AbuseFilter (MediaWiki)

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  1. AbuseFilter (MediaWiki)

Introduction

The AbuseFilter extension for MediaWiki is a powerful tool used by administrators and experienced users to combat vandalism, spam, and other disruptive behavior on wikis. It allows for the creation of rules that automatically flag or revert edits based on defined criteria. This article provides a comprehensive introduction to AbuseFilter, covering its functionality, configuration, rule creation, and maintenance. It is intended for beginners who want to understand how AbuseFilter works and how to contribute to its effective use. Understanding extensions is crucial for wiki maintenance and security, and AbuseFilter represents one of the most significant extensions available.

What is AbuseFilter?

AbuseFilter is a highly configurable system that analyzes every edit made to a wiki. It doesn’t rely on pre-defined lists of bad users or words alone; instead, it uses a flexible rule system to detect patterns of abusive behavior. These patterns can include:

  • **Spam:** Attempts to advertise external websites or products.
  • **Vandalism:** Deliberate alteration of wiki content with malicious intent.
  • **Personal Attacks:** Harassment or abusive language directed at other users.
  • **Doxting:** Publishing private or identifying information about individuals.
  • **Sockpuppetry:** Using multiple accounts to deceive or manipulate discussions.
  • **Autobiographical Edits:** Inappropriate self-promotion.
  • **Test Edits:** Meaningless edits made for experimentation.

When an edit triggers an AbuseFilter rule, several actions can be taken, ranging from simply logging the event to automatically reverting the edit and blocking the user. The goal is to proactively prevent damage to the wiki’s content and maintain a positive environment for contributors. Wiki security relies heavily on tools like AbuseFilter.

Core Concepts

Before diving into rule creation, it’s important to understand the core concepts behind AbuseFilter:

  • **Filters:** The fundamental units of AbuseFilter. Each filter contains a set of conditions and actions.
  • **Conditions:** The criteria that must be met for a filter to trigger. These can be based on text patterns, user characteristics, edit history, and more.
  • **Actions:** The actions that are taken when a filter triggers. These can include logging, tagging, reverting, blocking, and email notifications.
  • **Variables:** Placeholders that represent different aspects of an edit, such as the text being added, the user’s name, or the page title. Understanding variables is vital for creating accurate filters.
  • **Throttle:** A mechanism to limit the rate at which actions are taken, preventing false positives from causing excessive disruption. Rate limiting is an important consideration.
  • **Flags:** Marks placed on edits that trigger filters, allowing administrators to review them.
  • **Pre-save and Post-save:** AbuseFilter operates in two phases. Pre-save filters run before the edit is saved, allowing for immediate action. Post-save filters run after the edit is saved, primarily for logging and reporting.

Accessing and Navigating the AbuseFilter Interface

Access to the AbuseFilter interface is typically restricted to administrators and users with the `abusefilter-log` permission. The interface is usually found under a “Tools” or “Admin” menu on the wiki.

The main AbuseFilter page provides access to the following sections:

  • **Filter List:** A list of all configured filters, along with their status and description.
  • **New Filter:** A form for creating new filters.
  • **Edit Filter:** A form for modifying existing filters.
  • **Logs:** A record of all edits that have triggered AbuseFilter rules. This is where you review flagged edits.
  • **Configuration:** Settings that control the overall behavior of AbuseFilter.

Familiarize yourself with the layout and navigation of the interface before attempting to create or modify filters. Proper interface navigation is key to efficient administration.

Creating a Basic Filter: Detecting Spam Links

Let's create a simple filter to detect edits that contain links to known spam websites. This example will demonstrate the basic steps involved in rule creation.

1. **Navigate to the “New Filter” page.** 2. **Give the filter a descriptive name:** "Spam Link Detector". 3. **Add a brief description:** "Detects edits containing links to known spam websites." 4. **Set the "Public" checkbox to "No".** This prevents regular users from seeing the filter details. 5. **In the "Conditions" section, add the following condition:** 

   *   **Variable:** `$text` (This represents the text being added in the edit.)
   *   **Operator:** `matches`
   *   **Regular Expression:** `https?://(www\.)?spamwebsite\.com` (Replace `spamwebsite\.com` with the actual spam website address).  Learning regular expressions is essential for advanced filtering.

