Question for the experts about IP address

[tpcollins]

I've been told if someone has several userID's set up on a forum and even though a different email address is used during registration, those userID's get "bundled" and recognized as being generated from the same PC/laptop IP address.

My question is, if userID A and B are set up from different computers in different towns with different IP addresses, and then A visits B and logs into the forum with B's computer - which IP address does the forum recognize - the one that A originally registered with or the most recent login location of B? Thanks.

 

[robvas]

Forums will record any address you log in from. So it will show you logging in from any IP you use, it doesn't matter what user ID you have.

 

[wegster]

It depends on the forum software. The first case you gave is basically an anti-spam or TOS (Terms of Service, e.g. single account per actual user..) attempt to ensure no one is creating multiple accounts, whether for personal or spamming purposes.

The other case you give is really just down to keeping logs of what IPs a user has logged in from over time, usually only cared about in the event some user turns out to be abusive, a spammer, troll etc...to look for what *may* be duplicate/alternate accounts.

If you're not trying to become a spammer, basically, I just wouldn't worry about it.

 

[hiddenmarkov]

case of hopping around its also not the more precise IP looked at. It can be just the few first bits of it.

So you know just see they are in the say US, and an IP in some Midwest place.

In terms of remembering IP's, if in place its can be most common one used. A game I play and its site use (forums, account management) has me setup for Japan. Its what it remembered at time of some change they did. Use a US VPN, I still get my buy more game time as if in Japan. Go back to the US and a real deal US connection and I see Japanese pay options still.

They know I changed IP, they say your are using a new IP, please give a name of a char you have as a security check. that doesn't reset my account and I stay Japan based.

Now we can throw in NAT to make this even more fun. Where yes if behind a NAT and some idiots do things to get the IP flagged you may get problems. All other side sees is the NAT address. And can act on that to taste/SOP.

 

[Michael Anthony]

The forum admins/moderators will be able to see the IP address that that specific post came from, whether it's noticed or it trips a warning depends on the forum

 

[IHelpId10t5]

I've been told if someone has several userID's set up on a forum and even though a different email address is used during registration, those userID's get "bundled" and recognized as being generated from the same PC/laptop IP address.

My question is, if userID A and B are set up from different computers in different towns with different IP addresses, and then A visits B and logs into the forum with B's computer - which IP address does the forum recognize - the one that A originally registered with or the most recent login location of B? Thanks.

The simple answer is that the User ID matters, not the IP. Although your IP will be logged, and may be used in session information or cookie derivations, your IP is in no way an indicator of who is logging in. If IP mattered like you are questioning, then everyone from any same household or large company (where NAT nearly always presents a single IP externally) would be confused by the forum.