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Identification as an author subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Identification_as_an_author-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-HTTP_Cookies" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#HTTP_Cookies"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1</span> <span>HTTP Cookies</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-HTTP_Cookies-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Logging_in" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Logging_in"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.2</span> <span>Logging in</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Logging_in-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Pseudonyms" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Pseudonyms"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3</span> <span>Pseudonyms</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Pseudonyms-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Proxy_IPs" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Proxy_IPs"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3.1</span> <span>Proxy IPs</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Proxy_IPs-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Editing_from_work" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Editing_from_work"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3.2</span> <span>Editing from work</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Editing_from_work-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Personal_information" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Personal_information"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.4</span> <span>Personal information</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Personal_information-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Interacting_with_others" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Interacting_with_others"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.5</span> <span>Interacting with others</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Interacting_with_others-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Passwords" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Passwords"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.6</span> <span>Passwords</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Passwords-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Email_address" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Email_address"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.7</span> <span>Email address</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Email_address-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-User_committed_identities" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#User_committed_identities"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.8</span> <span>User committed identities</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-User_committed_identities-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Security_of_information" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Security_of_information"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Security of information</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Security_of_information-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Legal_risks" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Legal_risks"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Legal risks</span> </div> </a> <button 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.mbox-invalid-type{text-align:center}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ombox{margin:4px 10%}.mw-parser-output .ombox.mbox-small{clear:right;float:right;margin:4px 0 4px 1em;width:238px}}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output table.ombox img{max-width:none!important}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .ombox-speedy{background-color:#310402}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .ombox-speedy{background-color:#310402}}</style><table class="plainlinks ombox ombox-notice" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1d/Information_icon4.svg/40px-Information_icon4.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1d/Information_icon4.svg/60px-Information_icon4.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1d/Information_icon4.svg/80px-Information_icon4.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="620" data-file-height="620"/></span></span></td><td class="mbox-text"><div style="padding-top: 6px; padding-bottom: 5px;"><b>This is an <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Project_namespace#How-to_and_information_pages" title="Wikipedia:Project namespace">information page</a>.</b><br/><div style="font-size: 90%;">It is not an <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:What_is_an_article%3F" title="Wikipedia:What is an article?">encyclopedic article</a>, nor one of <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Policies_and_guidelines" title="Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines">Wikipedia's policies or guidelines</a>; rather, its purpose is to explain certain aspects of Wikipedia's norms, customs, technicalities, or practices. It may reflect differing levels of <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Consensus" title="Wikipedia:Consensus">consensus</a> and <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Consensus#Achieving_consensus" title="Wikipedia:Consensus">vetting</a>.</div></div></td><td class="mbox-imageright"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1252059228">.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutboxplain{float:right;margin:0 0 0 1em;border:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);background-color:var(--background-color-base,#fff);padding:0.3em 0.6em 0.2em 0.6em;text-align:center;font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutboxleft{float:left;margin:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutlist{display:inline-block;border-bottom:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);margin-bottom:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutboxplain ul{font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .module-shortcutanchordiv{position:relative;top:-3em}.mw-parser-output li .module-shortcutanchordiv{float:right}.mw-parser-output .mbox-imageright .module-shortcutboxplain{padding:0.4em 1em 0.4em 1em;line-height:1.3;margin:0}</style><div class="module-shortcutanchordiv"><span id="WP:PERSESP"></span></div><div class="module-shortcutboxplain noprint" role="note"><div class="module-shortcutlist"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Shortcut" title="Wikipedia:Shortcut">Shortcut</a></div><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style><div class="plainlist"><ul><li><span class="plainlinks"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:PERSESP&redirect=no">WP:PERSESP</a></span></li></ul></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238436933"><table class="plainlinks ombox ombox-notice nutshell" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Walnut.png/30px-Walnut.