Merge Tag 'Smack-for-6.16' of https://github.com/cschaufler/smack-next

As you're seeing this message, it's because the administrator of this website has taken steps to protect their server from being scraped by AI-powered bots. The system is called Anubis, and while it may seem like an inconvenience for legitimate users, its primary goal is to prevent massive scrapers from overwhelming the site with requests.

Anubis operates on a Proof-of-Work scheme, similar to Hashcash, which was initially proposed as a solution to reduce email spam. At an individual scale, the additional load may seem negligible, but when applied to mass scraper operations, it becomes significantly more expensive and time-consuming. This is precisely the intention behind Anubis – to create a "good enough" placeholder solution that allows for further development of fingerprinting techniques to identify legitimate users.

However, Anubis does come with some caveats. It requires modern JavaScript features, which plugins like JShelter may disable. To overcome this challenge, users are advised to disable JShelter or similar plugins on this domain. Unfortunately, this also means that users must enable JavaScript in order to bypass the proof-of-work page.

The current state of Anubis is a work-in-progress, and its primary goal is to shift the social contract around website hosting away from no-JS solutions. By implementing such measures, the administrators hope to protect their server from being exploited by AI-powered bots, while also paving the way for more sophisticated solutions in the future.

For those curious about how Anubis works or want to learn more about its implications, we encourage you to explore the technical details of this system further. As always, our primary concern is to provide accurate and informative content, even if it means adapting to new technologies and challenges in the online landscape.