**Protecting Websites from AI Scrapers: The Rise of Anubis**

As a journalist, I've seen my fair share of online attacks and exploits, but none as insidious as the scourge of AI-powered scrapers that have taken over the web. These sophisticated bots are designed to scrape websites for valuable data, leaving innocent users in the dust. But what can be done to stop them? Enter Anubis, a clever solution developed by website administrators to protect their servers from these unwanted visitors.

Anubis is a proof-of-work scheme that uses a concept similar to Hashcash, a proposed method for reducing email spam. The idea behind it is simple: at an individual scale, the additional load is negligible, but when mass scrapers come into play, it becomes prohibitively expensive for them to continue their nefarious activities. In other words, Anubis makes scraping much more difficult and costly, forcing AI companies to rethink their approach.

But how does it work? The process involves users completing a simple challenge, such as solving a CAPTCHA or viewing a special page that generates a proof-of-work token. This token is then used to prove that the user is human and not a bot. Sounds straightforward, but there's more to it than meets the eye. Anubis requires modern JavaScript features, which are disabled by plugins like JShelter. That means users will need to disable these plugins or risk being blocked from accessing the website.

Unfortunately, this means that Anubis version 1.20.0, the one used on this website, requires the use of JavaScript to pass the challenge. This is a deliberate design choice, driven by the changing social contract around website hosting and the need for websites to adapt to new security threats.

The rise of Anubis represents a significant shift in the way we approach online security. While it may not provide a foolproof solution, it's an important step towards protecting our digital resources from those who would seek to exploit them. As we move forward, it's clear that collaboration and innovation will be key to staying ahead of these emerging threats.

So, what can you do to help? If you're using a browser plugin like JShelter, consider disabling it when visiting this website. It may require some extra effort, but the reward is worth it: a safer online experience for everyone.