Thread: Way to prove each user (person) has only one account, without biometrics

  1. #1
    Registered User javaeyes's Avatar
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    Way to prove each user (person) has only one account, without biometrics

    I am trying to conceive an algorithm / concept for a website / web service where each user can have only one account. I suppose Biometrics would be one starting point, but I don't want to use that. Can anyone think of any other way?

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    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    What do you mean by "prove"? I think you need to provide more context, e.g., are the users employed by your company? How important is it to prove this? How scalable must this be?
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  3. #3
    Master Apprentice phantomotap's Avatar
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    O_o

    This can't be done; move along.

    Even "biometric" devices aren't going to "prove" an "account per" situation when any "identifier" is eventually going to travel over the web.

    Soma

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    [](){}(); manasij7479's Avatar
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    Way to prove each user (person) has only one account, without biometrics-mission_impossible_i-jpg

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    Registered User javaeyes's Avatar
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    I don't really think it can be done, although the mission impossible image is hilarious. To answer laserlight's question, you don't know anything about the user except that they have an internet connection and a browser. I suppose I'm envisioning a global voting service, where each vote comes from one person.
    I suppose you could have a voting window of 1 minute, users log in during that minute and must complete a captcha which would take more than 30 seconds. Pretty lame, but possible.

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    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by javaeyes
    To answer laserlight's question, you don't know anything about the user except that they have an internet connection and a browser. I suppose I'm envisioning a global voting service, where each vote comes from one person.
    Then indeed it is impossible.

    Quote Originally Posted by javaeyes
    I suppose you could have a voting window of 1 minute, users log in during that minute and must complete a captcha which would take more than 30 seconds.
    That would not stop a user from creating multiple accounts and hence voting multiple times. Plus, captchas can be defeated, if necessary by setting up a porn site that requires users to fill in a captcha to view the porn, and thus get porn viewers to perform the work of bypassing your captcha (the traffic will eventually be sufficient for this to work within the 1 minute time limit as we all know that the Internet is for porn).
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

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    Can't you just check the IPs...?

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by memcpy View Post
    Can't you just check the IPs...?
    You're kidding right?
    Right 98% of the time, and don't care about the other 3%.

    If I seem grumpy or unhelpful in reply to you, or tell you you need to demonstrate more effort before you can expect help, it is likely you deserve it. Suck it up, Buttercup, and read this, this, and this before posting again.

  9. #9
    Master Apprentice phantomotap's Avatar
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    Can't you just check the IPs...?
    Me: Hello Comcast representative, my modem has been flaky lately; can you send a new carrier signal?
    Representative: Certainly you crazy bastard you!
    Me: No. That didn't help; my connection is still being wonky.
    Representative: Well, we can get someone out to your house as soon as Monday.
    Me: Well, before we schedule that, I wonder, is it possible my IP address is being throttled on your end?
    Representative: I'm sorry sir, I see no evidence that we are throttling your IP address.
    Me: I see, but just to be safe, do you think you can rotate me out to another IP address?
    Representative: Yes. We can do that, but it may take up to four hours.
    Me: Well, go ahead and do that for me; I can call back if it doesn't fix my problems.

    Oh, look I have a new IP address, but was that really necessary?

    Nope!

    *search: online anonymity tool*

    Wow. Would you look at that? I can tunnel my traffic through hundreds of different IP addresses!

    Soma

  10. #10
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    Actually your Comcast call transcript does not have enough steps. You forgot about the fifty digits you have to press to get to the right department and entering your phone number or account number at least 3 separate times. You also forgot about the 4 department transfers you have to go through to get to someone that actually has any answers. You might have also missed the two disconnects you experience while waiting for a representative and the poor call quality and/or language barriers that force you to repeat every one of your statements at least 3 times before the rep understands half of what you are saying.

    Not that I'm bitter or anything.....

  11. #11

  12. #12
    Master Apprentice phantomotap's Avatar
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    [Off Topic]

    Actually your Comcast call transcript does not have enough steps.
    I always call the business help line directly; yes, even though I only have a residential line. I usually get kicked from there strait to "tier 2". You should try that next time you have to call.

    Not that I'm bitter or anything...
    O_o

    TL;DR: I am unable to accurately express how much Sprint sucks as a business without turning to my handy thesaurus.

    You don't know anything; a few months back I had to get a refund from Sprint. Oh, this was no normal refund. They misspelled my name on the contract. Nope. This wasn't a normal misspelling. They screwed up bad enough my bank would not cash the check. (Seriously, "Zerp Barintino" is not a name I've ever heard.) Hilarity did not ensue. I was told it would be 180 days (It was 30 days for each step in lengthy process.). I called my credit card company (Chase) and explained the situation; they cleared the charge instantly. I called Sprint and let them know the situation. (This took dozens of calls over several weeks.) That should have marked the end of it, but the refund claims department at Sprint does not speak to the billing department at Sprint. (I wish I was joking. I am not joking. The different departments internal ticket systems are not connected.) The billing department thought I had falsely setup a "charge back" so reported it to the credit unions. Hilarity did not ensue. Fortunately for me I had kept all the information so when the collection agency called I could prove my situation. Strangely enough, the "bounty mounty" the bill was passed to would eventually charge Sprint more than they claimed I owed which I do find funny. ^_^

    GetHuman.com
    There is nothing interesting here; they have the contact number that is on every single billing statement.

    [/Off Topic]

    Soma

  13. #13
    Lurking whiteflags's Avatar
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    There is nothing interesting here; they have the contact number that is on every single billing statement.
    Hmm? It explains how to abuse the phone system and talk to a person.

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