the page and you'll find 5 new links on your toolbar (on the left side of the page, underneath "interaction"). These links can be used to better monitor recent changes for possible vandalism. The ones we will be focusing on are Filter recent changes and Recent IP edits.
 * Add the code, if you haven't already, and sign here to let me know that you have added it →

IRC channels
IRC is an internet chat program. There are several channels on IRC that can be used to monitor vandalism. is probably the most useful. Visit IRC/Tutorial for information on how to connect to channels. Feel free to join me at as well.

Navigation Popups
Navigation popups allow you to hover over links and see a brief preview of the page being linked to. One feature of navigation popups is that when you're at recent changes and hover over "diff" links, you'll have the ability to revert the most recent edit, useful for undoing vandalism. To install navigation popups, go here and tick the box that says Navigation popups. Then scroll down to the bottom of the page and click "save". Refresh the page and navigation popups will be enabled.

'''Once you've finished please let me know by leaving a message beneath this line. You are also advised to ask any questions that you may have.'''

Good faith and vandalism
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When patrolling for vandalism, you may often come across edits which are unhelpful, but not vandalism - these are good faith edits. It is important to recognise the difference between a vandalism edit and a good faith edit, especially because Twinkle gives you the option of labelling edits you revert as such. Please read WP:AGF and WP:NOT VANDALISM before completing the following tasks.

What is the difference between a good faith edit and a vandalism edit, and how do you tell them apart?
 * A:

'''Please find three examples of good faith but unhelpful edits, and three examples of vandalism. You don't need to revert the example you find, and I am happy for you to use previous undos in your edit history if you wish.
 * Good faith:


 * Vandalism:

Warning and reporting

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When you use Twinkle to warn a user, you have a number of options to choose from: you can select the kind of warning (for different offences), and the level of warning (from 1 to 4/im, for increasing severity). Knowing which warning to issue and what level is very important.

Please answer the following questions:
 * Why do we warn users?
 * A:


 * When would a 4im warning be appropriate?
 * A:


 * Should you substitute a template when you place it on a user talk page, and how do you do it?
 * A:


 * What should you do if a user who has received a level 4 or 4im warning vandalises again?
 * A:


 * Should you warn a user who has begun vandalizing again after their recent block expired? Why or why not?
 * A:

Please give examples (using ) of three different warnings (not different levels of the same warning and excluding the test edit warning levels referred to below), that you might need to use while recent changes patrolling and explain what they are used for.

Practice
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Make sure you keep in mind that some edits that seem like vandalism can be test edits. This happens when a new user is experimenting and makes accidental unconstructive edits. Generally, these should be treated with good faith, especially if it is their first time, and warned gently. The following templates are used for test edits:, and.

I just wanted to make sure you know about Special:RecentChanges, if you use the diff link in a different window or tab you can check a number of revisions much more easily. If you enable Hovercards in the Hover section of your preferences, you can view the diff by just hovering over it. Alternately, you can press control-F or command-F and search for "tag:". some edits get tagged for possible vandalism or section blanking.

'Find and revert some vandalism''. Warn each user appropriately, using the correct kind of warning and level. Please include at least two test edits and at least two appropriate reports to AIV. For each revert and warning please fill in a line on the table below.'''

Dealing with difficult users

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Occasionally, some vandals will not appreciate your good work and try to harass or troll you. In these situations, you must remain calm and ignore them. If they engage in harassment or personal attacks, you should not engage with them and leave a note at WP:ANI. If they vandalise your user page or user talk page, simply remove the vandalism without interacting with them. However, some users will be persistent in their efforts to antagonize you, so it may be better to avoid continually reverting them until they are blocked.

Please answer the following questions:
 * Why do we deny recognition to trolls and vandals?
 * A:


 * How can you tell between a good faith user asking why you reverted their edit, and a troll trying to harass you?
 * A:

Shared IP tagging

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There are a number of IP user talk page templates which show helpful information to IP users and those wishing to warn or block them. There is a list of these templates:


 * Shared IP - For general shared IP addresses.
 * ISP - A modified version specifically for use with ISP organizations.
 * Shared IP edu - A modified version specifically for use with educational institutions.
 * Shared IP gov - A modified version specifically for use with government agencies.
 * Shared IP corp - A modified version specifically for use with businesses.
 * Shared IP address (public) - A modified version specifically for use with public terminals such as in libraries, etc.
 * Mobile IP - A modified version specifically for use with a mobile device's IP.
 * Dynamic IP - A modified version specifically for use with dynamic IPs.
 * Static IP - A modified version specifically for use with static IPs which may be used by more than one person.

Each of these templates take two parameters, one is the organisation to which the IP address is registered (which can be found out using the links at the bottom of the IP's contribution page. The other is for the host name (which is optional) and can also be found out from the links at the bottom of the IP's contribution page.

