I used to be able to post comments on videos at video.google.com without registering. Now I get this little message when I try to post a comment "Please sign in to use this feature". I am guessing a moderator didn't like my comments. Clearing cookies and cache has the same result.

Google must be putting some file on my system to track this, since I can post comments with other browsers without registering.

Could their be some shared file or java file on my system that Google is able to track who I am? If so, where would I look?

Thank you

Try creating another user account to your system, like for a "fresh start". See if it happens again. Then again, see what files are open (lsof might be one way) when you're connected, and possibly if you've got a lot of time, you could use a sniffer to see what information is being sent to the site..

EDIT: I don't think such an action, Google placing stuff on your computer that reveal information about you without you knowing it, is too legal, so why don't you ask them straight -- and if you later find such a thing is happening, strangle them

I created another user account and got the same results with FireFox, so I am thinking there is a shared file somewhere. Sneaky Google.

maybe they've blacklisted your ip instead?

No, because as I posted above, I can still post comments on the same computer using different browsers.

Moved: This thread is not really a Linux technical question so has been moved to the General Forum.

Maybe this has nothing to do with you. They may have now made it that only registered users can post comments? Just a thought...

"I can post comments with other browsers without registering."

ooooOO. The cookie conspiracy. I'm sure thats google is doing. Its planting hidden information on your computer so you can only post dumb comments on certain browsers.

Have you tried using an extension for Firefox that changes the browser identification?

No I have not tried that yet. An update to this post is that I can now post comments using Firefox as unregistered. Same public IP.

What I am curious about is, how is Google tracking the information? too many posts in X amount of time, browser identification with IP X = required registation!?!?

(remember, cookies and temp data have been deleted via the Firefox browser)

It might be that they've stored the IP as part of the post itself in their server. I know for a fact that most sites do log your ip when users post messages...

Is it applicable to LQ?

I'm sure the IP is recorded in the forum software. As to whether it's enabled or disabled at LQ.org, I'm not sure. You should ask jeremy.