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Walnut.png/45px-Walnut.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Walnut.png/60px-Walnut.png 2x" data-file-width="192" data-file-height="192"/></span></span></td><td class="mbox-text"><b>This page in a nutshell:</b> Use caution when posting <a href="/wiki/Personally_identifiable_information" class="mw-redirect" title="Personally identifiable information">personally identifiable information</a> online. If you become <a href="/wiki/Cyberstalking" title="Cyberstalking">stalked</a> or <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Harassment" title="Wikipedia:Harassment">harassed</a> through such information, or simply want any identifiable information removed, email a trusted <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrator" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:Administrator">Administrator</a> or <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_oversight" title="Wikipedia:Requests for oversight">Wikipedia:Requests for oversight</a> for discreet and confidential handling of such incidents.</td></tr></tbody></table> <p>This page is intended as a guideline for user security concerns and practices on Wikipedia. It adapts some information from the <a href="/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation" title="Wikimedia Foundation">Wikimedia Foundation</a>'s <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Privacy_policy">privacy policy</a> to address some <a href="/wiki/Personal_security" class="mw-redirect" title="Personal security">personal security</a> concerns that may arise in the course of editing Wikipedia. </p><p>Many of these concerns have to do with the availability of <a href="/wiki/Personally_identifiable_information" class="mw-redirect" title="Personally identifiable information">personal information</a> in a <a href="/wiki/Public_space" title="Public space">public space</a>. If you only read Wikipedia without contributing, no more personal information is collected than is typically collected in server logs by web sites in general. </p><p>If you contribute to Wikipedia, however, you are <b>publishing</b> every word you post publicly. If you write something, assume that it will be retained forever. This includes articles, user pages and talk pages. </p><p>If you become <a href="/wiki/Cyberstalking" title="Cyberstalking">stalked</a> or <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Harassment" title="Wikipedia:Harassment">harassed</a> on Wikipedia via any information posted about you on-site, whether by you or anyone else, it is recommended that you report this discreetly via off-site means, such as email, to a trusted <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:ADMIN" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:ADMIN">administrator</a> or at <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_oversight" title="Wikipedia:Requests for oversight">Wikipedia:Requests for oversight</a>, which maintains a confidential email service that can be used to request removal of such instances without drawing further attention to them on-site. Edits removed with oversight can only be seen by editors with oversight access, stewards, and certain WMF staff members. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc"/> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="Identification_as_an_author" data-mw-thread-id="h-Identification_as_an_author"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Identification_as_an_author"></span>Identification as an author<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Identification_as_an_author"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Identification as an author"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>When you edit any page in the wiki, <b>you are publishing a document</b>. This is a public act, and you are identified publicly with that edit as its author. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="HTTP_Cookies" data-mw-thread-id="h-HTTP_Cookies-Identification_as_an_author"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-HTTP_Cookies-Identification_as_an_author"></span>HTTP Cookies<span data-mw-comment-end="h-HTTP_Cookies-Identification_as_an_author"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: HTTP Cookies"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The wiki will set a temporary session <a href="/wiki/HTTP_cookie" title="HTTP cookie">cookie</a> whenever you visit the site. If you do not intend to ever log in, you may deny this cookie, but you cannot log in without it. It will be deleted when you close your browser session. </p><p>More cookies may be set when you log in, to avoid typing in your user name (or optionally password) on your next visit. These last for up to one year. You may clear these cookies after use if you are using a public machine and don't wish to expose your username to future users of the machine. (If so, clear the browser cache as well.) </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Logging_in" data-mw-thread-id="h-Logging_in-Identification_as_an_author"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Logging_in-Identification_as_an_author"></span>Logging in<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Logging_in-Identification_as_an_author"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Logging in"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>When you publish a page, or any text, onto the wiki, you may be either <a href="/wiki/Help:Logging_in" title="Help:Logging in">logged in</a> using a <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:ACCOUNT" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:ACCOUNT">Wikipedia account</a>, or simply logged out and not using an account. </p><p>If you are logged in with your Wikipedia account, you will be identified by your account's <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:U" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:U">username</a>. Most editors choose a username that is a <a href="/wiki/Pseudonym" title="Pseudonym">pseudonym</a>, or a fictitious name or nickname. Although you are welcome to use your <a href="/wiki/Personal_name" title="Personal name">real name</a> as your username of you wish to do so, this is <i>highly not recommended</i> as it puts you at significant risk for having your non-public personally identifiable information discovered and published in an effort to harass or intimidate you. </p><p>If you are not logged in with a Wikipedia account and instead choose to edit without one, you will be identified by your network <a href="/wiki/IP_address" title="IP address">IP address</a>. This is a series of four to eight numbers which identifies the internet address from which you are contacting the wiki. Depending on your connection, this number may be traceable to your home, place of business, or school, or only to your <a href="/wiki/Internet_service_provider" title="Internet service provider">Internet service provider</a>. </p> <blockquote> <p><b>It is possible that the origin of your IP address could be used in conjunction with the pattern of edits in your contribution history to identify you, even by private individuals unknown to Wikipedia. Every edit made with an IP address is logged and publicly accessible.