Editing EFnet (section)

== Characteristics ==
[[Image:efnet-struc.png|thumb|upright|Efnet's server structure as of October 2009 (green = Europe, blue = USA, Red = Canada)]]

EFnet has large variations in rules and policy between different servers as well as the two major regions (EU and NA). Both have their own policy structure, and each region votes on its own server applications. However, central policies are voted upon by the server [[System administrator|admin]] community which is archived for referencing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voting.efnet.org/ |title=EFnet Voting |website=Voting.efnet.org |access-date=2017-03-07}}</ref>

Due to EFnet's nature, it has gained recognition over the years for [[warez]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Andy |last=Patrizio |url=https://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2000/03/35141 |title=Forget Napster; IRC's the Place |website=Wired.com |date= 2000-03-27|access-date=2010-05-28}}</ref> [[hacker (computer security)|hackers]],<ref>{{cite news| url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/TECH/internet/04/10/hackers.chat.rooms/index.html | work=CNN | title=Experts: Chat rooms a haven for hackers | date=April 10, 2002 | access-date=May 1, 2010}}</ref> and [[DoS attacks]].<ref>{{cite web|first=James |last=Middleton |url=http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2115605/efnet-eff-dos-attack |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204084130/http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2115605/efnet-eff-dos-attack |archive-date=2008-12-04|title=EFNet eff'd off with DoS attack – V3.co.uk – formerly |publisher=Vnunet.com |date=July 13, 2001 |access-date=2010-05-28}}</ref>

EFnet has always been known for its lack of IRC services that other IRC networks support (such as [[NickServ]] and [[ChanServ]], although it had a NickServ until April 8, 1994<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=%22Bechar-Israeli+Haya%22&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=au&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&objectId=0900019b800fd604&accno=EJ515813&_nfls=false |title=From <Bonehead> to <cLoNehEAd>: Nicknames, Play, and Identity on Internet Relay Chat|first= Haya |last=Bechar-Israeli|journal=Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication|volume= 1|issue= 2|date=November 1995}} ([http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol1/issue2/bechar.html#nickserv full text])</ref>). Instead, the ''CHANFIX'' service was introduced to fix "opless" channels.

All servers on EFnet run ircd-ratbox.

EFnet's channel operators are generally free to run their channels however they see fit without the intervention of [[IRC operator]]s. IRC ops are primarily there to handle network and server related issues, and rarely get involved with channel-level issues.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/ircd/ircopguide.html |title=IRC Operators Guide |publisher=Irchelp.org |access-date=2010-05-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322175909/http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/ircd/ircopguide.html |archive-date=2011-03-22 }}</ref>