6. **In the "Actions" section, add the following actions:** 

   *   **Action:** `Tag`
   *   **Tag:** `spam`
   *   **Action:** `Log`
   *   **Log Type:** `Edit`

7. **Save the filter.**

This filter will now flag any edit that contains a link to `spamwebsite.com`. Administrators can review these flagged edits in the logs and take appropriate action.

Advanced Filtering Techniques

The basic example above is just the starting point. AbuseFilter offers a wide range of advanced filtering techniques:

  • **Using Multiple Conditions:** Combine multiple conditions using logical operators (AND, OR, NOT) to create more complex rules. For example, you could create a rule that triggers only if the edit contains a spam link *and* is made by a new user. Boolean logic is crucial for complex conditions.
  • **Variable Combinations:** Utilize different variables to target specific aspects of the edit. Some useful variables include:
   *   `$user`: The username of the editor.
   *   `$title`: The title of the page being edited.
   *   `$namespace`: The namespace of the page being edited.
   *   `$comment`: The edit summary.
   *   `$diff`: The actual changes made in the edit.
  • **Regular Expression Mastery:** Invest time in learning regular expressions. They are incredibly powerful for matching complex patterns in text. Resources for learning regular expressions include:
   *   [1](https://regex101.com/)
   *   [2](https://www.regular-expressions.info/)
   *   [3](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Guide/Regular_Expressions)
  • **Using Functions:** AbuseFilter provides a number of built-in functions that can be used in conditions. These functions can perform tasks such as string manipulation, numerical calculations, and user history checks.
  • **Throttle Configuration:** Configure the throttle settings to prevent false positives from overwhelming administrators. Consider setting different throttle limits for different types of filters. False positive rates should be minimized.
  • **Blacklists and Whitelists:** Utilize blacklists to block known abusive patterns and whitelists to exclude legitimate content from being flagged.

Understanding Regular Expressions in AbuseFilter

Regular expressions (regex) are sequences of characters that define a search pattern. They are the backbone of many AbuseFilter rules. Here are some common regex elements used in AbuseFilter:

  • `.`: Matches any single character.
  • `*`: Matches the preceding character zero or more times.
  • `+`: Matches the preceding character one or more times.
  • `?`: Matches the preceding character zero or one time.
  • `[]`: Defines a character class. For example, `[abc]` matches 'a', 'b', or 'c'.
  • `()`: Groups characters together.
  • `|`: Represents an "or" condition.
  • `^`: Matches the beginning of a string.
  • `$`: Matches the end of a string.
  • `\`: Escapes special characters. For example, `\.` matches a literal period.
    • Example:**

The regex `(https?://)?(www\.)?example\.com` will match:

Common AbuseFilter Strategies and Indicators

Maintaining and Improving AbuseFilter Rules

AbuseFilter is not a “set it and forget it” system. Regular maintenance and improvement are crucial for its effectiveness.

  • **Review Logs Regularly:** Examine the AbuseFilter logs to identify false positives and missed abusive edits.
  • **Adjust Rules Based on Feedback:** Modify existing rules or create new ones based on the insights gained from log reviews.
  • **Stay Up-to-Date:** Keep abreast of new spam techniques and vandalism trends.
  • **Collaborate with Other Administrators:** Share knowledge and best practices with other administrators.
  • **Test New Rules Thoroughly:** Before deploying new rules to the live wiki, test them in a staging environment to minimize the risk of disruption. Testing procedures are critical.
  • **Document Your Rules:** Clearly document the purpose and functionality of each rule to make it easier for others to understand and maintain.

Conclusion

AbuseFilter is a complex but invaluable tool for protecting wikis from abuse. By understanding the core concepts, mastering advanced filtering techniques, and committing to regular maintenance, you can significantly improve the security and quality of your wiki. Wiki maintenance is an ongoing process, and AbuseFilter is a key component of that process.

MediaWiki Extension Wiki security Variables Rate limiting Regular expressions Boolean logic Interface navigation False positive rates Testing procedures

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