Moodle in English: IP address management (2024)

IP address management

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Moodle in English: IP address management (1)

IP address management

by Marko Nuskol -

Number of replies: 14

Hello again,

today's question is a different one. I don't even know if this is the right category to ask this.🤐

--------

A brief background

We have about 180 students per year.

The total number of exams are in the range of 600.

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We have started tracking the IP addresses of our students taking the exams (using reports inside Moodle) so that we can try to expose those who are cheating (whether by having someone else take their exam or by sitting next to each other and using the same/similar IP).

After about 6 hours of Excel, I'm exhausted.😰

Is there a better way to manage IP? A software, Moodle plugin, or something else that helps us sort and correlate all that data?

Maybe in the near future we'll use web cam proctoring, but for now we just want to do it via IP addresses.

Thanks for any help you can offer.👾

Average of ratings: -

Moodle in English: IP address management (2)

In reply to Marko Nuskol

Re: IP address management

by Rick Jerz -

Moodle in English: IP address management (3) Moodle in English: IP address management (4)

I do the same thing: Track IP addresses to see if two or more students have taken the exam from the same location, similar times, and similar results. Yep, I have caught some students "cheating." (I tell students that they must take the exam with no one else nearby.)

I am attaching a query, Exam_Cheating.sql, that gets me very close to what I want to analyze. I assume that you (or your Moodle admin) can run this query. You will need to substitute your course and quiz numbers (see comments in this SQL file.)

Export the results to Excel for further analysis. (I am giving you a screenshot of my Excel function.

Moodle in English: IP address management (5)

Average of ratings: Useful (3)

Moodle in English: IP address management (7)

In reply to Rick Jerz

Re: IP address management

by Marko Nuskol -

Thank you for the query file.
Since I am not a Moodle admin, I will forward this file to them.
Too bad there isn't a Moodle plugin that can parse the IP addresses and highlight if they are on the same router.

Moodle in English: IP address management (8)

In reply to Marko Nuskol

Re: IP address management

by Rick Jerz -

Moodle in English: IP address management (9) Moodle in English: IP address management (10)

Without this query, my old method was to export the quiz results to Excel. Then, I would go to the course, Reports, Logs, and use the filtering to find the Exam, and under "All Actions" set this to Update. Then I would export this list, look for the duplicate IP addresses, and compare the results to the exported exam list. Yep, a bit more effort.

Incidentally, you can modify my query to get just the userid and IP, if you wish.

(Actually, I created that query just yesterday. I have been wanting to do this for a while, so your post, Marko, inspired me.)

Yes, if your admin is good with PHP and programming, they can create a plugin for you.

Average of ratings: Useful (1)

Moodle in English: IP address management (11)

In reply to Rick Jerz

Re: IP address management

by Marko Nuskol -

I'm glad my question inspired you to cross something off your to-do list Moodle in English: IP address management (12)

My process is the same with logs and excel and filtering...it all depends on how many students and how many exams you have.

As with everything in life, we tend to look for the quick and easy...that's what I want to find now.
Some quick solution to free up more time to focus on other things ;)

Moodle in English: IP address management (13)

In reply to Rick Jerz

Re: IP address management

by m question -

Thank you
I need a report like this, however, this sql does not show all students who took the exam
do you know why
thanks again

Moodle in English: IP address management (14)

In reply to Marko Nuskol

Re: IP address management

by Visvanath Ratnaweera -

Moodle in English: IP address management (15) Moodle in English: IP address management (16)

Hi

I can understand that Excel is the wrong tool.
Moodle in English: IP address management (17)

What is the exact format of the data you want to have? As an example, a file per exam with two columns: userid, IP address.

Moodle in English: IP address management (18)

In reply to Visvanath Ratnaweera

Re: IP address management

by Marko Nuskol -

That is correct.
What I need is just two columns: userID (or name and last name) with their IP addresses.

I've managed to do this pretty quickly with Excel, but I'm struggling with identifying the IP addresses that use the same router (not network).

I don't want to accuse students of cheating if they don't! (For example, using the router they have in their dorm, or if their network has assigned them the same IP address as another student in a different part of town).