</b> </p> </blockquote> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Pseudonyms" data-mw-thread-id="h-Pseudonyms-Identification_as_an_author"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Pseudonyms-Identification_as_an_author"></span>Pseudonyms<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Pseudonyms-Identification_as_an_author"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Pseudonyms"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>It may be either difficult or easy for a motivated individual to connect your network IP address with your real-life identity. Therefore, if you are concerned about <a href="/wiki/Privacy" title="Privacy">privacy</a>, it is <i>highly recommended</i> that you use an account with a username that is under a <a href="/wiki/Pseudonym" title="Pseudonym">pseudonym</a>. If you are using your <a href="/wiki/Personal_name" title="Personal name">real name</a> as your user name and wish to change this, the best way to do so is to stop using that account, create a new account with a pseudonymous username, and use that account for all future edits moving forward. While you can <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:CHU" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:CHU">request the username of your current account be changed</a>, it will not stop other users from searching through your edit history and discovering your former username in old edits where you <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:SIG" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:SIG">signed a comment, message, or response</a> with that former username. </p><p>Most Wikipedians edit under pseudonyms because they wish to remain <a href="/wiki/Anonymity" title="Anonymity">anonymous</a>. Still, some users registered under pseudonyms make no other attempt to disguise their real identities (for example, by placing their real names, photographs of themselves, or other identifiable information on their user page). True anonymity is only achieved if there is absolutely no ability for anyone to link the user's actual identity from any information that is posted under the pseudonym.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, true anonymity on Wikipedia is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve due to the fact that Wikipedia's server logs still enable system administrators to determine the IP address, and perhaps even the true name, of any registered user (see <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Privacy_Policy" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:Privacy Policy">Wikipedia:Privacy Policy</a> for a list of the conditions under which such a linkage would be attempted); this is not done unless there is a compelling reason (for example, significant <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Vandalism" title="Wikipedia:Vandalism">vandalism</a> or a law enforcement <a href="/wiki/Subpoena" title="Subpoena">subpoena</a>). </p> <blockquote> <p><b>Because a user's interest areas, writing style, and argumentative positions may establish an identifiable pattern, true pseudonymity may not be realistically achievable.</b><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> </blockquote> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Proxy_IPs" data-mw-thread-id="h-Proxy_IPs-Pseudonyms"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Proxy_IPs-Pseudonyms"></span>Proxy IPs<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Proxy_IPs-Pseudonyms"></span></h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Proxy IPs"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>It is possible to mask a user's actual IP address by using an <a href="/wiki/Open_proxy" title="Open proxy">open or anonymizing proxy</a>, a server that disguises the user's <a href="/wiki/IP_address" title="IP address">IP address</a> with the IP address of that server. However, doing this can be inconvenient as they are often blocked due to frequent misuse by vandals (see also <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Open_proxies" title="Wikipedia:Open proxies">Wikipedia:Open proxies</a>). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Editing_from_work" data-mw-thread-id="h-Editing_from_work-Pseudonyms"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Editing_from_work-Pseudonyms"></span>Editing from work<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Editing_from_work-Pseudonyms"></span></h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Editing from work"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>If you use a company mail server from home or telecommute and use a DSL or cable Internet connection, it is likely to be very easy for your employer to identify your IP address and find all of your IP-based Wikimedia project contributions. Using a user name is a better way of preserving your privacy in this situation. However, remember to log out or disconnect yourself after each session using a pseudonym on a shared computer, to avoid allowing others to use your identity. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Personal_information" data-mw-thread-id="h-Personal_information-Identification_as_an_author"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Personal_information-Identification_as_an_author"></span>Personal information<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Personal_information-Identification_as_an_author"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Personal information"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Wikipedia does not require you to provide <a href="/wiki/Personally_identifiable_information" class="mw-redirect" title="Personally identifiable information">personal information</a> on userpages or elsewhere in the course of editing the encyclopedia. While there is no <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Policy" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:Policy">policy</a> forbidding this, remember that information revealed amongst friends and fellow editors on Wikipedia is kept in a permanent record that is accessible by anyone in the world with a networked computer. However, <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Oversight" title="Wikipedia:Oversight">oversighters</a> are granted the ability to remove such content from the database. </p> <blockquote> <p><b>It is recommended that you use utmost caution and discretion when revealing information that could be used to personally identify you.