What's up with "IP Logged"? You govermint??

[chuckiechan]

With all the talk of Big Brother, secret codes on documents, unauthorised system scans, etc. etc.
A: What exactly do you need to log my IP for, and what are you doing with the data?
B: Why did it just appear with no announcement?

[Joel Kleppinger]

lol

no, no, we've been doing it for some time, but after upgrading to the latest version of UBB, the "IP Logged" link now shows. It has nothing to do with any "studies", "surveys", or whatever you might think of. The only purpose it has is to go to some means to verify users of the forum as being the actual user.

We had an incident back in Feb. or so when a guy managed to get a username/pass list from a major UBB forum and was going around to different boards masquerading as those people. This makes it easy to tell the phoneys from the real thing.

So don't worry any - I bet none of the three of us have ever actually even checked anyone's IP using this link (I know I haven't). It's just there in case we need it.

[Ygor]

I trust ya Joel. I'm sure most of us do. I figured it was just something administrative.

[Joel Kleppinger]

CMonster, I wouldn't worry about that. I have NO DESIRE to log MAC addresses... that's _too_ tight in my opinion. We can have a pretty good idea about any fake posts even with just IP logging.

[chuckiechan]

Sysopt: So you are saying I can trust you, and that you guys are really OK? And you have my best interests at heart? And your not govermint? Then I guess you must be OK!!

Thanks for looking out for us honest citizens!!

[skywalker[TSG]]

what if i post from a friends house ? then the IP would be different

[Joel Kleppinger]

Man, you all are the biggest bunch of worryworts out there. /forum/smile.gif Trust me, there are only certain situations where it would come into play, and then it would be used only in verification of suspicions... we don't just click it for the fun of it. /forum/smile.gif

So STOP WORRYING /forum/smile.gif

[socalgal]

What Joel says is true. The only IP Log I've looked at is my own. I don't think any of us have the time nor desire to look at IP Logs, as Joel said, unless it's very warranted.

[CMonster]

Hey, I was just kidding about the MAC addresses.. but I understand that with DSL logging of MAC address may become the default ID method.

[JW310]

I don't really mind the logging of IP addresses..... I think it has its benefits, even though it could also be used for bad things (which I've come to trust the admin not to do).

Not to sound stupid, but what is a MAC address?

JW

[CMonster]

But then there are those of us who have 4 ISPs......

maybe in the near future we could log MAC addresses

[SysOpt]

Whether or not we tell you about it by posting the nice little "IP Logged" note, your IP address is always visible when you visit any site, and can EASILY be logged without notifying you or getting your consent.

As you know, SysOpt is owned by EarthWeb, a sizable public company. If you don't trust us, trust them. We have no ulterior motives here - simply that we want to be able to more easily identify the bad apples when need be.

Scott

[bdog]

Umm, I don't know if you all know this or not, but your IP is probably logged at every single website you visit. At least every single web server I have seen logs IP's. Don't worry about it.

[Joel Kleppinger]

A MAC address is the physical "address" of your ethernet card. They are pretty much unique to a specific machine (if not totally unique).

[JW310]

Thanks for informing me.... had a feeling that's what it was, but just had to be sure.

Some of the webserver software that I have played around with (Apache and M$ Personal Web Server) log IPs, so I'm sure most other webservers do, too.

I completely trust this site and its owners. If I were the owner of such a popular website, I know I'd want to keep a log just in case someone decided to be stupid and break into the system, or post messages pretending to be someone else.

[bringspeed]

it also helps if someone posts an " all hail(insert name here)" as some other name that they created just to do this. /forum/biggrin.gif

[U-96]

If you think IP logging is dubious, go here to find what they* really know about your internet connection /forum/smile.gif

http://privacy.net/analyze/

As far as I know, IP logging has always been an option. It's just good and honest of Sysopt to let people know it's being done (and why), and to say as such on each post. This is a moderated site, and IP logging is but one tool that helps that process.

Just my tuppence worth

U-96

* I do not imply Sysopt or Earthweb here. Just thought I'd make that clear /forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by U-96 (edited 10-25-1999).]

[mudoggy]

Excellent link!
Kinda spooky..

What really irked me:
Follow the driver's liscence link.. to see list of states that sell your info to marketing companies! UNREAL!
You can then often download forms to put a stop to that (send it in to Dep. of Motor Vehicles, etc.)