I'm tempted just to delete the account tbh. Don't want them back (although I realise they could sign up again but would be easily recognisable!). I have an addon that puts "banned" under a banned user's name. And did this partly to be clear to other members that someone was banned. Which is presumably why they want to change their username and close the account so they don't look banned. Just wondering if it would still say "banned" if I deleted the account and the username changed to "deleted member xyz". I guess I could just call them "banned member" instead of "deleted member xyz".
Deleted member querying data removal - GDPR
- Thread starter Alvin63
- Start date
I did that. Deleted the account (kept the posts) and chose "banned member" instead of deleted member xyz. And obviously the "banned" add on doesn't work for a deleted member rather than a member who was banned but not deleted. Maybe having banned under a name isn't such a good idea after all if it triggers them to ask for account closure.
zappaDPJ
Well-known member
For reference they are correct, they could be identified from their username e.g. a Google search on the username may well allow you to identify them in other places especially if the username is fairly unique: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Alvin63
System generated usernames such as guest1234 should be OK and that's what you would use if you want to anonymize the member's account but keep the associated content (with PII removed as necessary).
Mendalla
Well-known member
If this is the case, you'll want to be watching for possible returns. This is why I don't like deleting users. If the account still exists, I can check IPs and emails of new registrations against it. And, yes, I have two problem users who keep trying to sneak back in so it has paid off.
Thanks both. Yes I could have just changed the username but they specifically ask for the account to be deleted (for a second time after a temporary ban) and were currently banned, and don't want them back so decided to delete it which anonymises the username anyway - I like the idea of distinguishing between banned and deleted members though.
Mendalla - yes totally agree. By closing the account it means they might re register again. I'll deal with that if it happens. I could try banning the IP address though. It is a bit bonkers when fully deleting the account means removing everything - and then they email you so it gives you their email address and IP address again!
Mendalla - yes totally agree. By closing the account it means they might re register again. I'll deal with that if it happens. I could try banning the IP address though. It is a bit bonkers when fully deleting the account means removing everything - and then they email you so it gives you their email address and IP address again!
Mr Lucky
Well-known member
Deleting an account and personal info from a website database is not the same as receiving an email
Mr Lucky
Well-known member
Besides if you delete the account then get an email from them you could just block or delete their emails
ACP > Users > Banned IP
Mr Lucky
Well-known member
It would just ban that IP. I don't know what you mean by "stop them e-mailing" - what you do on the forum has no effect on what people do on their computer, they can still send to any email address obviously.
Mendalla
Well-known member
You could also block them at the system level if you have the capability. I've did that with some common spam IPs (including an entire class B in Pakistan) using an app in cPanel. If you had a private setup with a firewall, you would do it on the firewall. That keeps them from even reaching your site, let alone signing up. And some email systems can be filtered on IP, too. Depends on how much effort you want to put in. Simply banning the IP in Xenforo is just the quickest and easiest.
