Background
The Reasonable Adjustment has operated a layered cybersecurity and access control system for several months. These measures are not new and have long been detailed in our Website OpSec and Cybersecurity Review. They exist to protect the platform, its evidence, and its readership from interference, surveillance, and automated scraping.
This post serves both as a transparency notice and as a record of a recent verification test. Our system correctly identified and blocked repeated access attempts from a previously restricted visitor who returned using the same device fingerprint, confirming the reliability of our behavioural detection stack.
Current controls
Our edge worker logic continues to use a combination of selective blocking, telemetry analysis, and behavioural learning. Requests are processed based on their characteristics and past behaviour, ensuring genuine readers remain unaffected while suspicious or repeated probes are filtered silently.
- Selective IP and ASN blocking. Known networks and cloud infrastructure used for automated probing are restricted to protect availability.
- Fingerprint-based monitoring. Device and browser identifiers are logged passively to recognise returning clients even when they change IP or routing methods.
- Adaptive response logic. The system scales its defences automatically, applying challenges or tarpits when thresholds are exceeded.
This approach allows accurate distinction between ordinary access and deliberate attempts to bypass controls. The recent test confirmed that even when a visitor changed network location, their unique device fingerprint remained consistent, validating the design.
Privacy and data handling
All logged data are handled in line with the UK GDPR and our Privacy Policy. Logged values include IP address, ASN or network, user agent, screen metrics, and challenge interaction. These are stored securely and used solely for security, not profiling or advertising. Cloudflare and Plausible provide our infrastructure and analytics with a privacy-first configuration.
No content data, personal identifiers, or user accounts are tracked. Normal visitors remain anonymous and unaffected. The system targets behaviour, not identity.
Why this update is published
Transparency is part of deterrence. By confirming that our system detected and matched a returning blocked visitor using a stable device fingerprint, we demonstrate that attempts to bypass restrictions are not invisible and will always be logged. Publishing this reinforces public confidence in our methods and discourages further misuse.
Each detection event strengthens our rule base and provides a live audit trail of the system working as intended. Our aim is not punishment, but prevention and education – showing that even simple, open-source tools can achieve professional-grade results when implemented thoughtfully.
Impact on readers
For ordinary readers, nothing changes. The site continues to load quickly and securely. Only those triggering repeated behavioural flags or violating our Terms of Use will be delayed or blocked. If you ever encounter an access issue in error, email [email protected] for review.
These safeguards exist so that advocacy, research, and commentary can continue in a safe, interference-free environment.
Note. This post reaffirms protections already detailed in the Website OpSec and Cybersecurity Review, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Use. No new data collection or surveillance has been introduced. One repeated fingerprint confirmed the resilience of our system, and that is worth publishing openly.
© The Reasonable Adjustment
Be First to Comment