Also, given that different people use the IP address, older messages are sometimes refused so as to not confuse the current user of the IP. Generally any messages for the last one-two months are removed, collapsed, or archived. The templates available for this include:
 * OW for when the messages are deleted from the talk page.
 * Old IP warnings top and Old IP warnings bottom for collapsing the user warnings and leaving them on the talk page.
 * Warning archive notice for when the messages are archived, and that archiving follows the usually naming sequence (that is, /Archive 1).

NOTE: All of the templates in this section are not substituted (so don't use "subst:").

'''Nothing needs to be done here; just tell me when you have finished reading this. Also, this is a good time to ask any questions you may have.'''

Protection and speedy deletion
Protecting and deleting pages are two additional measures that can be used to prevent and deal with vandalism. Only an administrator can protect or delete pages; however, anyone can nominate a page for deletion or request protection. Since you have Twinkle installed, you can use the Twinkle menu to request page protection or speedy deletion (the RPP or CSD options).

Protection

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Please answer the following questions:
 * In what circumstances should a page be semi-protected?
 * A:


 * In what circumstances should a page be pending changes level 1 protected?
 * A:


 * In what circumstances should a page be fully protected?
 * A:


 * In what circumstances should a page be creation protected ("salted")?
 * A:


 * What is extended confirmed protection also called and when should it be used?
 * A:


 * In what circumstances should a talk page be semi-protected?
 * A:

'''Write the type of protection each padlock represents (common examples). Additionally, please provide an example of each and state why it was protected.'''


 * {| class="wikitable"

!                                         !! Protection level                 !! Example
 * Padlock.svg                ||  ||
 * Padlock-pink.svg           ||  ||
 * Padlock-silver.svg         ||  ||
 * Padlock-blue.svg           ||  ||
 * Padlock-olive.svg          ||  ||
 * Padlock-silver-light.svg   ||  ||
 * }
 * Padlock-blue.svg           ||  ||
 * Padlock-olive.svg          ||  ||
 * Padlock-silver-light.svg   ||  ||
 * }
 * Padlock-silver-light.svg   ||  ||
 * }

Correctly request the protection of one page (pending, semi or full); post the diff of your request (from WP:RPP) below.

Speedy deletion

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The criteria for speedy deletion specify the only cases in which administrators have broad consensus to bypass deletion discussion, at their discretion, and immediately delete Wikipedia pages or media.

Please answer the following questions:
 * In what circumstances should a page be speedy deleted?
 * A:


 * For what reasons should a page not be speedy deleted?
 * A:

'''Go to Twinkle/Preferences and make sure the option "Keep a log in userspace of all CSD nominations" is checked. Be sure to save your changes.'''

Correctly tag three pages for speedy deletion (with different reasons - they can be for any of the criteria) and post the diff and the criteria you requested it be deleted under below.

Usernames
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Wikipedia has a policy which details the types of usernames which users are permitted to have. There are four kinds of usernames that are specifically disallowed: Sometimes, individual usernames are brought to the community's attention at WP:RFC/NAME.
 * 1) Misleading usernames imply relevant, misleading things about the contributor. The types of names which can be misleading are too numerous to list, but definitely include usernames that imply you are in a position of authority over Wikipedia, usernames that impersonate other people, or usernames which can be confusing within the Wikipedia signature format, such as usernames which resemble IP addresses or timestamps.
 * 2) Promotional usernames are used to promote an existing company, organization, group (including non-profit organizations), website, or product on Wikipedia.
 * 3) Offensive usernames are those that offend other contributors, making harmonious editing difficult or impossible.
 * 4) Disruptive usernames include outright trolling or personal attacks, include profanities or otherwise show a clear intent to disrupt Wikipedia.

'Describe the potential problems (if any) with the following usernames of logged in'' users, including which of the above it violates and why.


 * {| class="wikitable"

! Name !! Problem
 * DJ-Marksman ||
 * CUMedicalCenter ||
 * Fuqurdik ||
 * WalmartBOT ||
 *  Nihlus  02:59, 10 November 2017 (UTC)  ||
 * 172.295.64.27 ||
 * Bieberisgay ||
 * ResistSysop ||
 * Ihatetrump ||
 * Johan@newyorktimes.com ||
 * }
 * 172.295.64.27 ||
 * Bieberisgay ||
 * ResistSysop ||
 * Ihatetrump ||
 * Johan@newyorktimes.com ||
 * }
 * Ihatetrump ||
 * Johan@newyorktimes.com ||
 * }
 * }

Rollback

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This user right introduces an easy rollback button. I won't have you apply for the tool just yet, but I did want you to establish an understanding of what it is used for.

Please answer the following questions:
 * What are the five instances that rollback is appropriate?
 * A:


 * Why is it recommend to not use rollback when you might need to explain what you are reverting?
 * A:


 * What is one example of misusing the rollback tool?
 * A: