[email protected] | 195.158.110.163

Published: November 13, 2008 at 3:40pm

From now on, I am going to adopt a policy of publishing the IP addresses of anyone who sends in violent, aggressive or abusive anonymous comments directed at me or at anyone else, instead of merely deleting them.




14 Comments Comment

  1. Guzeppi Grech says:

    Fair enough, but the problem is that many ISPs use dynamic IPs for their users, which means that the IP i have today, with which I insult you, might be given to a totally different and non-offensive person tomorrow. So, along with the IP address the time when that IP was used is also relevant to pinpoint the culprit.

    [Daphne – I’ll upload them immediately.]

  2. Jack says:

    I don’t think a “name and shame” approach is useful. Why not report the matter to the computer crime police unit?

    [Daphne – I will if I see fit. Right now, name and shame will do it.]

  3. Malcolm Buttigieg says:

    Oh my gosh, why is it that I suspect that the process of publishing the ip addresses of those who send in violent, aggressive or abusive anonymous comments is going to take up a lot of your time.

    Please do make sure that you still allocate sufficient time for your original writings.

    Cheers :)

  4. Dr.C. says:

    Hmmm, it won’t be working the way you’re thinking it will.
    Very very few IP addresses in Malta are static – the large majority are dynamic. Avoiding the jargon, very few people always have the same IP address, the large majority will have a different IP address every time they connect to the internet.

    For example, my IP is 85.232.218.114
    If I connect and disconnect, that IP address will become available to other GO customers. Mr X can log in then with my IP, and when I reconnect I can get the IP of Mr Y who’s just disconnected.
    This happens because an internet provider buys a range of IP addresses, for example GO owns the numbers between 85.232.208.0 and 85.232.223.255

    So, publishing the IP will get one nowhere. If anything, it can create confusion if a person whom you know and trust happens to log with the same IP as that of an abuser!

    The only way to achieve something would be to keep a log showing both the IP and the time and date when the message was posted. With that information, the police can go to the ISP and they can trace the user of that IP address. This is possible only if you keep note of time and date because the same IP can be used by many different persons, but never by more than one person at the same time.

    [Daphne – The revolting comments coming in over the last few days had the same IP address, which is how I knew it was the same person, despite the change of name and false email address, though there were other clues such as the language used. I imagine he disconnected and reconnected over that period.]

  5. Lino Cert says:

    Way to go Daphne! Though I wouldn’t publish the email because that could be forged and used to slander an innocent third party, for example someone could type in [email protected] , or someone else’s email that he may begrudge.

    [Daphne – I’m using an email-checker to find out whether the email address is valid, though as you say, anyone can pick anyone else’s email address and type it in. But in this case, it’s obviously fake, the use of my initials being the most obvious indicator. I am publishing the email address because that is the only way the person in question can know that I mean him (or her). We don’t ordinarily know our IP addresses or recognise them instantly even if we do.]

  6. Mario P says:

    cyber crime unit at HQ is the way to go

  7. Paul Borg says:

    Don’t let the pitiable sods waste your valuable time. I don’t see any gain from you publishing their IP’s (speech is silver, silence is gold). If there is any direct threat to you or your family then you should obviously file a report with the police. Other than that suggestion, just take any insult as a compliment in disguise- knowing that your wit is getting to these simpletons. Keep up the good work; if only all the politicians had the guts to speak their mind as you do.

  8. Vanni says:

    [email protected]
    ???

    [email protected]??

    Seems that karmelinu has a sense of humour.

  9. amrio says:

    I can suggest a thing or two we may do to make these persons’ life hell (only for onvol IP’s, as these, as far as I know, are the only static IP’s in use in Malta), but since what I’m thinking of is highly unethical, I’ll refrain from saying actually what.

  10. Chris II says:

    Daphne, if the adsl or most likely the router, is an always on one, then a person might remain online for days without his IP changing – but then once he/she disconnects (or is disconnected) then the IP is available for others – so the advice to keep the time is very valid.

  11. Marcus says:

    All that has been said above is very valid wrt IP addys and corresponding time data.

    But why don’t you also publish what these vile creatures have tried to post so that they can be vilified accordingly?

    [Daphne – That would be defeating the purpose, wouldn’t it?]

  12. me says:

    As a matter of fact
    http://www.dcg.com/
    is a real website.

  13. Marcus says:

    Well, it depends in which way you look at it I suppose. I see it more as exposing them for what they are, especially once their IP data is revealed.

  14. Periklu says:

    from Dr.C:

    “The only way to achieve something would be to keep a log showing both the IP and the time and date when the message was posted. With that information, the police can go to the ISP and they can trace the user of that IP address. This is possible only if you keep note of time and date because the same IP can be used by many different persons, but never by more than one person at the same time”.

    Probably, if not certainly, the only method, which can provide success.

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