</b> </p> </blockquote> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Interacting_with_others" data-mw-thread-id="h-Interacting_with_others-Identification_as_an_author"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Interacting_with_others-Identification_as_an_author"></span>Interacting with others<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Interacting_with_others-Identification_as_an_author"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Interacting with others"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>While editors are expected to observe Wikipedia's behavioral policies, particularly <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:AGF" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:AGF">Assume good faith</a>, with regards to editorial conflicts, no user is expected to put editorial policies above their own personal welfare and security. When confronted with <a href="/wiki/Cyberstalking" title="Cyberstalking">cyberstalking</a> or other <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Harassment" title="Wikipedia:Harassment">harassment</a>, the best course of action would be to report any concrete instances of this confidentially and discreetly via email to a trusted <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrator" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:Administrator">Administrator</a>. It is not advisable to report this activity elsewhere on Wikipedia, such as at <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:AN/I" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:AN/I">WP:AN/I</a>, as this may draw more public attention to whatever potentially compromising information may have been used in the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:NPA" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:NPA">personal attack</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Passwords" data-mw-thread-id="h-Passwords-Identification_as_an_author"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Passwords-Identification_as_an_author"></span>Passwords<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Passwords-Identification_as_an_author"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Passwords"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Many aspects of the Wikimedia projects' community interactions depend on the reputation and respect that is built up through a history of valued contributions. User passwords are the only guarantee of the integrity of a user's edit history. All users are encouraged to select strong, unique passwords and to never share them. No-one should knowingly expose the password of another user to public, either directly or indirectly. </p><p>Here are some tips that editors should consider to reduce the likelihood that their accounts may be compromised: </p> <ol><li>Never give your Wikipedia password to anyone, not even Wikimedia staff.</li> <li>Only enter your password on a Wikimedia site. Be aware that other sites might use <a href="/wiki/MediaWiki" title="MediaWiki">MediaWiki</a>, the software that Wikipedia uses. Users should check that their browser is on a Wikimedia-owned domain.</li> <li>Your password should be hard to guess. "Password" is not a secure password, but "CorrectHorseBatteryStaple34." is (<i>however, <b>do not</b> use this as a password, since it has been divulged as an example</i>). See also <a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_leave_your_fly_open#How_to_choose_a_strong_password" class="extiw" title="meta:Don't leave your fly open">Keys to a Strong Password</a>.</li> <li>Avoid using public computers to edit while logged in, but if you do decide to log into one, always remember to log out when you are done, and when you return to your private computer, it may be worth changing your password. You may also decide to create a <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:SOCK#LEGIT" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:SOCK">legitimate alternate account</a> solely for the purpose of editing on public computers, so that if it is compromised, you will still have access to your primary account.</li></ol> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Email_address" data-mw-thread-id="h-Email_address-Identification_as_an_author"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Email_address-Identification_as_an_author"></span>Email address<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Email_address-Identification_as_an_author"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Email address"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Users might consider using a unique email address for their Wikipedia account. In the event of a breach of login credentials such as an account email and password, having a unique email address that is otherwise unconnected to you will make it harder for you to be identified. Securing your email account, using some of the password suggestions above, is especially important for keeping your Wikipedia account more secure. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="User_committed_identities" data-mw-thread-id="h-User_committed_identities-Identification_as_an_author"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-User_committed_identities-Identification_as_an_author"></span>User committed identities<span data-mw-comment-end="h-User_committed_identities-Identification_as_an_author"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: User committed identities"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2007-05-14/Committed_identity" title="Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2007-05-14/Committed identity">Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2007-05-14/Committed identity</a></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Template:User_committed_identity" class="mw-redirect" title="Template:User committed identity">Template:User committed identity</a> gives editors a way to later prove that they are the person who was in control of their account on the day the template was placed. This is done by putting a public commitment to a secret string on the user page so that, in the unlikely event that their account is compromised, they can convince someone else that they are the real person behind the username, even if the password has been changed by the hijacker. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="Security_of_information" data-mw-thread-id="h-Security_of_information"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Security_of_information"></span>Security of information<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Security_of_information"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Security of information"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Wikimedia Foundation makes no guarantee against unauthorized access to any information you provide. This information may be available to anyone with access to the servers. A partial list of those people can be found in the developers list. </p><p>The Foundation might also be forced to hand over identifying information by governments. