Merge branch 'bc/allow-upload-pack-from-other-people': The Unwelcome Guest at Your Doorstep

You are seeing this message because the administrator of this website has taken steps to protect its server from the nefarious activities of AI companies that have been aggressively scraping websites. This measure, known as Anubis, is designed to add an extra layer of security to prevent these malicious entities from exploiting the website's resources.

Anubis uses a Proof-of-Work scheme similar to Hashcash, a proposed solution aimed at reducing email spam. At an individual level, this additional load may seem insignificant, but when it comes to mass scraper attacks, it becomes a significant hurdle that makes scraping much more expensive and time-consuming. The primary goal of Anubis is not to provide a foolproof solution, but rather to serve as a "good enough" placeholder while researchers focus on more advanced methods to identify legitimate users.

The reasoning behind Anubis is rooted in the changing landscape of website hosting, where AI companies have shifted the social contract. These entities are no longer just automated web crawlers; they are sophisticated systems that can render fonts and interact with websites in ways that were previously unimaginable. As a result, traditional security measures like CAPTCHAs and other obstacles need to be revised or replaced.

One of the significant challenges posed by Anubis is its requirement for modern JavaScript features, which plugins like JShelter disable. This means that users with these plugins enabled will not be able to bypass the challenge. As a result, you must enable JavaScript to proceed, even though this creates an uneven playing field where legitimate users are forced to navigate the hurdle, while malicious entities continue to find ways around it.

While Anubis may seem like an inconvenience, its purpose is ultimately to protect websites from these aggressive scraping activities and ensure that legitimate users can access their resources without interruption. The administrators of this website have made a difficult choice by implementing this measure, but it serves as a reminder of the evolving threats in the digital landscape.