Masking vs showing IP address
Most of the following information was elicited from a world famous IT specialist and trivia player. (:
IRC is full of wannabe internet rulers, generally kids, who utilize readily available scripts and cracking programs to attack just about any random IP.
Some IRC networks help you avoid these attacks by masking your IP address if you register your nickname and set a certain option or mode. It varies from network to network.
In the irc.netsplit.de directory, #trivia at IRCstorm is the ONLY trivia channel that states upfront that you need to register for the best experience. Not understanding the risks they take playing without protection, new IRC players may consider registration to be a nuisance - or an invasion of privacy, maybe being forced to divulge real life personal details - and will give the channel a miss.
Unfortunately, the networks with the most active trivia channels - EFnet, DALnet and IRCnet - do NOT support masking, and EFnet is totally "old school" in that it has no channel or nickname registering services either (which means anybody can steal your nick and even the trivia channel itself if it is not protected from take-over attacks by having a network of TrivMON bots).
Also, although some web-based IRC gateways may mask your IP address, be aware that Mibbit does not; and also take into account that these gateways slow down your speed considerably. Read the following for a full explanation of web access: Web access or IRC client?
PRO:
If you've joined IRC to enjoy real-time competitive trivia, especially if you rely on one nickname for your game, then it is only a matter of time before your gaming is going to be severely disrupted by attack – and not necessarily from a fellow player who wants to get rid of you. It's a no-brainer to ensure a fun and safe IRC trivia experience by joining a network that allows your IP address to be masked!
CON:
Once you've registered a nickname, it may be difficult to change it, so choose carefully! Also, by choosing a secure network you may have to settle for a less exciting trivia experience in terms of player numbers or innovations; and you will have to rely on the honesty of players to tell you exactly who they are and where they come from if their IP addresses are masked.
It goes without saying, too, that people who have a fetish for collecting IP addresses will hate networks that cloak them. (:
For a thorough explanation of the risk involved in registering with IRC networks read: Nick registration risks
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Apparently, there is no published ‘list of networks that support masking’, so you can try googling terms like 'irc' and 'hostmask cloaking' and failing that you will have to trawl through each network.
DALnet and OperaNet support nickname registration only, to protect your nickname, but they do not support masking to protect your privacy and security.
IRCstorm supports registration and masking, and of the bigger networks the following appear to support registration and cloaking in one form or another:
Freenode: http://freenode.net/faq.shtml#cloaks
UnderNet: http://help.undernet.org/faq.php#03
QuakeNet: http://www.quakenet.org/news.php?item=167_
--quote from QuakeNet--
/mode nickname +x
Changes your host to "authname.users.quakenet.org", where authname is your Q account name. Users will see you quit and rejoin IRC with this new host. You are advised to set this mode before entering any channels for maximum security.
--end quote--
See List of irc trivia rooms with masking mode
IRC is full of wannabe internet rulers, generally kids, who utilize readily available scripts and cracking programs to attack just about any random IP.
Some IRC networks help you avoid these attacks by masking your IP address if you register your nickname and set a certain option or mode. It varies from network to network.
In the irc.netsplit.de directory, #trivia at IRCstorm is the ONLY trivia channel that states upfront that you need to register for the best experience. Not understanding the risks they take playing without protection, new IRC players may consider registration to be a nuisance - or an invasion of privacy, maybe being forced to divulge real life personal details - and will give the channel a miss.
Unfortunately, the networks with the most active trivia channels - EFnet, DALnet and IRCnet - do NOT support masking, and EFnet is totally "old school" in that it has no channel or nickname registering services either (which means anybody can steal your nick and even the trivia channel itself if it is not protected from take-over attacks by having a network of TrivMON bots).
Also, although some web-based IRC gateways may mask your IP address, be aware that Mibbit does not; and also take into account that these gateways slow down your speed considerably. Read the following for a full explanation of web access: Web access or IRC client?
PRO:
If you've joined IRC to enjoy real-time competitive trivia, especially if you rely on one nickname for your game, then it is only a matter of time before your gaming is going to be severely disrupted by attack – and not necessarily from a fellow player who wants to get rid of you. It's a no-brainer to ensure a fun and safe IRC trivia experience by joining a network that allows your IP address to be masked!
CON:
Once you've registered a nickname, it may be difficult to change it, so choose carefully! Also, by choosing a secure network you may have to settle for a less exciting trivia experience in terms of player numbers or innovations; and you will have to rely on the honesty of players to tell you exactly who they are and where they come from if their IP addresses are masked.
It goes without saying, too, that people who have a fetish for collecting IP addresses will hate networks that cloak them. (:
For a thorough explanation of the risk involved in registering with IRC networks read: Nick registration risks
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Apparently, there is no published ‘list of networks that support masking’, so you can try googling terms like 'irc' and 'hostmask cloaking' and failing that you will have to trawl through each network.
DALnet and OperaNet support nickname registration only, to protect your nickname, but they do not support masking to protect your privacy and security.
IRCstorm supports registration and masking, and of the bigger networks the following appear to support registration and cloaking in one form or another:
Freenode: http://freenode.net/faq.shtml#cloaks
UnderNet: http://help.undernet.org/faq.php#03
QuakeNet: http://www.quakenet.org/news.php?item=167_
--quote from QuakeNet--
/mode nickname +x
Changes your host to "authname.users.quakenet.org", where authname is your Q account name. Users will see you quit and rejoin IRC with this new host. You are advised to set this mode before entering any channels for maximum security.
--end quote--
See List of irc trivia rooms with masking mode
Labels: cloaking, cracking programs, ip address, masking, registering nicks, scripts, trivia
<< Home