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="Legal_risks" data-mw-thread-id="h-Legal_risks"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Legal_risks"></span>Legal risks<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Legal_risks"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Legal risks"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/List_of_people_imprisoned_for_editing_Wikipedia" title="List of people imprisoned for editing Wikipedia">List of people imprisoned for editing Wikipedia</a> and <a href="/wiki/Litigation_involving_the_Wikimedia_Foundation" title="Litigation involving the Wikimedia Foundation">Litigation involving the Wikimedia Foundation</a></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Defamation" data-mw-thread-id="h-Defamation-Legal_risks"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Defamation-Legal_risks"></span>Defamation<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Defamation-Legal_risks"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Defamation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Libel" title="Wikipedia:Libel">Wikipedia:Libel</a> and <a href="/wiki/Strategic_lawsuit_against_public_participation" title="Strategic lawsuit against public participation">Strategic lawsuit against public participation</a></div> <p>Editing Wikipedia is not without risk. Please consider your own risk profile before making edits, especially about <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Biographies_of_living_persons" title="Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons">living people</a>, <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:BLPGROUP" class="mw-redirect" title="Wikipedia:BLPGROUP">organizations</a> and <a href="/wiki/Contentious_topics_on_Wikipedia" class="mw-redirect" title="Contentious topics on Wikipedia">contentious topics</a> like politics. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Insurance" data-mw-thread-id="h-Insurance-Defamation"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Insurance-Defamation"></span>Insurance<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Insurance-Defamation"></span></h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Insurance"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Journalists usually carry <a href="/wiki/Defamation_insurance" class="mw-redirect" title="Defamation insurance">defamation insurance</a>, though it seems unlikely that a Wikipedia editor could attain insurance against defamation. </p><p>Only administrative actions appear to qualify for <a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Legal_Fees_Assistance_Program" class="extiw" title="foundation:Legal Fees Assistance Program">potential assistance with legal fees by the Wikimedia Foundation</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="User_data" data-mw-thread-id="h-User_data"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-User_data"></span>User data<span data-mw-comment-end="h-User_data"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: User data"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Data on users, such as the times at which they edited and the number of edits they have made are publicly available via "user contributions" lists, and in aggregated forms published by other users. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Removal_of_user_accounts" data-mw-thread-id="h-Removal_of_user_accounts-User_data"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Removal_of_user_accounts-User_data"></span>Removal of user accounts<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Removal_of_user_accounts-User_data"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Removal of user accounts"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Once created, user accounts cannot be removed. However, it is possible for a username to be changed (see <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Changing_username" title="Wikipedia:Changing username">Wikipedia:Changing username</a> and <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Changing_username/Usurpations" title="Wikipedia:Changing username/Usurpations">Wikipedia:Changing username/Usurpations</a>). The Wikimedia Foundation does not guarantee that a name will be changed on request. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="Deletion_of_content" data-mw-thread-id="h-Deletion_of_content"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Deletion_of_content"></span>Deletion of content<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Deletion_of_content"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Deletion of content"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Removing text from Wikimedia projects does not permanently delete it. In normal articles, anyone can look at a previous version and see what was there. If an article is "deleted", any user with "administrator" access on the wiki, meaning almost anyone trusted not to abuse the deletion capability, can see what was deleted. Information can be permanently deleted by those people with access to the servers, but there is no guarantee this will happen every time it is requested. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Oversight" data-mw-thread-id="h-Oversight-Deletion_of_content"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Oversight-Deletion_of_content"></span>Oversight<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Oversight-Deletion_of_content"></span></h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Oversight"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>If personally identifiable or libelous information has been published about you anywhere on Wikipedia, you can request its removal through <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_oversight" title="Wikipedia:Requests for oversight">Wikipedia:Requests for oversight</a>. This information will only be viewable by people with direct access to the Wikipedia databases, arbitrators, ombudsmen and oversighters. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="See_also" data-mw-thread-id="h-See_also"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-See_also"></span>See also<span data-mw-comment-end="h-See_also"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Policies </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Username_policy" title="Wikipedia:Username policy">Wikipedia:Username policy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_pages" title="Wikipedia:User pages">Wikipedia:User pages</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Conflict_of_interest" title="Wikipedia:Conflict of interest">Wikipedia:Conflict of interest</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Harassment" title="Wikipedia:Harassment">Wikipedia:Harassment</a></li></ul> <p>Articles </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Anonymity" title="Anonymity">Anonymity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pseudonymity" class="mw-redirect" title="Pseudonymity">Pseudonymity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Social_engineering_(security)" title="Social engineering (security)">Social engineering (security)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cyberstalking" title="Cyberstalking">Cyberstalking</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Internet_privacy" title="Internet privacy">Internet privacy</a></li></ul> <p>Essays and how-to guides </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_is_in_the_real_world" title="Wikipedia:Wikipedia is in the real world">Wikipedia:Wikipedia is in the real world</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:On_privacy,_confidentiality_and_discretion" title="Wikipedia:On privacy, confidentiality and discretion">Wikipedia:On privacy, confidentiality and discretion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_not_get_outed_on_Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia:How to not get outed on Wikipedia">Wikipedia:How to not get outed on Wikipedia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_account_security" title="Wikipedia:User account security">Wikipedia:User account security</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2 ext-discussiontools-init-section"><h2 id="Notes" data-mw-thread-id="h-Notes"><span data-mw-comment-start="" id="h-Notes"></span>Notes<span data-mw-comment-end="h-Notes"></span></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Personal_security_practices&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Post, David G. (1996). