Nick Rout wrote:
I always wondered, what is to stop some malicious person simply deleting the whole lot?
or more subtle stuff....
Introduction to the Wiki http://distance.uaf.edu/dls/resources/facdev/oi/outlines/wiki-intro.cfm
<Quote>
One of the first questions that comes to mind when seeing a wiki for the first time is: "If anyone can edit pages, what's to stop someone from vandalizing or deleting pages?" In short, there is no technical mechanism to restrict this possibility (though some wiki software does allow for password protection, locking a resource down in this manner is not considered to be in the spirit of the "wiki way"). Instead it is left up to the wiki community to keep a wiki in good shape.
Luckily, wiki software provides simple mechanisms for dealing with these kinds of problems. A "recent changes" page is always available showing all changes to a site. Any pge that has been altered, defaced, or deleted can be reverted back to any previous version at the click of a link. In rare cases, repeat offenders can be banned based on the address of the computer they work from. Most wiki systems also include RSS capabilities, allowing users to subscribe to see recent changes and new content.
In practice, it is far more laborious to vandalize a wiki than it is to restore the good versions of a page, so such vandalism rarely happens and is even more rarely a sustained effort.
<End Quote>
--
Paul Wilkins
