Delete IPs within a certain interval
 

Description:

The script deletes the IP adresses within the following tables: adminlog, moderatorlog, post, threadrate, user. It doesnt remove the banned IPs (vBulletin Options, User Banning Options, Banned IP Addresses).

Installation:

1) Upload deleteip.php to /includes/cron

2) Login into your AdminCP

3) Go to Scheduled Tasks, Add New Scheduled Task

Varname: deleteip
Title: Delete IPs
Description: Delete IPs within a certain interval.
Log Phrase: Delete IPs

Set Interval.

Filename: ./includes/cron/deleteip.php
Product: vBulletin

Update Instructions:

Replace the file deleteip.php.

History:

Version 1.01: Cron Logging - log_cron_action() added.
Version 1.02: Speed Improvement - Significantly faster without the conditionals.
Version 1.03: Added conditionals again to decrease the database load.

Can you explain the benefit of this? I'm sure there must be one but I'm unaware of it.

I think it's just to reduce the size of your database...

You support your members to protect their privacy.

If you turn off the IP Address Log within vBulletin - AdminCP, Message Posting and Editing Options, Log IP Addresses, vBulletin still logs the IP Addresses in several other tables except the post table and the IP Addresses are still held in your database from the time before you put down the switch.

Why would someone turn off the IP address logging?

For security and privacy reasons.

Three Scenarios

Copyright Violation: A member posted a direct link to Disneys current movie and Disney asks you for the IP address of the user? You could say sorry, we do not log IP addresses to protect the privacy of our members.

Free Speech: A member posted something your goverment doesnt like and they ask you for the IP address of the user? You could say sorry, we do not log IP addresses to protect the privacy of our members.

Data Theft: Someone hacked your server and does a mysqldump, with the IP addresses he could easily run all IP addresses against a Geolocation database and sell it to markting companies or use it to uncover your members together with the email addresses.

You simply dont have what they try to get. You should also delete your webserver logs within a certain interval and instruct your members to use suitable email providers. Or use secure proxies in general which usual user doesnt do.

Excellent... i've always done this manually.

Thanks for sharing the benefits, it now makes more sense, Just one question, If I have a member who I wnat to ban by IP, how will I know what his IP is?

You still see the IP address via Who's Online (online.php) and you could control the deletion interval of course.

I'm curious about this....

I run a somewhat controversial local politics forum where people have become upset and threatened to sue members for their posts.

What effect does deleting the IP's have on vB as a whole? Will it mess with the polling (if enabled for guests)? If I process server logs for statistical data, and then run the cron job, will my stats still be valid (I try and maintain a 7 day stat that includes geo-location by IP)?

Thanks for any answers...

Jake

No effect, vBulletin still dont know the IPs of the members.
I dont know how vBulletin handles polls regarding to guests. Backup your database and run the script. ;)
The script is only responsible for vBulletin, the vBulletin database. Your Webserver logs are independent and the script wouldnt touch them. If you like to remove the logs you need to setup a additional linux cron job - the cron job mention by this plugin means vBulletin cron jobs (Scheduled Tasks).

Reserved.