Merge branch 'jc/doc-synopsis-option-markup': The Battle Against Bot Scraping

You are seeing this message because the administrator of this website has taken extraordinary measures to protect its server from being overwhelmed by AI-powered bots and scraper companies. This decision, although inconvenient for some, is a necessary evil in today's digital landscape. The technology at play is called Anubis, a Proof-of-Work scheme designed to make website scraping more expensive and less accessible.

Anubis is inspired by Hashcash, a proposed proof-of-work scheme aimed at reducing email spam. While it may seem insignificant when applied individually, the collective load of multiple scraper bots can become unsustainable. This clever hack exploits this paradox, making the challenge prove-of-work page inaccessible to legitimate users while still allowing those with legitimate purposes to pass through.

But what does this mean for you? In essence, Anubis requires modern JavaScript features to be effective. Unfortunately, plugins like JShelter disable these features, rendering it impossible to bypass the challenge without enabling JavaScript. This limitation is a result of AI companies' changing social contract around website hosting. They have made websites increasingly reliant on JavaScript, leaving users with no choice but to opt-in.

While an all-JS solution is still in development, Anubis marks a crucial step towards protecting websites from malicious activity. By acknowledging the need for this technology, we can begin to discuss and implement more robust solutions that prioritize both user experience and online security.

Takeaway: To access this website, please enable JavaScript on your device and disable any plugins that interfere with modern JavaScript features, such as JShelter. Your cooperation is necessary in the ongoing battle against bot scraping.