Merge branch 'jt/receive-pack-skip-connectivity-check'

As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, it's become increasingly clear that protecting our digital sanctuaries from unwanted visitors has become a top priority. The administrators of this website have implemented Anubis, a clever yet potentially cumbersome security measure designed to thwart AI companies' aggressive web scraping tactics.

So, what exactly is Anubis? In simple terms, it's a Proof-of-Work scheme inspired by Hashcash, a proposed solution aimed at curbing email spam. While it may seem like an insignificant addition at the individual level, its impact becomes pronounced when mass scraper activity is involved. The idea behind Anubis is to introduce a minor but significant hurdle that makes web scraping more expensive and less appealing to malicious entities.

However, it's essential to note that this solution is not without its drawbacks. Anubis relies on modern JavaScript features, which plugins like JShelter often disable. To bypass this challenge, users must enable JavaScript, a requirement necessitated by the changing social contract around website hosting. In essence, web developers have had to adapt to new security standards, which sometimes means sacrificing convenience for robust protection.

It's worth emphasizing that Anubis is not an ideal solution – it's more of a "good enough" placeholder until better alternatives can be developed. The real challenge lies in fingerprinting and identifying headless browsers, such as those employed by AI companies. By presenting users with a proof-of-work page, the challenge becomes less appealing to legitimate visitors who are unlikely to engage with it.

For those concerned about maintaining accessibility while still protecting their website from unwanted traffic, there is a compromise: disabling JShelter or similar plugins for this domain. However, please note that Anubis requires JavaScript to be enabled in order to overcome the challenge, making it a trade-off between convenience and security.

In conclusion, Anubis serves as a reminder of the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between web developers, security experts, and malicious actors. As we continue to evolve our online experiences, it's crucial to strike a balance between accessibility and robust protection against emerging threats.