Moodle in English: IP address management (19)

In reply to Marko Nuskol

Re: IP address management

by Visvanath Ratnaweera -

Moodle in English: IP address management (20) Moodle in English: IP address management (21)

So what you want is to input the quiz ID, the number that comes after mod/quiz/view.php?id=, and get a list of user IDs (user/profile.php?id=) and the IP address as seen by Moodle?

I am not saying that there is no such mechanism in Moodle. I want to be clear what are you looking for.

And yes, you've found the no. 1 weakness of this approach. A shared IP address can have legitimate explanations. So you need a second (or third) index to support the first evidence. Let's leave those to a different discussion and look at how one could get the IP address list discussed. Before we proceed any further, only the site admin has that kind of access.

Moodle in English: IP address management (22)

In reply to Visvanath Ratnaweera

Re: IP address management

by Rick Jerz -

Moodle in English: IP address management (23) Moodle in English: IP address management (24)

Yes, I have run into this "shared IP" issue. This seemed to occur when students were in computer labs on campus. My network admin said there was no way to determine the exact computers that 3 students were using (well, that's what he said???) But then I used Moodle's timestamps to see that these three students all began and finished their exams at approximately the same time. I called them out for "cheating." They didn't know that they could have claimed that they were in different computer labs. They reluctantly confessed.

Average of ratings: Useful (1)

Moodle in English: IP address management (25)

In reply to Rick Jerz

Re: IP address management

by Visvanath Ratnaweera -

Moodle in English: IP address management (26) Moodle in English: IP address management (27)

To convince yourself about this "shared IP issue" visit a random "What is my IP" site from two devices in your home network roughly at the same time.
Moodle in English: IP address management (28)

About the exact computer, be happy that it is not easy. That would be a privacy nightmare. As we all know, the BIG are after that, for example with https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Device_fingerprinting. Luckily Moodle knows no such thing.

The time stamp was the second vector. It was valid since your courses are "at your own pace". But loses validity in a synchronous exam.

Moodle in English: IP address management (29)

In reply to Marko Nuskol

Re: IP address management

by David Campbell -

Moodle in English: IP address management (30)

You might want to contact Gordon Batseon (https://moodle.org/plugins/browse.php?list=contributor&id=8277) who manages the MoodleReader plugin. It has a feature that does what you want. We used to rely on it for checking students who took quizzes about books they had read. It automatically flags IP addresses that are in a certain range.

Average of ratings: Useful (3)

Moodle in English: IP address management (31)

In reply to David Campbell

Re: IP address management

by Marko Nuskol -

Thank you.
I will contact Gordon Batseon to get his opinion on this IP matter.
That MoodleReader plugin looks great (too bad we don't need it, since we're in chemistry).

Moodle in English: IP address management (32)

In reply to Marko Nuskol

Re: IP address management

by Gordon Bateson -

Moodle in English: IP address management (33) Moodle in English: IP address management (34) Moodle in English: IP address management (35)

My opinion is that IP address alone is not enough, to detect the situation when one student is logged in as another student and taking an online quiz posing as the other student.

In the Reader module, there is a tool which tries to detect this type of "cheating", it extracts the IP address, the time the quiz was taken, the duration of the quiz attempt, and the score achieved. This information is presented in a report that the teacher may find useful in detecting students who are helping each other in this way.

However, the final decision on whether, and to what degree, "cheating" has occurred is done by the teacher, based on the information in the report. It is certainly not a watertight solution.

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Moodle in English: IP address management (36)

In reply to Gordon Bateson

Re: IP address management

by Rick Jerz -

Moodle in English: IP address management (37) Moodle in English: IP address management (38)

Gordon, thanks for your post.

That SQL query that I posted provides essentially the same data that you suggest looking at. I will have to take a look at your plugin, which could be an easier approach.

Yes, students will always be looking for ways to "outsmart" the instructor. (Of course, I wish that they would spend their time trying to get smarter about the topic they are trying to learn.)

I still think that one of the best approaches is to use difficult randomized exams, which is what I always try to do.

Average of ratings: Useful (1)

Moodle in English: IP address management (2024)

FAQs

How do I change my IP address in Moodle? ›

Changing the site URL
  1. Access your account using SSH or cPanel.
  2. Using the command line or cPanel File Manager, navigate to the directory where Moodle is installed.
  3. Using your preferred text editor, open the config. php file.
  4. Locate the line in the file that begins $CFG->wwwroot.
  5. Save your changes to the config. php file.

