Introduction: What is StrikePlagiarism?

StrikePlagiarism.com offers a text-matching software which detects similarities between texts.

The system allows for the upload of text documents (doc.; docx.; rtf.; txt.; odt.; ppt.; pptx.; editable pdf etc.) and verification of the text. The system analyzes the uploaded text based on millions of existing texts in the virtual space and in the end generates a Similarity Report, which indicates detected similarities between texts and their sources. 

In order to use the system you must register by creating an account. You can choose to have an individual account or an account connected to an educational institution. 

In this section, all user roles, possibilities and functionalities of the system will be explained.

Terms and definitions

Service - An online word processing tool with a user interface on a website

Token - The system uses tokens as an internal payment currency for the verification of documents. Tokens can be bought through the system and they have a respective value for number of pages. The tokens can be purchased by Individual users only. 

Similarity report - Represents detailed information about an uploaded text and outlines alerts, similarity coefficients, and an active list of similarities

Alerts - A section in the similarity report with information regarding text modifications that may aim to temper with the analysis results. Invisible to the person evaluating the content of the document on a printout or in a file, they influence the phrases compared during text analysis (by causing intended misspellings) to conceal borrowings as well as to falsify values ​​in the Similarity Report. It should be assessed whether the modifications are intentional or not. 

Types of alerts include:

• Characters from another alphabet - detects whether a letter from the text has been replaced with an identical letter from another alphabet. For example, from Latin to Cyrillic 

• Spreads - detects whether a letter from the uploaded text has been expanded in order to create a visual illusion for a spacebar

• Micro spaces - detects whether a minimized character has been added to the uploaded text in order to separate a word and make it seem like it has not been copied

• Hidden characters - indicates if there have been characters and letters in the uploaded text that have been colored in white in order to merge with the background and not be detected

• Paraphrases (SmartMarks) - detects if there has been a change in a sentence (change of word order, use of a synonym, change an orthography, etc). Indicates original text match and shows the paraphrase in order to help with detecting indirect copy of excerpts

Similarity coefficients - The similarity coefficients in the system's Similarity Report show in percentages how many text-matches were found in a document. The percentage values are measured based on the total quantity of the text from the 

Citation coefficient - Fragments of the text being checked, which are not author's, but which the system classified as correctly formatted. Citations also include template phrases; bibliography; fragments of text found by the search module "SPS Garant: legal documentation" 

Active list of similarities - A section in the Similarity Report which lists all the matching sources found in the uploaded text. The section is divided into different source sections and gives percentage value as well as word count value of the matching excerpts

List of accepted fragments - List becomes active once a highlighted part of the text has been accepted

Purpose and conditions of use

The service is designed to check text documents for text borrowings from different sources. The user uploads a document to the system which is then sent for verification. As a result from the verification, users receive a Similarity Report. The report contains information about sources and match rates by source, as well as detailed information indicating those fragments of the document being checked that were identified as matches. Identification is accompanied by the presentation of a matching fragment of the text of the source of the match and / or a link to the original (URL). As a result of checking the document, the user is provided with information that helps to determine which part of the document is written independently and which part is borrowed.

Technical conditions for using the service:

• the presence of an internet connection;

• work through one of the most common browsers: Chrome version 68 and higher, Mozilla Firefox version 61 and higher, Opera version 55 and higher, MS Edge version 97 and higher, the Internet Explorer browser built into the Windows operating system is not supported;

• ensuring the operation of all functions of the service in full may require the use of a third-party software

The results of working with StrikePlagiarism.com are not the basis for claims of copyright infringement. The service is intended to be used for informational purposes only. In other words, we do not declare that this or that text is plagiarism, but only inform you about the presence of the same or similar piece of text. It is possible that when working with the service you will find text with a copied fragment from other sources, including the possibility that the document you uploaded is the original source. In any case, when working with the service, be careful, try to be objective and do not rush to conclusions. Remember that the service is only a tool for work, and only the user of the system can give a real assessment of the document.

Before you begin

Workplace

To work with StrikePlagiarism, you need to open the system's website and register or log in. The system is available to use via browser and there is no need for it to be downloaded to a personal device. 

Since the system is used via browser, internet connection is needed. 

