How to beat the Wikipedia blackout
Bring the facts back with one quick change to your browser settings
By Nik Taylor 18/01/2012 13:09
Head over to Wikipedia today and you won't find the random fact you were looking for. Instead, you'll see a black page explaining why Wikipedia is currently unavailable.
The English-language version of the website has been taken down for 24 hours in protest against two anti-piracy laws currently being debated by the US Congress.
But although Wikipedia is hidden behind a blackout page for the day, it's not completely disappeared.
One page of the site remains accessible - an article which explains what the protest is about and what the anti-piracy bills (known as Sopa and Pipa) could mean for internet users.
On that page, Wikipedia also explains how others can join the protest and states, "Our purpose here isn't to make it completely impossible for people to read Wikipedia, and it's okay for you to circumvent the blackout. We just want to make sure you see our message."
As Wikipedia says, there are ways to continue using the site today and it's actually very easy to do so. For one thing, Wikipedia has not blacked out its mobile version - so if you run a search on a smartphone with internet access, you can browse the site in full.
If you're trying to browse the desktop version, you just need to make a quick change to your web browser. As Sophos spokesman Graham Cluley points out on his excellent blog, Wikipedia's blackout is achieved using JavaScript.
Cluley goes on to show how Firefox users can get around the blackout using the NoScript add-on.
But if you're on Internet Explorer, it's just as easy to get back into Wikipedia. First, open up the 'Internet options' box. In IE9, this means clicking on the Tools icon at the top right of your window, then clicking on Internet options.
Now click on the Security tab and click on the Restricted sites icon. Click on the Sites button to open the Restricted sites window. Type http://en.wikipedia.org into the box at the top (if you're on the Wikipedia page, this will already be filled in).
Now click the Add button, then Close, then OK. And that's it. Adding Wikipedia to your list of restricted sites blocks it from running scripts, so all those handy facts are once again at your fingertips.
All the facts: why Wikipedia has shut down today
The English-language version of the website has been taken down for 24 hours in protest against two anti-piracy laws currently being debated by the US Congress.But although Wikipedia is hidden behind a blackout page for the day, it's not completely disappeared.
One page of the site remains accessible - an article which explains what the protest is about and what the anti-piracy bills (known as Sopa and Pipa) could mean for internet users.
On that page, Wikipedia also explains how others can join the protest and states, "Our purpose here isn't to make it completely impossible for people to read Wikipedia, and it's okay for you to circumvent the blackout. We just want to make sure you see our message."
As Wikipedia says, there are ways to continue using the site today and it's actually very easy to do so. For one thing, Wikipedia has not blacked out its mobile version - so if you run a search on a smartphone with internet access, you can browse the site in full.
If you're trying to browse the desktop version, you just need to make a quick change to your web browser. As Sophos spokesman Graham Cluley points out on his excellent blog, Wikipedia's blackout is achieved using JavaScript.
Cluley goes on to show how Firefox users can get around the blackout using the NoScript add-on.
But if you're on Internet Explorer, it's just as easy to get back into Wikipedia. First, open up the 'Internet options' box. In IE9, this means clicking on the Tools icon at the top right of your window, then clicking on Internet options.
Now click on the Security tab and click on the Restricted sites icon. Click on the Sites button to open the Restricted sites window. Type http://en.wikipedia.org into the box at the top (if you're on the Wikipedia page, this will already be filled in).Now click the Add button, then Close, then OK. And that's it. Adding Wikipedia to your list of restricted sites blocks it from running scripts, so all those handy facts are once again at your fingertips.
All the facts: why Wikipedia has shut down today
91Comments
18/01/2012 14:42
18/01/2012 14:35
18/01/2012 15:01
This is disgusting! The entire point of Wikipedia's black out is to show people what it would be like to NOT be able to use the internet in the way that they would like. You are completely undermining the entire protest. Do you not understand that if SOPA and PIPA are passed, I could, by simply posting a link to a copyright infringement website in YOUR comment boxes, make YOU eligible for a lawsuit? This is about internet restriction. You should be supporting Wikipedia not encouraging your users to get around the blackout. Shame on you.
18/01/2012 16:45
18/01/2012 15:13
Not clever, MSN.
Wikipedia are not the enemy - they're the good guys.
They don't charge anything for their great info site ( though they've been seeking donations for years - I wonder how many do support them financially?)
If you are happy to use the site on a regular basis - you should be happy to support them in this protest - for just 1 day! (unless that's the only place you get all your knowledge from?)
18/01/2012 16:23
18/01/2012 17:49
It is a very sad day when, a trusted and a well respected site like MSN, has decided to be very selective in allowing people to comment. They have decided in their own wisdom or through political pressures, to stop people commenting on very serious and important issues, such as; unemployment, our constant interference in other countries affairs, Euro problems, Bankers bonuses and most importantly--the dismemberment of NHS through devious means by the current government.
For the last two months, we have been deprived from voicing our concerns in an open forum. One can comment on silly topics like Eastenders or on some one who you have not heard before.
Pathetic.!!.
18/01/2012 16:37
18/01/2012 15:35
18/01/2012 16:19
MSN... why the hell would you post this? Do you not understand they are striking for a very good reason? Your promoting that their strike is worthless if your posting this... Have some respect. They do not wish their site to be up and running today for a very good reason!
Take this down! Have some respect!
18/01/2012 15:01
18/01/2012 16:18
no no no people dont understand the dam point. if SOPA goes through there will be NO wikipedia. you will not be able to find a loophole, you will not be able to search your easy homework or get details of whatever your researching. majority of sites will go. thats when you'll all start complaining. and this just shows to me that MSN support SOPA. So I'll be changing emails very soon.
18/01/2012 15:27
18/01/2012 19:01
I think it's shocking that MSN posted instructions on how to disable the blackout. It's the equivalent of covering a group of protesters with a big tarpaulin. I know Wikipedia is basically just for fun and not always reliable, and I wouldn't say that I personally have particularly strong opinions on free and open internet or the legislation in question, but the people who run Wikipedia have a right to protest, and to have their protest respected and preserved at least for the 24 hours they intended. I don't know if the people at MSN responsible for this are reading any of these comment, but if they are, then they should know that the way they went about reporting on the "Wikipedia blackout" really isn't fair play.
I don't know if MSN has ever claimed to be a totally unbiased organisation, and whoever is at the top certainly has a right to act in the interest of his/her agenda (if they have one), but when so many people pass by your site every day, you really do have a responsibility to respect the wishes of anyone who is (as far as I can tell) just looking out for the rights of those very same masses.
18/01/2012 17:29
18/01/2012 18:09
18/01/2012 16:20
18/01/2012 15:15
It is a fair and decent protest especially when information might be blocked or censored, so one should not try to hinder what is being done in a fair and proper manner. Of course one c ould disagree and should say so but not by undermining someone else's actions. Money seems to be the sole aim behind what is being proposed by the US Congress.
18/01/2012 17:45
18/01/2012 18:59
I think MSN should not be posting articles about how to access sites that are closed for protests. It is clearly undermining Wikipedia allowing people to access the site when it supposed to be closed for a simple protest. I agree with Wikipedia and think they provide us with such a fantastic service for which they are not thanked very well. I think this protest has show how much we use Wikipedia and how badly it was missed for only one day.
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About Nik
Nik TaylorNik Taylor is a co-editor of MSN Tech & Gadgets, where he works alongside fellow editor Verity Burns to keep the site up to date.
About Verity
Verity BurnsVerity Burns is the co-editor of MSN Tech & Gadgets, teaming up with Nik Taylor to produce features and blogs.
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