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.cli.org/DPost/paper8.htm">Pooling Intellectual Capital: Thoughts on Anonymity, Pseudoanonymity, and Limited Liability in Cyberspace</a>. <i>University of Chicago Legal Forum.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Rao, J.R., and P. Rohatgi (2000). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.freehaven.net/anonbib/cache/rao-pseudonymity.pdf">"Can Pseudonyms Really Guarantee Privacy?"</a> Proceedings of the 9th USENIX Security Symposium (Denver, Colorado, Aug. 14–17, 2000).</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul 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.navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-title{background-color:#ddf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-abovebelow{background-color:#e6e6ff}.mw-parser-output .navbox-even{background-color:#f7f7f7}.mw-parser-output .navbox-odd{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ul,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ul{padding:0.125em 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbar{display:block;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title .navbar{float:left;text-align:left;margin-right:0.5em}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .navbox-image img{max-width:none!important}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .navbox{display:none!important}}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Wikipedia_accounts_and_governance" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Wikipedia_accounts" title="Template:Wikipedia accounts"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Wikipedia_accounts" title="Template talk:Wikipedia accounts"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Wikipedia_accounts" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Wikipedia accounts"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Wikipedia_accounts_and_governance" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Wikipedia <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_access_levels" title="Wikipedia:User access levels">accounts</a> and <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administration#Human_and_legal_administration" title="Wikipedia:Administration">governance</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_access_levels#Unregistered_users" title="Wikipedia:User access levels">Unregistered (IP) users</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Why_create_an_account%3F" title="Wikipedia:Why create an account?">Why create an account?</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Special:CreateAccount" title="Special:CreateAccount">Create an account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Request_an_account" title="Wikipedia:Request an account">Request an account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:IP_editors_are_human_too" title="Wikipedia:IP editors are human too">IPs are human too</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:IP_addresses_are_not_people" title="Wikipedia:IP addresses are not people">IP addresses are not people</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:IP_hopper" title="Wikipedia:IP hopper">IP hopper</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Registered users</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:New_account" title="Wikipedia:New account">New account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Help:Logging_in" title="Help:Logging in">Logging in</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Help:Reset_password" title="Help:Reset password">Reset passwords</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Username_policy" title="Wikipedia:Username policy">Username policy</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Changing_username" title="Wikipedia:Changing username">Changing username</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Usernames_for_administrator_attention" title="Wikipedia:Usernames for administrator attention">Usernames for administrator attention</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Unified_login" title="Wikipedia:Unified login">Unified login or SUL</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Sockpuppetry#Legit" title="Wikipedia:Sockpuppetry">Alternate account</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Account security</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Password_strength_requirements" title="Wikipedia:Password strength requirements">Password strength requirements</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_account_security" title="Wikipedia:User account security">User account security</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Personal security practices</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Help:Two-factor_authentication" title="Help:Two-factor authentication">Two-factor authentication</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Using_AWB_with_2FA" title="Wikipedia:Using AWB with 2FA">2FA for AWB</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Template:Committed_identity" title="Template:Committed identity">Committed identity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:On_privacy,_confidentiality_and_discretion" title="Wikipedia:On privacy, confidentiality and discretion">On privacy, confidentiality and discretion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Compromised_accounts" title="Wikipedia:Compromised accounts">Compromised accounts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_not_get_outed_on_Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia:How to not get outed on Wikipedia">How to not get outed</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Blocks, bans, sanctions,<br/>global actions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Blocking_policy" title="Wikipedia:Blocking policy">Blocking policy</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:FAQ/Blocks" title="Wikipedia:FAQ/Blocks">FAQ</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators%27_guide/Blocking" title="Wikipedia:Administrators' guide/Blocking">Admin's