Online polling with CF

[ahksar]

Hi,
I have used coldfusion to make an online polling function, since my web host does not allow CGI/Perl...Have used a cookie to prevent repeated voting , but I would like to log the IP addresses of those who vote, is there any way I could do that using coldfusion(to prevent repeated voting)?
Thanks in advance
ahksar

 

[CFHub]

Cookies are better because IP numbers change with every connection, and some accounts (Like AOL) change with every page request (on a busy day).

Notwithstanding, try the CGI.remote_addr

The whole list of CGI variables can be found here.

http://cfhub.com/examples/cgi/

 

[GunJack]

Hi ahksar,

In order to keep someone from voting multiple times, the only reliable way would be to give everyone an account and update their account when they vote. If you let them user their e-mail address to register, people with multiple e-mail accounts could register numerous times. The validity of your results will depend on how well you can tie an account back to a single person.

Using the IP would be an ok approach but would allow some people to vote twice by re-dialing their isp and others not to vote at all from shared computers at libraries, cyber cafes, etc.. Using cookies or session variables would be the best approach IMO but this can be circumvented by turning off cookies.

Without being able to create accounts based on a driver's license number or some other unique identifier, you can only prevent wide spread abuse and not eliminate it completely.

Hope this helps,
GJ