Web Hosting Talk : Other Forums : Web Hosting Lounge : IP ban?

[Nam]

I just have a question that has been bugging me. If I get banned from some UBB or vBulletin websites, how does the IP ban function work? I use modem, means static IPs, how can the moderators do it when the IP has changed?

Also, is there anyway that somebody's IP get the same as my last time's connection? so he/she would get banned too? For example, my IP is 1.2.3.4 and got banned from this website, then I disconnected, is that possible if somebody else lives in the same area get my banned IP? if it is, then he/she get banned too, right?

Just a question, hope its sound is not stupid to you.

[Chicken]

So you're worried about tis eh? *mental note - watch Nam's posts*

Seriously, killing your user name, and any other you try to sign up under would be step one. Banning IP address isn't the fisrt thing that would be done, but if your IP address would be banned, I believe that the 256 block would be banned (your case: 4.54.86 - thus 256 possible users).

[jtan15]

Nam,

I run a UBB, and find it very difficult to effectively ban IP addresses. People will dial up modems usually get dynamic IP addresses, meaning they change all the time. So if your IP was 1.2.3.4, I'd ban 1.2. Then someone else would complain who lives in your town that they can't access, so I have to lift the ban.

[etLux]

The odds of two people in the same ending-block of 256 attending the same board are probably not all that high.

Personally, though, I'd rather use some other method of dealing with unruly posters... like hunting them down with rabid attack porcupines, disemboweling them, fermenting their organs into a beverage, and then serving it to my more mannerly guests.

Sometimes teaching by example is the best way.

[Nam]

Hehehe, Chicken, trust me, I won't post anything bad , and I didn't get banned from any other boards either. I was just wondering, that's all.

I know there are username and email ban options as well. But about IP, even it's not high like etLux said, there's still a chance, and more with high traffic board, doing that is just unfair for some others.

Thanks Vincent, I was confused btw dynamic and static IPs.

[BC]

Basically, IP banning is there as a last option only. I take a very different method - I get the ISP of the offender to drop by the offending pages, and then bug them like hell to check their logs and take action against that user. Of the 5 times I've done it (on other boards and chat rooms) 4 times the ISP complied, and the 5th time the user complied after I CC'd him the e-mails I was sending his ISP.

That will also be my method for dealing with repeat offenders here, as IP banning isn't really that effective unless you were on a static IP like @Home or DSL services.

[Duster]

Originally posted by etLux
The odds of two people in the same ending-block of 256 attending the same board are probably not all that high.

You'd be surprised. It can happen very easily. For instance, my informational resource site about SCUBA diving is one such example. Many of my forum members live in Florida (as I do)m which is one of the 2 most popular states for diving. BellSouth.net is one of the top 15 or 20 ISPs by size. Since BellSouth is the primary phone carrier in Florida, especially in the areas the members live in, and they offer many special deals to their phone customers for ISP service, the odds are high that many people, frequenting the same forum, use the same ISP. Thus, blocking by IP address, would likely affect other members of the forum

Aa others have mentioned, blocking by IP address is a very limited measure. It can work if someone uses a small ISP and no one else from that ISP visits the forum.

There are more effective means of dealing with troublemakers, and the msot effective is not based in technology.

A validated registration by e-mail feature was added to the program I use at my request, and we've never needed to use it, nor require registration. A good FAQ setting the rules, like people respecting each other, can help attract people who enjoy such a setting and will ignore the occasional miscreant.

I've got more details on my site on a page about building an online community. As with most anything I write, it is based on practicality rather than theory.

Technology works best when it supports, rather than replaces, the human element.
[/QUOTE]

[etLux]

You are, of course, quite correct, Duster -- especially so when it comes to resources that are in any way localized geographically, and hence may well be accessed by many people who use the same ISP.

You've pointed up a shortcoming in my perspective on this (and perhaps in the views of others): tending to think in terms of global access, when thousands upon thousands of very valuable sites serve regional clientele.

All the more reason to consider those rabid attack porcupines I mentioned...

[Edited by etLux on 10-29-2000 at 03:25 AM]

[Nam]

I want to add something. Actually, when IP is your last option, I still think it doesn't work because sometimes, I get totally different IP, not just 256 ending block. For example, I'm using Netzero, dial the same phone number, but sometimes I my IP is 255.0.0.0 instead of 4.0.0.0 (as usual). Then you have to do more works even if it's just a small ISP.

[Chicken]

And now you know why it is a pain in the buttocks to ban people by IP for message boards, your server, etc. Blah.