Training modules/Dealing with online harassment/slides/blocking-users

Immediate action: Blocking users

Once you have been made aware of obvious harassment or threats, there are actions you may take immediately that don't require in-depth investigation. You might already be familiar with these actions, as they are fairly commonly used by local administrators or users with advanced rights.

If you are experienced with using the block tool, feel free to skip this section.

The block is one of the central tools available to administrators and those with advanced permissions. It prevents a registered user account from editing and an unregistered user from editing from a specific IP address. Blocking policies are project-specific. More information on performing blocks, and when they're appropriate, can be found on those projects.

Range blocks

Range blocks, where a group or "range" of IPs are blocked, can be a powerful weapon against users moving through multiple IP addresses. However, it is also a solution with a lot of potential collateral damage. Consider consulting a fellow administrator with experience in these kinds of blocks before applying a range block for the first time, and make sure you are aware of and respect local policies about their use.