guide</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators%27_guide/Blocking/Tools" title="Wikipedia:Administrators' guide/Blocking/Tools">Tools</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Autoblock" title="Wikipedia:Autoblock">Autoblock</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Appealing_a_block" title="Wikipedia:Appealing a block">Appealing a block</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Guide_to_appealing_blocks" title="Wikipedia:Guide to appealing blocks">Guide to appealing blocks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Unblock_Ticket_Request_System" title="Wikipedia:Unblock Ticket Request System">UTRS Unblock Ticket Request System</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Blocking_IP_addresses" title="Wikipedia:Blocking IP addresses">Blocking IP addresses</a> <ul><li><a href="https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Range_blocks" class="extiw" title="mw:Help:Range blocks">Range blocks</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Range_blocks/IPv6" class="extiw" title="mw:Help:Range blocks/IPv6">IPv6</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Open_proxies" title="Wikipedia:Open proxies">Open proxies</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Banning_policy" title="Wikipedia:Banning policy">Banning policy</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration_Committee/Ban_appeals" title="Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/Ban appeals">ArbCom appeals</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Sanctions" title="Wikipedia:Sanctions">Sanctions</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Editing_restrictions" title="Wikipedia:Editing restrictions">Personal sanctions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:General_sanctions" title="Wikipedia:General sanctions">General sanctions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Contentious_topics" title="Wikipedia:Contentious topics">Contentious topics</a> and <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration_enforcement_log" title="Wikipedia:Arbitration enforcement log">Log</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Sanctions_(essay)" title="Wikipedia:Sanctions (essay)">Essay</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Indefinite_is_not_infinite" title="Wikipedia:Indefinite is not infinite">Indef ≠ infinite</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Long-term_abuse" title="Wikipedia:Long-term abuse">Long-term abuse</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Standard_offer" title="Wikipedia:Standard offer">Standard offer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Global_actions" title="Wikipedia:Global actions">Global actions</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related to accounts</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Sockpuppetry" title="Wikipedia:Sockpuppetry">Sockpuppetry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Single-purpose_account" title="Wikipedia:Single-purpose account">Single-purpose account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Sleeper_account" title="Wikipedia:Sleeper account">Sleeper account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Vandalism-only_account" title="Wikipedia:Vandalism-only account">Vandalism-only account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikibreak" title="Wikipedia:Wikibreak">Wikibreak</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_User_scripts/Scripts/WikiBreak_Enforcer" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject User scripts/Scripts/WikiBreak Enforcer">Enforcer</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Retiring" title="Wikipedia:Retiring">Retiring</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Courtesy_vanishing" title="Wikipedia:Courtesy vanishing">Courtesy vanishing</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Clean_start" title="Wikipedia:Clean start">Clean start</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/User:Worm_That_Turned/Quiet_return" title="User:Worm That Turned/Quiet return">Quiet return</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_access_levels" title="Wikipedia:User access levels">User groups</a><br/> and <a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User_groups#Global_user_groups" class="extiw" title="m:User groups">global user groups</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions">Requests for permissions</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Administrator_instructions" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Administrator instructions">Admin instructions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators%27_guide/Granting_and_revoking_user_rights" title="Wikipedia:Administrators' guide/Granting and revoking user rights">Admin guide</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Account_creator" title="Wikipedia:Account creator">Account creator</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Account_creator" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Account creator">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_access_levels#Confirmed_users" title="Wikipedia:User access levels">(Auto) confirmed</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Confirmed" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Confirmed">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Autopatrolled" title="Wikipedia:Autopatrolled">Autopatrolled</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Autopatrolled" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Autopatrolled">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:AutoWikiBrowser" title="Wikipedia:AutoWikiBrowser">AutoWikiBrowser</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/AutoWikiBrowser" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/AutoWikiBrowser">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Bot_policy" title="Wikipedia:Bot policy">Bot</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Bots/Requests_for_approval" title="Wikipedia:Bots/Requests for approval">Request</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Edit_filter_helper" title="Wikipedia:Edit filter helper">Edit filter helper</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Edit_filter_noticeboard" title="Wikipedia:Edit filter noticeboard">Request</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Event_coordinator" title="Wikipedia:Event coordinator">Event coordinator</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Event_coordinator" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Event coordinator">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_access_levels#Extendedconfirmed" title="Wikipedia:User access levels">Extended confirmed</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Extended_confirmed" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Extended confirmed">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_mover" title="Wikipedia:File mover">File mover</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/File_mover" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/File mover">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:IP_block_exemption" title="Wikipedia:IP block exemption">IP block exempt</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Unblock_Ticket_Request_System" title="Wikipedia:Unblock