User roles

The following user roles are provided in our anti-plagiarism system:

• An Administrator is a user of the system responsible for managing and creating user accounts and the organizational structure (optionally) of the institution in the system.

• A Unit Administrator is a user of the system who can create users and check text documents within their assigned organizational unit.

• A Lecturer is a user of the system who conducts teaching activities (assignments) and checks student works in the system.

• A Student is a user of the system who uploads their work for evaluation by the lecturer.

• Individual users can use the system outside of an organization. They can check documents by purchasing tokens in the system and can check documents only against internet open sources and the RefBooks.

Administrator functionalities

The administrators in StrikePlagiarism can add users to the system. When an administrator is assigned by a university or another organization, their main responsibility is to create user accounts for the rest of the system users. This includes the creation of organizational units (optional), unit administrators, and lecturer accounts.

To add users to the system, the Administrator must enter the Users menu on the left-hand side and click on the green button Add User. 

From here the Administrator has two options - to add a user manually or to import an excel sheet with information for multiple user creation. 

*Unit administrators are users who are responsible for the creation of user accounts within their organizational unit. For example, if the user administrator is assigned to the organizational unit of a certain faculty, then, the administrator could add users who belong to that specific faculty. 

Lecturer functionalities

Users with a Lecturer account can upload documents, review and interact with the Similarity Report, and create assignments in the system. 

UPLOADING A DOCUMENT

There are three ways to upload a document to the system:

• uploading from your personal device

• using drag and drop to upload your file from your personal device directory 

• pasting the document text only 

Evaluation and Similarity Report

StrikePlagiarism offers a unique Similarity Report that outlines in-depth information about an uploaded document. 

RECORD OF SIMILARITIES

The Similarity Report generated by StrikePlagiarism includes two Similarity Coefficients which indicate information related to the evaluation of the text from the document.

The value of Similarity Coefficient 1 (SC1) determines which part of the documents contains phrase of 5 words or longer, found in the database of the university, database of Database Exchange Program, RefBooks database or Internet resources (excluding borrowings from legal acts found in the Database of Legal Acts). The Similarity Coefficient 1 is primarily used to examine the linguistic independence of the author of the documents.

The value of Similarity Coefficient 2 (SC2) determines which part of the documents contains phrase of 25 words or longer found in the databases mentioned above (excluding Database of Legal Acts). Due to the length of the detected phrases, the Similarity Score 2 is a better tool for detecting unauthorized borrowings.

FURTHER INFORMATION AND DETAILS ABOUT OUR SIMILARITY REPORT

For further questions related to our similarity report, we have a detailed instruction manual for the interpretation of the report you can find and read here. 

Individual users

Individual users have more or less the same functionalities as the rest. Individual users can upload their documents to the system and they also receive a Similarity Report. 

The individual user can decide which sources they want included in their Similarity Report. This means that the individual user pays for user tokens and depending on the price, decides what they would like to have checked by the system.

Integrations

The integration of our anti-plagiarism system and systems used by the client is possible using various methods. The most popular methods are with API, LTI 1.3, Plugin, LDap (Active Directory), and SSO (Single Sign-on). The integration of the two systems makes it possible to simplify the process of using the anti-plagiarism system, for example, you can upload documents for verification inside the LMS, there is no need to create additional accounts in our system, but use those that are already created in the LMS. 

The data that the university sends to us via the LMS is encrypted and anonymized by our system in accordance with GDPR. We take all necessary steps to protect personal data. As a European company, the protection of personal data is of top priority for us. For more than 20 years of work on the European market, we have become the best among anti-plagiarism systems in terms of personal data protection. 

We are ready to implement any other forms of integration convenient for universities. For example, integration with proctoring systems has recently become popular, which allow you to check and compare the results of test exams, compare the results with each other within the same exam, which is very important when the answers may be the same. Integration with the dean's office systems of universities has also become popular, allowing to collect information about the result of checking for plagiarism in the university database. 

Integrations built on LTI 1.3 technology:

• Blackboard

• Brightspace

• Canvas

• Schoology

Integrations built on Plug-in and API technology:

• Moodle

• OJS

• Revisely

LTI 1.3 Integration

StrikePlagiarism.com is using different ways of integration with external LMS or Deanery systems. One of the most popular form of integration is LTI. As the first 1EdTech standards to use the new security paradigm, Learning Tools Interoperability® (LTI®) 1.3 and LTI Advantage are the first to do so. Beyond the advantages for privacy and security, LTI 1.3 features a simpler upgrade path than previous versions and the full support and approval of significant platform providers.

