mutiple avatars from the same computer

Hello,


Is there a way to detect if someone is using multiple instances of the viewer and more than one avatar from a single computer?
I don't want ppl to use a number of alts to win a contest.



thanx

i think the only way to do that is by figuring out the ip address of the avatars, which is against the TOS as far as i know, and it's not scriptable.

I am sorry, but did you even think about what you are asking here?

Edit: Apologies, guess you don't know or you wouldn't be asking.

Even having the IP address wouldn't do you any good. All computers hook into the LL servers, NOT to other computers. The only way to see if there are multiples running from a single computer would be to hack either the end user's computer or LL's server. Either solution carries a penalty of doing time in jail.

Not QUITE true. There are ways to use the media URL to get the IP address of a resident's computer, unless they are using a Quicktime proxy or don't turn on the media stream. Of course, while I'm not sure if it is against the TOS or not, it seems pretty unscrupulous for a non-administrator of the SL service (I know all that about IP address not being "private" data, but it's certainly not need-to-know by anyone except LL, so it's not exactly data EXPECTED to be available to other SL users either), and I certainly wouldn't do it. Also two users having the same public IP address does NOT mean they are using the same computer; they might be on a home or business or educational network that uses NAT (network address translation), thus representing all computers behind the firewall with the same external public IP address.

Yep I skipped part of the logic. You and Ruthven were correct.

No... FYI though, I have both a desktop and a laptop. I can log on to both at once with different AVs going through the same router with the same external IP address.

so yeah, to conclude your question, not directly....or legally, you'll just have to let it happen. you could keep a record of the winners and if they seem to win too often, that could be a beacon. also pay attention to whether they tp people in (they'll appear righ in front of the person initiating the tp) and whether or not those people ever say anything. most of the time if someone is using their alt, they'll be more focused on one avatar while the other is just kinda standing there

Ok, thanks everyone, I figured that finding the source IP was the easiest way and I am aware of the issues around that.
I was just wondering if there was something like a computer identifier associated with a UUID. Guess there isn't. No big deal, keeping a list of the winners will do.