Wikipedia:Requests for checkuser/Case/Paul20070

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[edit] Paul20070

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Filed: 16:38, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

Did the above two accounts use the same IP address in the past 48 hours? I came upon a bad AIV report that degraded into a focused wikistalk by user: 86.147.218.231 targeting a user that User: Paul20070 had a similar run-in with in December and focusing on articles and related articles they had in common. The IP user: 86.147.218.231 had never edited before, appeared about the time User: Paul20070 stopped editing. I ending up blocking the IP for harassment. It seems too coincidental. Thank you. Toddst1 (talk) 00:19, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Just noticed this debate as my user page is linked to this page. I can confirm that I did have a run-in with this user back in December last year over various bits and pieces of disruptive editing in November/December. From what I recall, it mainly concerned adding unverifiable information to articles. Anyway, he accused me of shadowing his activity so I backed off.
As for the IP address business, it's quite possible that I had this IP address yesterday, although I'm usually in the 81 or 217 range. I say it's possible because I've had one or two problems with edits made from both my system and IP addresses, and this could be another instance of it. I am pleased that somebody has raised the issue as I was not personally sure what action to take.
On 24 January, a friend of mine who I had allowed to use my system made this edit [1] to the article Nipple. You'll notice the edit is unavailable. This is because they copy/pasted text from a book I am currently under contract to write, and I had to email a request for overright. Fred Bauder dealt with this and I'm happy to provide you with a copy of these emails if necessary.
Two days later, on 26 January, an account by the name of YourNamingPolicyMakesMeBlowChunks was created and promptly blocked. This, I know, came from my IP address because it was autoblocked, and my account along with it. I made a request to have it unblocked because I was unable to edit, and this was granted later that evening by User:Sandstein [2].
There also appear to have been some other shenanigans going on with several other accounts having apparently been created from my system (most apparently making good faith edits from what I can tell). Some of these may have come from friends I've allowed to use my system (who've then misused my trust), but I suspect something more sinister could be going on here. I am a wireless broadband user, and live in an apartment block, and for some weeks now, I've had the distinct impression that someone is piggybacking my system. I'm planning to disconnect my wireless router in order to stop this.
Returning to yesterday, I was logged on yesterday morning until about 12:30, but then had to go out for the afternoon and didn't return home until around 6pm.
I hope this clears the matter up, but please don't hesitate to contact me if you require any further information. Thank you Paul20070 (talk) 14:47, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

These names appear in my login box;

Some of these users have been editing while I have been away on holiday. Last year, I took holidays between August 19 and September 11, and from 16 - 29 December. Paul20070 (talk) 15:50, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

Frightening thing is, I've actually corresponded with some of these users without realising they might have been socks. Paul20070 (talk) 16:36, 8 April 2008 (UTC)
Given the extent of the problem, I have decided to retire. I'll be checking back for a few days though, so will be happy to help unravel this in any way I can. Paul20070 (talk) 16:14, 9 April 2008 (UTC)
  • Note: Copied into a separate case page from Wikipedia:Requests for checkuser/IP check [3], seeing as how this editor has apparently outed himself for running a significant number of sockpuppets. Thatcher 16:38, 9 April 2008 (UTC)
    • I've been inadvertantly running them, I hasten to add. I knew nothing about them until yesterday. But, whatever the outcome of this, I'll be retiring anyway. I also plan to salt my password at that point. Paul20070 (talk) 16:41, 9 April 2008 (UTC)
  • Confirmed these accounts appear to be the same person. I note that there are several aspects of the technical evidence which cause me to disbelieve the "neighbor poached my wireless" story or the "inadvertently running them" story. If your neighbor created these accouts, there would be no way for you to access them without the password, as even the stored password cookie would be on the neighbor's PC, not yours. And there are times where accounts come and go within a few minutes of each other on the same IP, which is either 2 computers sharing an IP (unlikely based on the evidence) or one user logging in and out. Plus, at least one of these accounts has not edited since August, so I have no idea how Paul would know about it unless it was him. On the other hand, most of these accounts have not previously been blocked or warned as far as I can tell and represent reasonably good editors. So I don't know what Paul is playing at. (Assuming for the sake of argument that the stolen wireless story is true, all routers have several levels of access control, you just need to read the manual or the help page to figure out how to encrypt the signal so that only you can use it.) Thatcher 17:05, 9 April 2008 (UTC)
    • I've never actually bothered to encrypt the signal. I just set the thing up and started using it. I now realise this was quite foolhardy, and asking for trouble. I am unable to access these user IDs myself, because I don't personally know their passwords. I just noticed they were listed in the login box after reading the IP check report, and smelled a rat. I'm sure if someone can manipulate an IP address to appear as though it comes from another continent, this sort of thing is perfectly feasible.
    • Moreover, there are some other things I should mention.
      • As mentioned above, I have foolishly allowed friends to use my computer, and some of these sockpuppet accounts may be as a result of that. That was certainly the case with NaughtyNipples88 and probably some of the others.
      • I've picked up various viruses as a result of drive-by downloads, which have played havoc with my system - sending off information into the ether and the like.
      • I was away on holiday (and hence not logged on) when some of these editors were active. This can be demonstrated by the fact that I've tended to edit on a daily basis when I'm able to.
      • Finally, anyone who's written a book would tell you how much time that takes up. And I've edited quite heavily from my account. I simply don't have time to play stupid games by creating sockpuppet accounts who appear to argue with each other. Paul20070 (talk) 18:01, 9 April 2008 (UTC)
        • Have just noticed that Delgo and The Dog's Bollocks haven't been registered as users. So what are they doing in my login box? Paul20070 (talk) 20:04, 9 April 2008 (UTC)
        • Also, Citybest appears to have had a disagreement with another user over articles related to pornography here. Not a subject I personally have an interest in. Paul20070 (talk) 20:12, 9 April 2008 (UTC)
  • OK. I've finally got to the bottom of this mess. The sockpuppetry is the work of two individuals who I've allowed to work on my system - one of who has been looking after my apartment whenever I've been away. Both have confessed and our friendship is over as a result of this. So I guess there was no wireless poaching going on in the end. I'm deeply sorry for the disruption this has caused and hope this is now an end to it. I'll now say goodbye, but will first remove my farewell message from my talk page as it no longer seems relevant. Thanks Paul20070 (talk) 00:10, 10 April 2008 (UTC)
    • I'll also now salt my password. Paul20070 (talk) 00:12, 10 April 2008 (UTC)
  • I actually had requested a checkuser on Citybest because it was a disruptive account and it admitted to sockpuppetry. Enigma message Review 02:21, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

I am User:Paul20070 and am currently trying to request deletion of my userspace, as I forgot to do it before I left. However, because I salted my password, this is proving difficult. I have been advised that an admin with checkuser priveleges may be able to confirm my identity and therefore delete my userpages. I have also brought the matter to the attention of Alison and Jimbo Wales, so hopefully this will be concluded with satisfaction.

Furthermore, I have been able to obtain the passwords of four of the above accounts, and have now been in, requested deletion of their userspace and salted their passwords, so they cannot be accessed from another PC. Thanks. Paul20070 81.152.149.124 (talk) 12:33, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

  • Note: per a discussion at (WP:ANI - permanent link) and the users talk page, I have deleted both user talk and user page. They are easily restorable. I see no reason how this will prejudice or harm this case, and it minimises drama and multi forum and user page postings. Pedro :  Chat  20:05, 11 April 2008 (UTC)


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