I’ve been noticing an influx of users with anonomized usernames (ie: fjdasklfpudiosa722104891fdaf20j.srv.us).
As a moderator this concerns me because it immediately triggers a ‘this is a bot or nefarious actor’ instinct. Is there any reason not to be wary of these accounts?
😆😂🤣 Uuuuhh… Aaaah… I normally generate a random password and use it as my username for most services. Like even my bank.
This is because I’ve realized the username is mostly useless and is just a handle for my account. It doesn’t matter to me if my username is jsmith, meow123, or kekxbek. In fact, it’s easier if I don’t have to come up with something novel or cool. Either way it goes in my password manager, so it’s not like I have to even remember it.
I’m a real boy. I promise. Not a malicious bot.
Although… If I were a malicious bot, that’s exactly what I would say! 😲
I always use randomly-generated user names. I try to avoid strings of random numbers and letters, but coming up with reasonably nice-looking random names is time-consuming, and some people might not care that much.
Have you found a convenient way of generating those? And does it integrate with any password manager you might be using?
I use Apples “Hide my email” with the password manager so I always have a randomly generated email and randomly generated password and they’re managed together. However there’s not really support for a username distinct from but in addition to email, nor a way to generate those randomly
I use random websites that don’t require Javascript, tbh, and manually paste the name into KeePassXC.
Technically it can be someone who just wants to be anonymous, but honestly they could at least use something readable
Using a barcode username is nice for being anonymous
Eg.
IlIIIllIIl
It’s a combination of lower case L and upper case I
Checking the modlog i see one user - @abff08f4813c@j4vcdedmiokf56h3ho4t62mlku.srv.us, who [despite the weird name] seems like a legitimate account.
Which the reason afaik they have such a weird name is: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/26773150/14235814
Are there any other users you’ve noticed with this type of username/instance name? This is the only one i saw.
Which the reason afaik they have such a weird name is:
Wierdly, when I click on the link I get a ‘server cannot handle the request error’.
Regardless, I agree that it ‘acts’ like a legit account, but still think it’s sus as hell. That entry in the modlog is from today, but I’ve definitely handled similar accounts in the past, and seen others do so elsewhere.
Sorry bout that. Instance was down for some time.
Anyways here’s a mirror just in case
That entry in the modlog is from today, but I’ve definitely handled similar accounts in the past, and seen others do so elsewhere.
I didn’t see any of that, but i’ll take your word for it. Still, this is most likely, if not definitely a real account.
