Randomly changing IP?

David81 · 09-28-2006, 06:21 PM

I was made a moderator of a forum on another website, and we are able to see all the IP's that a user has posted from, I noticed that a lot of them are always changing, including mine. I know that some forums/websites IP Ban troublesome users, and some MMORPGs do this also.
1) What is the cause of the randomly changing IPs?
2) How do boards and online games manage to IP ban useres if the IP's are constantly changing, or do they use a different IP?

**Cellus** · 09-28-2006, 07:10 PM

Most residential broadband IP addresses are dynamic addresses - they change. This is normal for an ISP to do. So long as a connection is active from the modem/router (depending on your connection) it will ask for a lease - an IP address with an expiration date. Now the modem/router will continue to renew the lease on the address a certain intervals, but what happens if it doesn't (maybe it's not connected or turned off)? The lease on the IP will expire and will be added back into a pool to be used by another host. Once you are reconnected and ask for an IP, you will be given another one from the pool.

Dial-up connections change even moreso (yes, people still use dial-up). Their IP addresses will always change every time they dial-in.

Forums can use banning by an IP address, though some may ban a certain range of addresses if they suspect repeat offenders. There are other ways they can ban too but... uhh... a magician doesn't tell their tricks.

MMORPGs commonly ban by credit card instead of IP. Since credit cards stick a lot more to individuals than IPs, they are the most effective piece to use. And again there are other ways to ban for them as well but... you know.

...and yes, I have experience in dealing with both cases. I will not give up my secrets that easily.

09-28-2006, 06:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
David81 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 21 OS: XP	Randomly changing IP? I was made a moderator of a forum on another website, and we are able to see all the IP's that a user has posted from, I noticed that a lot of them are always changing, including mine. I know that some forums/websites IP Ban troublesome users, and some MMORPGs do this also. 1) What is the cause of the randomly changing IPs? 2) How do boards and online games manage to IP ban useres if the IP's are constantly changing, or do they use a different IP?

09-28-2006, 07:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,664 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	Most residential broadband IP addresses are dynamic addresses - they change. This is normal for an ISP to do. So long as a connection is active from the modem/router (depending on your connection) it will ask for a lease - an IP address with an expiration date. Now the modem/router will continue to renew the lease on the address a certain intervals, but what happens if it doesn't (maybe it's not connected or turned off)? The lease on the IP will expire and will be added back into a pool to be used by another host. Once you are reconnected and ask for an IP, you will be given another one from the pool. Dial-up connections change even moreso (yes, people still use dial-up). Their IP addresses will always change every time they dial-in. Forums can use banning by an IP address, though some may ban a certain range of addresses if they suspect repeat offenders. There are other ways they can ban too but... uhh... a magician doesn't tell their tricks. MMORPGs commonly ban by credit card instead of IP. Since credit cards stick a lot more to individuals than IPs, they are the most effective piece to use. And again there are other ways to ban for them as well but... you know. ...and yes, I have experience in dealing with both cases. I will not give up my secrets that easily. __________________ TSF Networking Team Virus/Trojan/Spyware Removal Help Donate! Last edited by Cellus; 09-28-2006 at 07:15 PM.