Can Moodle track IP addresses? ›

Logs: Moodle provides log data at the site and course level. This data can be accessed and downloaded as activity reports. You can see what pages the students accessed, the time and date they accessed it, the IP address they came from, and their actions (view, add, update, delete).

What is the server address for Moodle? ›

Open your browser and type in one of the two urls: Either http://localhost:8888/moodle/ or http://127.0.0.1:8888/moodle/.

Can Moodle detect cheating? ›

Luckily, Moodle is ahead of the curve when it comes to detecting and preventing cheating. One way that Moodle tracks cheating and helps teachers prevent it is by providing additional statistics about each student's performance, such as how long they spent on each question.

How do I change my IP address settings? ›

To enable DHCP or change other TCP/IP settings
  1. Select Start, then type settings. Select Settings > Network & internet.
  2. Do one of the following: ...
  3. Next to IP assignment, select Edit.
  4. Under Edit network IP settings or Edit IP settings, select Automatic (DHCP) or Manual. ...
  5. When you're done, select Save.

How do I change my IP address details? ›

How to Change Your IP Address on Android Manually
  1. Go to your Android Settings.
  2. Navigate to Wireless & Networks.
  3. Click on your Wi-Fi network.
  4. Click Modify Network.
  5. Select Advanced Options.
  6. Change the IP address.

Can professors know your IP address? ›

IP addresses can be found for assignments that can be graded,” said Powers. So basically, if you and a bunch of kids from your class meet up at your apartment to work on the quiz together, your professor can deduce from your IP addresses that you all cheated together.

Can professors see what you do on Moodle? ›

Teachers and Non-Editing Teachers in a Moodle course can see course-level usage data, submissions, and grades for all course participants. They cannot see usage data, submissions or grades related to participants' activity in other courses.

Can my manager track my IP address? ›

If you`re connected to your work network, your employers may be able to see and track everything you do online, giving you little privacy. Using IP address tracking allows companies to gain valuable information, including the locations of their website visitors that contribute to advanced web analytics.

How do I change my Moodle server? ›

If you are changing the domain/IP address to the new server you need to do these steps:
  1. Turn on maintenance mode. ...
  2. Backup the Moodle database on the old server. ...
  3. Restore the database backup to the new server. ...
  4. Copy moodledata from the old server to the new server. ...
  5. Copy the Moodle code from the old server to the new server.
Jan 12, 2020

Do I need a server to use Moodle? ›

While Moodle can be installed on almost any type of web hosting server, dedicated servers can give your site the performance, customizability, and reliability you need. In this article, we will explore three reasons why dedicated servers are the best choice for Moodle hosting. Topics Include: Moodle and Performance.

Where are Moodle settings stored? ›

The name for Moodle's configuration file is config. php. The file is located in the moodle directory.

Can your activity be tracked on Moodle? ›

Moodle allows instructors to request reports detailing which resources and activities of a course have been accessed, when, and by whom. Moodle produces several kinds of reports: Logs – generates a filtered report showing information about a particular activity or student.

Does Moodle use your camera? ›

The Moodle Proctoring tool is for MCQ (Quiz) assessments only and captures your picture via webcam to identify who is attempting the MCQ (Quiz) assessment. It will capture your picture and screenshot automatically every 30 seconds.

Does Moodle track student activity? ›

The Reports feature in Moodle allows you to track certain student activities within a module. These reports can help you to determine how well students are engaging with your content.

Can I just change my IP address? ›

Yes, you can change your IP address yourself. Use a VPN, proxy, or your router to switch your IP, or log into your device's settings through the steps above to get a different IP address on your own.

Can you completely change your IP address? ›

You can change your IP address easily with a VPN (virtual private network), which will strengthen your security and help you avoid content blocks by connecting through servers based in specific countries, like US VPN servers.

What IP address should I use? ›

Typically, static IP addresses are best for businesses, which host their own websites and internet services. Static IP addresses also work well when you have remote workers logging into work via a VPN. Dynamic IP addresses are usually fine for most consumers.

How do I know if my IP address has been hacked? ›

Here are more possible signs that a hacker may have successfully targeted your computer:
  • You can't update your system. ...
  • Your computer runs slower than usual. ...
  • A big-name company was hacked. ...
  • You notice unusual disk activity. ...
  • Your antivirus software becomes disabled. ...
  • Strange things are happening onscreen.

