Proxies

[WildSimba]

[quote="Woeler1"][quote="DGFone"][quote="FlipMode"]The thing is some legit users have what is called a static IP (given a new ip with each visit) and those are recognised as proxies even though they aren't actually using a proxy server as such...[/quote]

Just to go all technical on you, I believe you are referring to a dynamic IP. Static means stable and unchanging, so an IP that changes is dynamic, not static. And there are different kinds of dynamic IPs, those that change rarely, to I've heard even once every fifteen minutes if not even more often.
Just checked: just as its name implies, a static IP never changes.

And my household uses a dynamic IP, so I assume that many innocent members can suffer if dynamic IPs will get blocked.[/quote]
Dynamic IP's do change. But they don't undergo major changes, just a few numbers. If traced, the ip will show the exact same location and information. This is impossible for proxies. We should look at people that log in at 6am from an ip in the US and at 8pm from an ip in India for example. Mods can easily see the difference between a dynamic ip and a proxy (if they do their homework lol)

Also, I misread something. You can in fact go around a blockage with proxies. However, If you're not supposed to go here, don't go here. Using proxies will confuse the mods and admins. If you use them, deal with the consequences.

I'm sorry but it's way to easy to say ''I need it in school'' while in fact this could be a duplicate account from people we don't want here.

We need to realize what damage proxies have done to this community. Various members have come back (silently). Last night was a nazi pm festival, Nazi pridepoints, Regular spam, abuse of members and the systematic trolling events.

I say: Make a rule that forbids proxies, but do educate yourself on the difference between dynamic ip addresses and proxies. There are differences and they can easily be seen.[/quote]

It depends. IP's almost never show someone's exact location. It can change it around, or come up with false positives. And, that would also be assuming that the mods should check every new member an be suspicious of every member for a proxy. It just wouldn't work, it's too much work than needed, and as said before, it'd only add more red tape to the forum.

These attacks just happen sometimes. It's a forum. No reason to drown it in more rules to prevent the impossible. The mods just need to act when it comes up.

[TheRoguePrince]

[quote="Woeler1"]We need to realize what damage proxies have done to this community. Various members have come back (silently). Last night was a nazi pm festival, Nazi pridepoints, Regular spam, abuse of members and the systematic trolling events.[/quote]


[quote="WildSimba"]It depends. IP's almost never show someone's exact location. It can change it around, or come up with false positives. And, that would also be assuming that the mods should check every new member an be suspicious of every member for a proxy. It just wouldn't work, it's too much work than needed, and as said before, it'd only add more red tape to the forum.

These attacks just happen sometimes. It's a forum. No reason to drown it in more rules to prevent the impossible. The mods just need to act when it comes up.[/quote]
How is this a big deal? Just have a moderator check the IP once the member needs to have their first post approved. This kind of thing doesn't happen more than once a day. The new members list shows this happening 5 times in the past week. And that's not counting the spammers accounts that were deleted

It's hardly a rule, since it affects no legit members (as Woeler pointed out), and requires hardly any additional mod effort. Like Woeler said, if they use a proxy, you can tell. You talk like someone who has never been a mod before. And if you think the attacks are done with, well, you'll excuse me while I LOL all over the place.

[Woeler]

[quote="WildSimba"]

It depends. IP's almost never show someone's exact location. It can change it around, or come up with false positives. And, that would also be assuming that the mods should check every new member an be suspicious of every member for a proxy. It just wouldn't work, it's too much work than needed, and as said before, it'd only add more red tape to the forum.

These attacks just happen sometimes. It's a forum. No reason to drown it in more rules to prevent the impossible. The mods just need to act when it comes up.[/quote]
That's absolutely not what I'm saying. I'm saying that if an account acts suspicious, check the IPs, compare them and their traceable origin, and ban if it points to an obvious proxy. There are quite a few accounts on this forum today which are suspicious and I'm not the only one who sees that.

I never said check all accounts, You know I'm smarter than that.

[Arani]

Hmm, this does sound like an idea, and i'm personally fine with it. But i don't know anything about proxies and such so i'm not the best judge, but it could work.

[Moka]

[quote="Woeler1"]I'm saying that if an account acts suspicious, check the IPs, compare them and their traceable origin, and ban if it points to an obvious proxy.[/quote]

We already do this.

I would like to mention that is very easy to attack a forum without the use of a proxy. All you need to do is get off your butt and go to your nearest cafe, library, university, and use their free, public internet.

I do not want to have an absurdly tall wall of defense that new members have to climb in order to join this forum. At some point we need to draw the line between defense and how welcoming we are to new members. I believe that line is drawn where it needs to be drawn right now. New members shouldn't need to suffer an untrusting initial atmosphere just because we can't handle a few spam PM's once in a while.

[Regulus]

Seriously, that is almost exactly what we do. The only exception is that we don't ban anyone if they use a proxy. We do, however, keep a close eye on accounts which are suspicious, as Woeler pointed out. And yes, it's very easy to tell the difference between a static IP, dynamic IP, and public IP.

[Woeler]

[quote="Regulus"]The only exception is that we don't ban anyone if they use a proxy. [/quote]
Then I suggest we do so now. there is no reason for ANYONE to use a proxy for visiting a lionking forum. If your school has it blocked (highly doubt it) then deal with it. The negative side of proxies have done much more damage than the good sides (if there are any) have done good.

[DGFone]

What about innocent until proven guilty?

If we ban proxies, no matter the reason, false flag or not, the server thinks you're on a proxy? BAN!
Wrong thing to do when you look at it at any angle.

[Woeler]

[quote="DGFone"]What about innocent until proven guilty?

If we ban proxies, no matter the reason, false flag or not, the server thinks you're on a proxy? BAN!
Wrong thing to do when you look at it at any angle.[/quote]
I don't mean an automated system. I am saying that when an account is suspicious AND turns out to be using proxy, it should be banned.

[DGFone]

Even if it is suspicious, all it means is that when they do something wrong, they will be cause sooner. If they don't do anything wrong, why ban them? Even if they do act suspicious. Remember that being an idiot is not a banable offence on MLK.