AB ed -can you identify users by their computer?

[forgetfultel]

If so, then I guess you can block that computer, and any user names they choose to use. This would seem to be the logical way to proceed, as there is at least one person able to hack in and use other peoples' identities.
The general consensus is that this person(s) got peoples userid's from the "coloured background" question some days ago.
They now seem to be abe to post under other peoples names, even in that person's own thread.
If your records can show which computer was used to post the specific threads, you should block that computer from ever getting a user name for AnswerBank, and banish them ASAP.

[dothawkes]

And unless you can guarantee that this is going to continue to be a site with secure access for all users, then it is not going to be a site much longer.

I for one am not impressed by how this has been able to happen over the last few weeks, on a Friday night especially and it is something that has to be stopped.

[forgetfultel]

I'll add to this that an imposter is using Dakota4 at the moment in ChatterBank. Don't know if it's the same person that was mis-using peoples names earlier, but if you have their computer ID, then you can get rid of them too.

[dothawkes]

And it would seem that someone is purposefully choosing a friday night to do this, is that becasue they know there is noone able to respond from the Editor then? Usually with something as obviously against the Site Rules as this, Ed would have pulled these threads earlier. But if there is noone as Ed around at night, that is when the greenies can create whatever ID they like. maybe there should be a no-greenies-registering-at night bar

[THECORBYLOON]

I have suggested before that there be cover 24/7. ABE has to take leave some time so who do they get in to cover her when she's off then? This site needs looking after full-time. It's getting beyond a joke and Crystal Guides Ltd have got to do something and do it NOW.

If folk can use wir usernames we could appear to be saying things that could see us ending up in court.

[mycatis]

I think Dotty has made an brilliant suggestion, people shouldn't be able to register at night or weekends if there isn't gonna be anyone there (at the AB end)
I for one will be leaving this site if there continues to be security concerns.

[loopey]

c.mon ed where are you? how safe is it?

[pixi]

well i just got email this morning telling me about this and i also gave my userid out on the coloured backgrounds thread. I thought about giving my mates on here a code to prove who I am if anyone posts as me (this has also been mentioned by other peeps) but at the end of the day i come on cb to have fun and when it gets to the point that you have to have secret codes to prove who you are then it stops being fun!!!!! Please ab ed is there any way this can be stopped ? luv pixi (the real pixi)

[jno]

great idea dot - nobody registers when AB Ed isn't in the office. Won't stop the dedicated hacker but would keep drunken trolls from spontaneously signing up when the pubs get out.

[forgetfultel]

AB ed - if you're watching - I'm giving 3 stars to ALL the good ideas. Hope you're passing them on to the monks and heavies.

[AB Editor]

HI All,

The imposter situation will be fixed shortly. In the meantime, please do not give out your UserID or post it on the site.

AB ED

[forgetfultel]

Thanks AB ED - can you let us know via this thread when the problem has been sorted, so we can go back to trusting each other in CB. Maybe we should also know who the guilty party is /are, so we can avoid them outside of this site if we have invited them into our non-AB lives - just their usernames/aliases, not their real names you understand.