Watchdog: iTCO Drops Driver-Internal Locking

In a move that has been met with mixed reactions, Intel's Integrated Thermal Control (iTCO) technology has dropped its driver-internal locking mechanism.

To ensure that users are not bots and to protect the server against AI companies' aggressive scraping of websites, Anubis, a proof-of-work scheme similar to Hashcash, is being used. This system adds an extra layer of security to prevent unwanted traffic from reaching websites. However, it also means that legitimate users may experience downtime or difficulty accessing certain resources.

According to experts, the main purpose of Anubis is not to provide a robust solution but rather to serve as a "good enough" placeholder while developers work on more advanced fingerprinting and identification methods for headless browsers. By making it difficult for bots to access websites without presenting users with an additional challenge, developers can gather valuable data to improve the security of their platforms.

However, this approach also has its drawbacks. Anubis requires modern JavaScript features that plugins like JShelter disable, which is a significant inconvenience for many users. In fact, disabling JShelter or other similar plugins is required to bypass the challenge and access certain resources on this website. This highlights the evolving social contract around how websites are hosted and accessed.

While some argue that Anubis is an effective way to curb scrapers and bots, others believe it is an overreach of security measures that disproportionately affect legitimate users. As the technology continues to evolve, one thing is certain – the battle between security and convenience will remain a pressing issue in the digital age.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as we continue to explore the implications of Anubis and its impact on online security.