Merge branch 'cb/ci-freebsd-update-to-14.3': Protecting Our Server from Bot Scraper Attacks

As we continue to strive for accuracy and authenticity in our online content, it's essential to take measures against the growing threat of automated bot scrapers that seek to exploit our server resources. Recently, an administrator has set up a protective system called Anubis to safeguard our website from these malicious actors.

Anubis is a clever compromise designed to strike a balance between security and usability. By employing a Proof-of-Work scheme inspired by Hashcash, this innovative solution makes it increasingly expensive for AI companies and other malicious entities to scrape our website without permission. At the individual scale, the added load may seem negligible; however, when aggregated against multiple scraper attacks, Anubis proves itself to be an effective deterrent.

But what exactly is Anubis, and how does it work? The primary goal of this system is to provide a "good enough" placeholder solution that allows us to continue serving our users while allowing more time to be devoted to fingerprinting and identifying headless browsers – those sneaky online entities that can mimic human-like behavior. By doing so, we can minimize the number of legitimate users who are forced to present Anubis's challenge page.

However, Anubis comes with its own set of requirements. To use this system effectively, you'll need to enable modern JavaScript features in your browser – and that's where things get a bit complicated. Certain plugins like JShelter may interfere with the functionality of Anubis, rendering it unusable. Therefore, we kindly request that you disable any such plugins for our domain before proceeding.

Despite its limitations, Anubis remains an essential tool in our ongoing fight against bot scraper attacks. As AI companies continue to push the boundaries of what's possible, it's becoming increasingly difficult for us to create a no-JS solution that can keep up with their ever-evolving tactics. For now, the use of modern JavaScript is still a necessary evil – and we appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

By working together, we can ensure that our website remains a trusted resource for users worldwide – even in the face of these rapidly changing threats. Thank you for your understanding, and please feel free to share any thoughts or concerns you may have about Anubis or our efforts to combat bot scrapers.