Ticket Request System">Request</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Mass_message_senders" title="Wikipedia:Mass message senders">Mass message sender</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Mass_message_sender" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Mass message sender">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:New_pages_patrol/Reviewers" title="Wikipedia:New pages patrol/Reviewers">New page reviewer</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/New_page_reviewer" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/New page reviewer">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Page_mover" title="Wikipedia:Page mover">Page mover</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Page_mover" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Page mover">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Reviewing_pending_changes" title="Wikipedia:Reviewing pending changes">Pending changes reviewer</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Pending_changes_reviewer" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Pending changes reviewer">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Rollback" title="Wikipedia:Rollback">Rollback</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Rollback" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Rollback">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Template_editor" title="Wikipedia:Template editor">Template editor</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_permissions/Template_editor" title="Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Template editor">PERM</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Global_rights_policy" title="Wikipedia:Global rights policy">Global rights policy</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Volunteer_Response_Team" title="Wikipedia:Volunteer Response Team">Volunteer Response Team</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Advanced user groups</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators" title="Wikipedia:Administrators">Administrator</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_adminship" title="Wikipedia:Requests for adminship">RfA</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Bureaucrats" title="Wikipedia:Bureaucrats">Bureaucrat</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_adminship#Current_nominations_for_bureaucratship" title="Wikipedia:Requests for adminship">RfB</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:CheckUser" title="Wikipedia:CheckUser">CheckUser</a> and <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Oversight" title="Wikipedia:Oversight">Oversight</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration_Committee/CheckUser_and_Oversight#Appointments" title="Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/CheckUser and Oversight">Request</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Edit_filter" title="Wikipedia:Edit filter">Edit filter manager</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Edit_filter_noticeboard" title="Wikipedia:Edit filter noticeboard">Request</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Interface_administrators" title="Wikipedia:Interface administrators">Interface administrator</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Bureaucrats%27_noticeboard" title="Wikipedia:Bureaucrats' noticeboard">Request</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Role_of_Jimmy_Wales#Founder_flag" title="Wikipedia:Role of Jimmy Wales">Founder</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_access_levels#Importers_and_transwiki_importers" title="Wikipedia:User access levels">Importer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:User_access_levels#Researcher" title="Wikipedia:User access levels">Researcher</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Committees" title="Wikipedia:Committees">Committees</a> and related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration_Committee" title="Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee">Arbitration Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Bot_Approvals_Group" title="Wikipedia:Bot Approvals Group">Bot approvals group</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Functionaries" title="Wikipedia:Functionaries">Functionaries</a></li> <li>Clerks <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Sockpuppet_investigations/SPI/Clerks" title="Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/Clerks">SPI clerks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Arbitration_Committee/Clerks" title="Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/Clerks">ArbCom clerks</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administration" title="Wikipedia:Administration">Governance</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Administration" title="Wikipedia:Administration">Administration</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:FAQ/Administrators" title="Wikipedia:FAQ/Administrators">FAQ</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Formal_organization" title="Wikipedia:Formal organization">Formal organization</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Editorial_oversight_and_control" title="Wikipedia:Editorial oversight and control">Editorial oversight and control</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Quality_control" title="Wikipedia:Quality control">Quality control</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikimedia_Foundation" title="Wikipedia:Wikimedia Foundation">Wikimedia Foundation</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikimedia_Foundation#Board_of_Trustees" title="Wikipedia:Wikimedia Foundation">Board</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Role_of_Jimmy_Wales#Founder's_seat_on_the_Foundation_Board" title="Wikipedia:Role of Jimmy Wales">Founder's seat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Meta" title="Wikipedia:Meta">Meta-Wiki</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikimedia_proposals" title="Wikipedia:Wikimedia proposals">Proposals</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject">WikiProjects</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Elections" title="Wikipedia:Elections">Elections</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Policies_and_guidelines" title="Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines">Policies and guidelines</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:List_of_petitions" title="Wikipedia:List of petitions">Petitions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Noticeboards" title="Wikipedia:Noticeboards">Noticeboards</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Consensus" title="Wikipedia:Consensus">Consensus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Dispute_resolution" title="Wikipedia:Dispute resolution">Dispute resolution</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Reforms" title="Wikipedia:Reforms">Reforms</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    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