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Category: vBulletin 3 Articles
How to Effectively Ban Users

(this isn't technically hacking, but there seems to be a lack of solid knowledge of the topic)

Let's say you have a troublesome user who broke the rules. Because of that, you banned him. He contacts you, pretending to be deep in sorrow from his transgressions, and you consider letting him back in.

That was mistake #1. Once you ban a member, keep him or her banned for the duration you chose (usually permanently). Do not read any communication from the banned user. And most importantly of all, never mention his name or hint at it in public or private!. Just pretend like he never existed.

Over time, he will become bored and move on. It may take literally 20 or more bannings, but it'll stop.

There are hacks here that are designed to either torture or hide the banned user, but I don't particurally think they're effective for a professional board; instead, simply use vB's built-in banning system.

Also, do not ban an IP range. Only ban a specific IP address, if you must at all. You can also do one of my favorite things: change the error template for a banned IP to not mention banned IPs but just generally say that the person was banned from your forums. Then, it's less likely that they'll know to try to post from another IP.

yeah good idea

This is my first post here.. I hope that I have come to the right place.

What I need is a a way to keep people from being able to view forums if for example they are under the age of 17 or 18 years of age.

I know that I can have a private forum. But then that would set up additional work of having to approve entry to that forum.

I know it can be done becasue I have seen it in different forums.

When I contacted vbulletin they told me I should visit hacking Hints and someone out there would have the answer and code that could be used.

This is not the correct forum for requesting hacks :).

Please post your request in the "requests" forum ;)

- miSt

Thanks Mist.. I knew that if this was not the place .. I would be pointed in the right direction.

http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=8

Post your request there:)

my think is this though.. Many people use cable or dsl. These systems change the users ip address on a regular basis. so if they just wait usually 3 days, they get a new ip address, and boom. there not blocked anymore..

Are there any other options?

Dave

I have cable and my IP hasn't changed for almost a year.

WOW!! - I live in NY and here we don't get static ip's from cable or dsl. They change them every 3 days usually..

Dave

We ban the IP's as we find them, slide any user id's they are using into a 'special users group' that has no privileges (including reading). It's hilarious seeing them log in and sit there with their name in que :D

I live in NY also, and my IP has been the same for the last 18+ months... you wanna effectively change your provider-supplied IP? Change your NIC. The new MAC address on the card will force a new IP Lease to be written, and the DHCP server will issue a new IP.

Personally I like the whole Tachy Goes to Coventry feature ;)

I have cable and my IP hasn't changed for almost a year.

If you unplug your router and shut down the PC, let it sit unplugged for a day or two youll get a new IP address next time you boot up the PC.

Thats with any cable service.

For example, if your connection is suspended due to non payment of cable bill, if its off for over 24 hours, next time you are connected your IP is different, or the same if you unplug your router, shut PC down and come back in a a day or two.

My IP was the same for 4 years until I found that out. I had someone trying to hack into my PC using my IP address and tried to request an IP change. Cable service refused to do it. But then I talked to someone who told me to unplug my router overnight and shut down the PC.

When I came back the next day and plugged it in and booted up, my IP had changed.

Now Im able to change my IP at will using that strategy.










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