Why are subscriber's IP addresses posted on threads?

[musiclistener]

I stand corrected. Apparently a moderator has asked for an opinion on this. Good.

[SY]

Two have. I even consulted an expert and passed along her answer. It is as worrisome as having your car's license plates exposed.

[theAnonymous1]

Originally posted by SY
It is as worrisome as having your car's license plates exposed.

Not even.

All it takes is a trip to the DMV with $4 and the plate number in hand to get someones name and address. Try going to my ISP with $4 and my IP and see what that gets you.

[Geek]

Meh, if people can guess my exact IP and can get through a hardware firewall, two software firewalls AND crack a Linux box, I have a heckuva lot more to worry about than my IP showing

Cheers!

[lineup]

Originally posted by Notorious

Admin and mods can see your IP address always
and it is their job to monitor what's going on in forum.

That way they can either warn or ban trublemaker.

Displaying either full or partial IP address is in a way violation of privacy policy.

1. Any moderator or admin can see not only partial but the FULL IP of any poster.
This information does not have to be public to other.


2. Is publishing the partial IP number for other members to see a violation of privacy?

I do not think so.
But if there is no additional purpose displaying partial IP to other members
so, why do it ?????
We want to respect people's privacy, and especially those members we have.
As much as we can ... so let us do this, in action



I can only find one reason to add 75% 0of IP number on display for every post:
Scare people, members, that are crooks:
..we know who you are!
Do not try anything foolish .. we will get and nail you down.


But a well moderated board does not have to use such methods.
Sticky info and warnings & openly published Rules of conduct
can give bad members the message, anyway.

Without putting other good members private internet details On Display.


Regards, Lineup
-------------------------------------------------> here is my IP number

[musiclistener]

Lineup made some good points. I am not a computer security expert, and I don't have to be. Posting even 75% of users' IP addresses seems highly irregular and should not be done. Like lineup said, the website administrator already has our full IP address anyway, so the administrator should not feel that this is needed as a deterrent.

I think they're overstepping their boundaries here.

[Notorious]

@ Geek, Sy and theAnonymous1..
You guys are completley missing the point aren't you..
I was going trough forum trying to find anything pointing to the fact that posters IP is going to shown in their posts and found nothing.
When admin(s) were creating this place, I take it they enabled this function for a reason. Now if that reason was the fact that somebody might misuse the forum for his own commercial benefits, then they would have to mention that in sign up form or in FAQ's.
But then again as I said before, we have mods and admins to take care of what's going on in forum.
I still think they are in a way violating members privacy. Showing first three octets really zeros in a little too much on an individual.
No matter if you're using dynamic or static IP. If your IP is static, it is personally identifiable. If it's dynamic, they'd need assistance from your ISP to identify you.

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[lineup]

Originally posted by Notorious
@ Geek, Sy and theAnonymous1..
----
I still think they are in a way violating members privacy.
Showing first three octets really zeros in a little too much on an individual.
No matter if you're using dynamic or static IP.

I agree with your basic opinion, Notorious.
As there is no functional reason to show this internet detail of a poster
I can see no valid reason to give it away to others.
---------------------

I have setup & managed quite a number of forums, as Admin.
I have joined maybe 200 public forums & website communities.
The standard has never been to publish posters IP, partial or full.

Like it is close to always upto each member to make the choice if want to show email address ot not
we can consider personal IP-address being similar personal information.
Not even I have to reveal from what country I am or my true age.


>>>> If Email or IP-address is public or not,
this makes no difference, in that the moderators/administrators have full access to those, anyway - via database stored information.
This have to be, in order to keep the community clean and try to ban misbehaving people.


>>>>> I wouldn't want to run one of my public boards or community
and give away my members IP-Address.
Because I am more polite than this.
I have respect for my members privacy.
As I would like other communties where I am an active member to show maximum respect for my private information.

>>>>> Unfortunately, I do not run www.diyaudio.com forum.
If I was, you would see nothing but such polite respect from me
As long as you behave as the majority of all members = Very Well!


What can we do?
We can only via our opinion here, try to make the less well knowing admins of this board,
aware that they are not following good internet practice.
Not in this matter !!!!

But otherwise, I have not much complains about this website.
The managers do a pretty good job.
Even better than several times in the past



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... Sweden got first medal today:
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in Olympic Games Peking 2008.
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