[Patria]

Originally Posted by cygy2k

Can you explain the benefit of this?

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.