anonymous posting

[bobc]

If someone makes a post to a forum that allows anonymous posting does that post contain any type of digital key or other digital identifier that can be accessed by another poster by either proper or improper means?

[JPnyc]

By anonymous, I assume you mean not requiring registration? The IP address of the user could still be logged, but nobody else could access it unless the forum administrator publicized it, or unless it's another user on the same ISP as you (assuming the IP is not static).

[bobc]

Thanks for the reply JPnyc. True, no registration was required. I need to clarify that I personally do need access anything on anyone. A friend made an anonymous post on a forum called topix.com that offended some hothead who then posted what appears to be HTML code stating the friends identity was in a hidden digital key within the code. I told him I thought the hothead was bluffing but would ask on this forum to be sure. I can post a copy if you would like to see it.

Thanks a million

BobC

[JPnyc]

If no registration is required, and no information was volunteered by the poster, the only thing they could get is the IP address, and from that you can get the ISP and General location.

[dinowuff]

JPnyc is correct BUT (don't you always hate the butts) If the hothead ran the physical server all bets are off. You connect to one of my servers and I know your internal IP even if you use NAT, your browser, your screen resolution hell If I wanted I could tell how much disk space you have. I'm guessing that the hothead posted A session cookie trying to look cool

[nihil]

Hey dinowuff or whatever, has the ******* finally fallen apart?

[isildur]

Of course he could also use one of the various anonymizers available and not really leave any true information.

[JPnyc]

A session cookie would be deleted when the session ended, though. I doubt IP info would be stored in a cookie, although I dunno what forum software is involved.

[dinowuff]

Hey dinowuff or whatever, has the ******* finally fallen apart?

Na I just like to go slumming, every now and then, on my old stomping grounds.

[tripstone]

Why couldn't an ip be stored in a cookie? A script that could write a cookie would most likely be coded by someone who also knew how to do, at the very least, a check for the ip of the requesting computer.