What are the 5 ways to change the IP address? ›

How to change your public IP address
  • Connect to a VPN to change your IP address. ...
  • Use a proxy to change your IP address. ...
  • Use Tor to change your IP address for free. ...
  • Change IP addresses by unplugging your modem. ...
  • Ask your ISP to change your IP address. ...
  • Change networks to get a different IP address.
Apr 11, 2023

How do you change your IP address so you can't be traced? ›

  1. #1. ...
  2. Use a proxy to hide your IP address. ...
  3. Use Tor to hide your IP address for free. ...
  4. Connect to a different network to change your IP address. ...
  5. Ask your ISP to change your IP address. ...
  6. Unplug your modem to change your IP address. ...
  7. Use a NAT Firewall to hide your private IP address.
Apr 20, 2023

Does your IP address show your history? ›

Your IP address identifies your device on the Internet or a local network. It's the key data that connects you to your location, ISP, and web search history. IP addresses can share sensitive information about you that includes your physical location such as your city, state, ZIP code, and country.

Does your IP show your name? ›

What information does my IP address reveal? IP addresses do reveal your geolocation, but not your precise location like a home address does. IP addresses will also never reveal your name, phone number, or other precise personal information.

Can someone spy on my IP address? ›

While your IP address won't give away sensitive information like your phone number or approximate location, hackers can still use your IP against you. If a cybercriminal knows your IP address, the consequences can be devastating: They can get your location and intrude on your privacy in real life.

What are the disadvantages of Moodle for students? ›

Disadvantages Of Using Moodle

The first big issue is the fact that Moodle is not fully developed to cope with big projects. While it may be useful for colleges or universities of small to medium size, the system might not work efficiently with larger schools or serve as a great way to conduct all classes in a city.

What can Moodle proctoring see? ›

Moodle proctoring plugin is a quizaccess plugin to capture a user's picture via webcam to identify who is attempting the Moodle quiz. It will capture the picture of the user's webcam automatically every 30 seconds and store it as a PNG image.

How do I see hidden activity on Moodle? ›

- Hidden Sections may be completely hidden from students, or can show only the Section title depending on the Settings for the course (see Important Settings for your Moodle Course.) To un-hide an item, next to the Resource, Activity, or Section, click Edit, then Show.

Is it illegal to look up someone's IP address? ›

IP addresses are available publicly and do not lead to personally identifiable information, so it is legal to check someone's IP address by using an IP lookup tool.

What port does Moodle use? ›

Moodle doesn't have a port but the web server that runs it does. The default for http is 80 and https is 443. The web server can be configured to use other ports but this is a bad plan as they can often be blocked down the line by firewalls.

How do I secure my Moodle server? ›

Always set a mysql root user password. Turn off mysql network access. Use SSL, httpslogins=yes. Use good passwords - set up a password policy in Settings > Site administration > Security > Site policies.

How do I change permissions in Moodle? ›

Permissions for a course can be changed on the course page via the Actions menu > More > Users tab > Permissions (Boost-based themes) or Course administration > Users > Permissions (Classic-based themes).

How do I host my own Moodle? ›

Moodle hosting options Print
  1. Run it on our server (MoodleCloud)
  2. Install it on your server (self-hosted) free forever.
  3. Get it set up with the help of a certified Moodle Certified Service Provider (Provider Hosted)
Jan 7, 2022

How is Moodle hosted? ›

Our hosting services are run on Moodle US's innovative unHosting platform which uses Amazon APIs and a scripted install process to produce a Moodle instance complete with load balancers, web and database servers, all tuned to meet your site requirements.

How much does it cost to host a Moodle? ›

Moodle FAQs

Moodle has 5 different plans: Starter at $120.00 per year. Mini at $210.00 per year. Small at $380.00 per year.

Where is Moodle database located? ›

"moodledata" is a folder that contains user files, course files, site language, cached and other information. It is created in the Moodle install process. It should be located outside of the "moodle" folder and is called by default "moodledata".

Where is Moodle database stored? ›

Moodle stores files in the Moodle data directory. This is a location on your server defined by you when you install Moodle. You can check the location of that directory in the Moodle config. php file.

