Does Steam share someone else's IP address upon request?

[Hey I'm Back!]

When there are insults, swearing and threats in a game played on Steam, can the IP address of the other person be requested upon request?

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by Crashed:

Originally posted by Brian9824:

Yes they do, its basically just Date it was assigned, who it was assigned to, and when it stopped being assigned. it's all automated and stored in database. They have to for legal reasons such as when police need to identify who was using an IP address at a specific time.

How do VPN providers get away with not retaining these logs?

"Get away with"

They aren't getting away with anything. Any good VPN uses servers that don't store any information. Since that's the whole point.

[Eagle_of_Fire]

Originally posted by Hey I'm Back!:

When there are insults, swearing and threats in a game played on Steam, can the IP address of the other person be requested upon request?

On an unofficial level, any game you play on the net share your IP in some shape or form. Savy people could grab that and figure the rest out. We're not talking about your next door neighbour who's not computer savy here, but still.

On a official stand point, of course they can. But this kind of request is heavily regulated and so they need a very strong reason to ever do that. They would certainly never do it randomly just because.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by Crashed:

Originally posted by Brian9824:

Yes they do, its basically just Date it was assigned, who it was assigned to, and when it stopped being assigned. it's all automated and stored in database. They have to for legal reasons such as when police need to identify who was using an IP address at a specific time.

How do VPN providers get away with not retaining these logs?

Simple, either not registered to the public can look up so easily, or from country that not required to do so.

Known VPN like nordvpn, or etc do record data about users that uses their services for legal reasons.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

Originally posted by Crashed:

How do VPN providers get away with not retaining these logs?

Simple, either not registered to the public can look up so easily, or from country that not required to do so.

Known VPN like nordvpn, or etc do record data about users that uses their services for legal reasons.

They record connections. They don't record any of where those connects visit.

So all they have is just a log saying "This IP connected at this time." but not anywhere that IP visited.

[Eagle_of_Fire]

Originally posted by Boblin the Goblin:

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

Simple, either not registered to the public can look up so easily, or from country that not required to do so.

Known VPN like nordvpn, or etc do record data about users that uses their services for legal reasons.

They record connections. They don't record any of where those connects visit.

So all they have is just a log saying "This IP connected at this time." but not anywhere that IP visited.

Which is enough (in the vast majority of cases) to be able to trace back what you were doing. If they really want to take the time to investigate that.

[EASY PETE]

I suppose its possible for a police department to request an ip then ask the isp for who the ip belongs to and find out who you are from there, name, address etc

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by Eagle_of_Fire:

Originally posted by Boblin the Goblin:

They record connections. They don't record any of where those connects visit.

So all they have is just a log saying "This IP connected at this time." but not anywhere that IP visited.

Which is enough (in the vast majority of cases) to be able to trace back what you were doing. If they really want to take the time to investigate that.

Except all they can see is that you connected to the server.

They can see what happened after that because logless VPNs don't keep those logs. If they could find out, then multiple countries wouldn't have subpoenaed Mullvad and come back with nothing.

Because there was nothing to come back with after see their suspect connected to Mullvad's servers.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by EASY PETE:

I suppose its possible for a police department to request an ip then ask the isp for who the ip belongs to and find out who you are from there, name, address etc

Yep, that is literally how it works. They'd issue a subpoena to the ISP with a list of IP addresses and time and ask them to tell them who those IP addresses were issued to at the time. Its why IP address by itself is useless.

[RiO]

Originally posted by Kargor:

Originally posted by Hey I'm Back!:

Even if requested by legal authorities?

You really think any police would launch an international investigation because someone said something you don't like?

Fun story that...

Apparently Sony works with British police forces and literally has them come knocking on your door if you spout foul language in game.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by Boblin the Goblin:

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

Simple, either not registered to the public can look up so easily, or from country that not required to do so.

Known VPN like nordvpn, or etc do record data about users that uses their services for legal reasons.

They record connections. They don't record any of where those connects visit.

So all they have is just a log saying "This IP connected at this time." but not anywhere that IP visited.

Depending on the VPN service you use, either they log:
- Connection time frame.
- Requests to visit / download data.
- Data sent via their service.

VPN providers can choose how long they want to store said information, as well if they wish to review said information. That why have to read their FAQ & TOS, or asking them up front how it works with said VPN provider. Some VPN may not keep records of request, or sent data, but will likely record IP at time frame, some may even add bit more infomration like IP request at address time frame, and so on.

So not only just IP address recorded, they can record other things remember they're the hub you're using to send, and receive data through.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

Originally posted by Boblin the Goblin:

They record connections. They don't record any of where those connects visit.

So all they have is just a log saying "This IP connected at this time." but not anywhere that IP visited.

Depending on the VPN service you use, either they log:
- Connection time frame.
- Requests to visit / download data.
- Data sent via their service.

VPN providers can choose how long they want to store said information, as well if they wish to review said information. That why have to read their FAQ & TOS, or asking them up front how it works with said VPN provider. Some VPN may not keep records of request, or sent data, but will likely record IP at time frame, some may even add bit more infomration like IP request at address time frame, and so on.

So not only just IP address recorded, they can record other things remember they're the hub you're using to send, and receive data through.

Oh, I'm aware.

I always look for specifically saying they don't collect anything outside of the IP that connected.

The VPN I currently use got proven they keep nothing, not even when an IP connected. The did this by court order from multiple countries.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by RiO:

Originally posted by Kargor:

You really think any police would launch an international investigation because someone said something you don't like?

Fun story that...

Apparently Sony works with British police forces and literally has them come knocking on your door if you spout foul language in game.

That's dystopian bordering on authoritarian.

[T9]

Originally posted by ShelLuser:

Originally posted by Hey I'm Back!:

Even if requested by legal authorities?

On what legal grounds? ;) there are none.

Not to mention that an IP address means absolutely nothing.

Both wrong

[RiO]

Originally posted by Boblin the Goblin:

Originally posted by RiO:

Fun story that...

Apparently Sony works with British police forces and literally has them come knocking on your door if you spout foul language in game.

That's dystopian bordering on authoritarian.

I mean, in the UK they apparently also require verification of adult age by submitting non-redacted copies of national identification papers. So I'd consider that 'in line with the pattern,' so to say.

And yeah- "not my cuppa' guv'nor" either.

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by Boblin the Goblin:

Originally posted by RiO:

Fun story that...

Apparently Sony works with British police forces and literally has them come knocking on your door if you spout foul language in game.

That's dystopian bordering on authoritarian.

More than deserved depending on what you say. That's exactly why the Internet is a cesspool: people believe that they can say whatever they want without consequences, including stuff like inciting suicide, racism, death threats, things that are crimes in many countries.