IP addresses

[Mike63]

I am having a problem with IP addresses and the people on my SimpleMachines FORUM . . . all of the new people and SOME of the old people have the same IP address or one that is very similar to the incorrect one.  For instance, one of the people in my club just signed up and on the FORUM, it gave him an IP address from TEXAS and he and I both live in FLORIDA!!!

Any help would be totally nifty!!!

Thanks!

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Are you running a proxy (i.e., Cloudflare)?

[vbgamer45]

Also IP GEO location information is not always accurate it can vary greatly.

[Mike63]

Thanks for answering!

No proxy.

I hear you on the IP GEO location thing . . . but maybe 4-5-6 people on the FORUM membership all have the SAME IP ADDRESS!!!  And SPAMMERS have the same IP ADDRESS that the members have??!!!!!

[vbgamer45]

What mods you have installed on your forum?

[Illori]

have you asked your host about this? maybe they are running something on the server that is causing this issue.

[Mike63]

Where do I find out what "mods" I have installed???

[vbgamer45]

Under
Administration Center » Package Manager » Installed Packages

[Mike63]

Here's the Mod list I have . . . please note this SM FORUM has been functioning since ABOUT 2004-2005 or so!!

The list is attached!!!

Mike Jacobs

[vbgamer45]

The only one on that list that deal with IP's would be the last two.
I am thinking maybe httpBL might be the one though


When you visit the site does it record your ip correctly? you can verify by googling what is your ip address.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

If any of those mods are as old as the forum, you can expect to have problems.  Save yourself a lot of grief (and your forum a lot of work) by removing all the anti-spam mods and use core verification questions instead.

[Mike63]

Yes it gives me my correct IP address!

Mike

[Mike63]

Sir Osis . . . could you give me the numbers of the MOD list you would delete???

Thanks!

Mike

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I'd remove these, you can always reinstall if you have problems -

reCaptcha for SMF
Akismet Spam Blocking
Add Honey Pot to Track IP
httpBL

If you set up verification questions correctly, it's very effective.  You can add a visual element that makes it easier to generate questions (20-30, rotating 3 works well), and it's easier for people to use.  I've done that on several forums, it's been 100% effective.  This forum was running 4-5 anti-spam mods and a firewall, still having problems with bots and logging tons of errors.  All mods are removed, no bots and running clean, it's a busy forum.  Take a look at their registration page.

[Mike63]

 . . . I will . . . thanks for the advice.

How about all of the older SM updates?

Mike

[Sir Osis of Liver]

You can delete those.  If you're still at 2.0.15 you should update to .17.

[Mike63]

I am so sorry to bother you again . . . thanks for the help before . . . but I can't seems to figure out how to change SMF 2.0.15 to SMF 2.0.17 . . . it seems to want to go to SMF 2.0.16 and when I say OK to that it gives me an error message!

One more bit of help please!!!

Thanks

Mike

[vbgamer45]

What error message does it say?

[Sir Osis of Liver]

If you're using package manager to update, you have to install the patches in sequence  - 2.0.15 > .16 > .17. 

[Mike63]

vbgamer45 . . . I tried to update to 2.0.16 and it says something like "If you are not really experienced at this then don't try this.", so I didn't . . . those are my words but they give you the essence of what it said.  The problem is I NEVER EVER remember updating the my FORUM (since 2009 . . . I looked the date up) . . . does SimpleMachines ever update themselves???

Thanks for your help!!!

Mike