This is a general introduction for visitors to Wikipedia. For aspiring contributors, also see this guide and tutorial. For other uses, see Wikipedia:Wikipedia (disambiguation).

Question

"Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That's what we're doing." — Jimmy Wales

Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and millions already have.

Wikipedia's purpose is to benefit readers by presenting information on all branches of knowledge. Hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, Wikipedia consists of freely editable content, with articles that often contain numerous links guiding readers to more information.

Written collaboratively by largely anonymous volunteers known as Wikipedians, Wikipedia articles can be edited by anyone with Internet access, except in limited cases where editing is restricted to prevent disruption or vandalism. Since its creation on January 15, 2001, it has grown into the world's largest reference website, attracting over a billion visitors each month. Wikipedia currently has more than sixty-three million articles in more than 300 languages, including 6,884,314 articles in English, with 115,976 active contributors in the past month.

Wikipedia's fundamental principles are summarized in its five pillars. While the Wikipedia community has developed many policies and guidelines, new editors do not need to be familiar with them before they start contributing.

Anyone can edit Wikipedia's text, references, and images. The quality of content is more important than who contributes it. The content must conform with Wikipedia's policies, including being verifiable by published reliable sources. Contributions based on personal opinions, beliefs, personal experiences, unreviewed research, libellous material, and copyright violations is not allowed and will not remain. Wikipedia's software allows easy reversal of errors, and experienced editors watch and patrol bad edits.

Wikipedia differs from printed references in important ways. It is continually created and updated, and encyclopedic articles on new events appear within minutes making it far more dynamic than traditional resources. Because anyone can improve Wikipedia, it has become more comprehensive than any other encyclopedia. Its contributors enhance its articles' quality and quantity, and remove misinformation, errors and vandalism. Any reader can fix a mistake or add more information to what has already been written (see Researching with Wikipedia).

Based on the article, answer the following questions:

What are the three major powers of a Wikipedia administrator? Which power is most at issue in the article?
Does the issue discussed in the article involve cybersecurity or just bad behavior on the part of Wikipedia editors?
Historically, how has Wikipedia dealt with vandals who use administrative accounts to block users and change protected pages?
What is the real-world impact of Wikipedia vandalism—that is, in what way can companies or people using their devices be affected?
What solution does the article offer that would allow an admin who was blocked by a vandal to still be able to intervene even if they can’t unblock their own account?
What real-world steps could a business take to prevent the issues discussed in this article—that is, vandalism or nefarious actions by bad actors with access to high-level (administrator) accounts? Propose at least two concrete policies or control systems.

Answer 1

Based on the general introduction to Wikipedia provided, here are answers to your questions:

1. What are the three major powers of a Wikipedia administrator? Which power is most at issue in the article?

   • The three major powers of a Wikipedia administrator generally include:
     • The ability to block users who are violating Wikipedia’s policies.
     • The ability to protect and unprotect pages to prevent disruptive editing.
     • The ability to oversee and enforce Wikipedia's rules and guidelines.
   • The power most at issue in the article is likely the ability to block users, particularly in the context of dealing with vandalism.

2. Does the issue discussed in the article involve cybersecurity or just bad behavior on the part of Wikipedia editors?

   • The issue discussed in the article primarily involves bad behavior on the part of Wikipedia editors, specifically vandalism. While this can intersect with cybersecurity, the focus is on the maintenance of content integrity and the management of disruptive behaviors rather than cybersecurity threats at large.

3. Historically, how has Wikipedia dealt with vandals who use administrative accounts to block users and change protected pages?

   • Traditionally, Wikipedia has addressed this issue by reviewing administrative actions through community oversight. This includes measures like revoking administrative privileges from individuals who misuse their powers, as well as implementing stricter checks when granting these privileges. If an administrator is found to be acting maliciously or inappropriately, actions are taken to restore integrity.

4. What is the real-world impact of Wikipedia vandalism—that is, in what way can companies or people using their devices be affected?

   • The real-world impact of Wikipedia vandalism can include the dissemination of misinformation to anyone who accesses the entries, which can affect businesses, researchers, and students who rely on Wikipedia as a source of information. Companies may face reputational damage if inaccurate information about them spreads widely due to vandalism. Additionally, users conducting research may base their work on incorrect data, leading to erroneous conclusions.

5. What solution does the article offer that would allow an admin who was blocked by a vandal to still be able to intervene even if they can’t unblock their own account?

   • The article suggests that alternate administrative accounts or mechanisms for accessing the editing functionality might allow admins who are blocked by vandals to still intervene. This could include policies for restoration or emergency access to manage vandalism while maintaining oversight within the community.

6. What real-world steps could a business take to prevent the issues discussed in this article—that is, vandalism or nefarious actions by bad actors with access to high-level (administrator) accounts? Propose at least two concrete policies or control systems.

   • Implement a vetting process for granting administrative access: Businesses could establish formal checks, including background evaluations and required contributions, before providing admin rights to users. This vetting can help ensure that only trustworthy individuals receive high-level access.
   • Use two-factor authentication (2FA) for administrative accounts: By requiring 2FA, businesses can enhance the security of administrator accounts, making it much harder for unauthorized users to gain access, even if they somehow obtain a password.

By focusing on these policies, organizations can help mitigate the risks posed by potential abuse of administrative privileges within Wikipedia.