User modes on AustNet: complete reference

User modes are flags applied directly to your user account to control your privacy, connection restrictions, server interactions, and network visibility. On AustNet, you can view your current user modes by typing /whois YourNick or checking your client's status window upon connection.

1. Core Privacy and Visibility Modes

1. Invisible (+i):
2. What it does: Hides you from global /who and /names queries issued by users who do not share a common channel with you. This is enabled by default on most clients to protect personal privacy.
3. Hostname Cloak (+x):
4. What it does: Masks your real IP address or underlying ISP hostname behind a secure, randomized network-vetted hash (e.g., hiding [email protected] behind a clean network cloak). This prevents targeted IP exposure and DDoS attempts.
5. Registered Only (+r):
6. What it does: Automatically applied by the network once you have successfully authenticated your nickname with NickOP. It indicates to other users and services that your identity is officially registered.

2. Security and Connection Modes

1. SSL/TLS Connection (+z):
2. What it does: Automatically set by the server when you connect over a secure, encrypted SSL/TLS port (such as port 6697). It verifies that your connection traffic is fully encrypted.
3. Restrict CTCP (+T):
4. What it does: Blocks incoming Client-To-Client Protocol (CTCP) requests (like VERSION, TIME, or PING) at the server level, protecting your client metadata from being probed or flooded.

3. Automation and Operator Modes

1. Bot Mode (+B):
2. What it does: Flags your connection as an automated script, bot, or service drone. Per AustNet network policy, all automated clients must set this mode immediately upon connecting and authenticating.
3. Operator Status (+o / +O):
4. What it does: Reserved strictly for network administrators and IRC Operators (IRCOps). Indicates elevated administrative privileges across the server infrastructure.