LTI 1.3 allows a wide range of integration abilities not only with widely recognized Learning Management Systems like Canvas, Blackboard and BrightSpace, but also with domestic LMSs created by universities or smaller enterprises. 

StrikePlagiarism.com created LTI based on specific needs of academic institutions. We have added new features like pre-submission by the student, ability to add scores (marks) to the LTI Similarity Report, and limitations to the number of pre-submissions. 

Thanks to our LTI, lecturers can see whether a report was already opened and reviewed by a student, and the status of the Similarity Report - whether a document has been accepted, disqualified or returned for correction. 

In order for a university or any other educational institution to integrate with StrikePlagiarism using LTI 1.3 technology, the request must be done by registering at https://lti.strikeplagiarism.com/. Once registered, our team receives a notification and approves the request for integration. After this process, the integration is initiated. 

API integration

API integrations allows for documents to be sent via API and get a link to the Interactive Similarity Report. Furthermore, API allows you manage accounts, delete users, add documents to the database, send the status of the document or decision made by a lecturer and many more. 

API integration is possible by sending a request for an API key to our team. In order to make a request, the user (usually the administrator) of an educational institution must send a request via e-mail contact@strikeplagiarism.com. Once a request is sent, our team creates a unique API-key code, which is then sent to the user. The user may then input the API-key and add the plugin to their LMS. After that, the integration between StrikePlagiarism and the user's LMS is made. Both systems exchange information and StrikePlagiarism becomes available to use within the user's LMS. 

Customer service

All customer requests are processed by the customer support department, which is available via email, phone numbers and WhatsApp.

All requests can be sent to contact@strikeplagiarism.com or help@strikeplagiarism.com.

A customer support representative will respond to your request within 24 hours. If the issue is of a technical nature and requires the involvement of the technical department, then the customer support employee will create a corresponding task in the company’s internal electronic system and, after consultation with the technical department, will inform the client about further steps. Customer support is available in many languages, including English, Spanish, French, Polish, Turkish, Arabic, etc.

If the Client's request concerns a problem occurring during the use of the system, after accepting the application, the customer service officer first proceeds to verify the Client's contract. The purpose of this verification is to exclude the possibility of a problem arising through the state of the contract.

• If during the verification it turns out that the problem results from the contract, the Guardian deals with the explanation of the situation.

• If the problem is not contractually related, the problem is further verified. At this stage, we try to obtain information on the correct use of the system by the User. Verification of the correctness of the User's behavior in the system - is the error not due to the lack of sufficient knowledge of the system by the person reporting the problem. If the problem lies with the User, the customer service officer explains what the problem is and how the person using the system should act in the situation. When the problem is not due to insufficient knowledge or bad conduct of the User, the customer service officer collects all available information and reports the problem to the IT Department.

After obtaining information from the IT Department about the solution of the problem and the possible cause of its occurrence, the customer service officer provides information to the Client and asks for verification whether the problem still occurs. If the problem persists, the information is forwarded to the IT Department.

If, despite positive verification by the customer service officer, the system's operation in the scope of the reported problem, the client still claims that the problem occurs. The system is re-verified and the client is contacted in order to clarify this issue. The process of handling current requests can be considered completed only when the client confirms that the problem has been solved.

Support

The system offers a "Help" section in the user account menu with an FAQ list, video tutorials and an added field for contact. Additionally, there is a user manual for interpretation of the Similarity Report added on the right-hand side of the Similarity Report and indicated with a question mark icon. These resources are available to all users of the system regardless of their user status. 

Furthermore, we offer customer support for additional questions and requests that might not have been answered in these sections. In this instance, it is advisable to fill in any questions in the contact form found in the "Help" menu. This contact form will send the user request to the whole team of StrikePlagiarism. 

The best way to contact us is via e-mail: contact@strikeplagiarism.com. From there, the team checks the country of origin of the user and the appropriate agent replies. For easier communication, sometimes the agent may also give their telephone contact and continue the consultation with the user verbally.