How do I enable Moodle Web services? ›

  1. Access Administration > Site administration > Advanced features.
  2. Check 'Enable web services' then click 'Save Changes'
Oct 22, 2021

Who can see private files on Moodle? ›

Put a file in the private files area if you want to keep it inaccessible to all other Moodle end-users. It will still be visible to the Moodle administrator.

How secure is Moodle? ›

At Moodle we do not collect, use or monetise any student data or anyone's personal information from any of the thousands of Moodle LMS sites that exist worldwide. As an open source platform, Moodle LMS enables your organisation to have complete control over your data, including how and where you store it.

Can teachers see private messages on Moodle? ›

The Moodle administrator can see when a user sends another user a message. If the admin clicks on the link in the activity log, the admin can see the history of communication between the two students. Since the messages fall outside of courses, teachers do not have access to this information. Peace.

Are Moodle messages private? ›

About messaging

Unless disabled by the administrator (in Site administration > Messaging > Messaging settings), teachers, students and other users may send and receive private messages via Moodle. This is in addition to receiving notifications about assignments, forum discussions etc.

Does Moodle record audio? ›

You can use the video and audio record buttons on the toolbar of the editing box in Moodle to record audio and video clips.

Is Moodle anonymous? ›

Moodle assignments can be set up to facilitate anonymous submission and assessment. In the Moodle environment this is known as 'blind marking' and when enabled will result in the students' name being hidden when grading. Students will be indicated using a randomly generated participant number instead.

Does Moodle collect data? ›

Moodle collects personal data from you when you interact with us.

Does Moodle record video? ›

Moodle includes a built-in video recorder that allows you to record and post simple videos directly from your webcam to any Moodle text editing field (that is, any field that displays the text editing toolbar).

Can I see who is in my class on Moodle? ›

View the Participants List. Click the top left Menu icon to toggle open the sidebar, and click Participants, or click the Course Management Gear at the top of the screen and then Participants (new for Fall 2022: both links go to the same screen).

How do I change my location on Moodle? ›

An administrator can change the following location settings in Administration > Site administration > Location > Location settings.

How do I change settings in Moodle? ›

Edit Your Moodle Forum Preferences
  1. From the User menu (your name and profile picture, top right), select Preferences. ...
  2. On your Preferences page, under User account, click Forum preferences.
  3. On the Forum preferences page, you may wish to adjust the following settings: ...
  4. At the bottom of the page, click Save changes.

Can I change my IP address to a different location? ›

You can use a VPN to change your IP address. When you use any of the virtual private networks we've reviewed in our directory, the service will automatically make you appear as though you have a different IP address originating from whatever country you select.

How do I change my location in settings? ›

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Tap Security & Location. Location. If you don't find "Security & Location," tap Location.
  3. Tap Mode.
  4. Select a mode: High accuracy: Use GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and sensors to get the most accurate location.

How do I edit my location? ›

Change a place's name, location, or other details
  1. Open Google Maps .
  2. Search for a place or select it on the map.
  3. Select Suggest an edit. Change name or other details.
  4. Follow onscreen instructions to submit your feedback.

How do I change my Moodle hostname? ›

Log into your Moodle site as an administrator. Add /admin/tool/replace/index. php to your Moodle URL. So, if you Moodle URL is http://example.com, then the replace tool is at http://example.com/admin/tool/replace/index.php.

How do I change my Moodle to English? ›

By default, Moodle presents content in English.
...
Change the Language of a Course in Moodle
  1. Click the gear menu, and then click Edit settings.
  2. Expand the Appearance section, and select the desired language within the Force language drop-down menu.
  3. Click the [Save and display] button.

How do I change the default Language in Moodle? ›

Default language

From Site administration > Language > Language settings > you as admin the default site language and then any accounts you create will use this language, unless you specify a different one.

Can I manually change my IP address? ›

Yes, you can change your IP address yourself. Use a VPN, proxy, or your router to switch your IP, or log into your device's settings through the steps above to get a different IP address on your own.

What happens if I change my IP address? ›

Protect your online privacy: Changing your IP address will hide your geolocation, masking you from hackers, your ISP, and websites that use web tracking. Your IP address can also be used to spy on your private internet traffic — changing it will protect your online activity.

Does IP address change with location or device? ›

When a device is assigned a static IP address, the address does not change. Most devices use dynamic IP addresses, which are assigned by the network when they connect and change over time.

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