Ask HN: Does HN store IP addresses to identify users?

They use cookies assuming you are logged in. I wish they do store IPs in order to prevent password brute-forcing attacks.

> I wonder if HN was hacked if "anonymous" posts would be linked back to actual people even though no email address is on the account.

You should be more concerned about your email account being linked to your HN username, fortunately you don't have to provide your email here.

> OK so maybe HN should be clear that anonymity is not likely if HN is hacked. HN sort of presents as being a "safe" place to post anonymously but it's an illusion.

It's pseudonymous forum, if you wish to be anon - head over to 4chan instead.

For one, an attacker would not necessarily get your current IP address.

But even if they did have your current IP address... so what? The most someone could find from that is your general region; maybe your city or a city next to yours if they're lucky. There's no way they're doxing you from that unless they think they can successfully SE the ISP and don't mind risking jail for it.

The real security risk would be the leaked password hashes. That would be much, much more likely to result in people being doxed (and worse).

I don't think I've seen that represented anywhere, and I don't think a news site really should be