This post was made as a "Guest." Which means that I didn't need to create an account.
I entered a "Name" which is the public name in the forum post (Howdy Doody) and I solved simple puzzle that is used to distinguish between a human versus a bot. No username or password to remember. Easy and relatively anonymous.
Some boards may let a guest read, but not post.
Creating an account enables you to see more boards and topics.
...
Above this line is the simple easy to understand stuff. And it's good enough for most people, most of the time.
Below this line is where most people don't care and those that do, probably already know.
As far as anonymity goes, this forum software does not show the administrator a log of "Guest" IP addresses (even if posting). But the forum software does log IP addresses of logged-in users.
The website and forum are usable via Tor. (Some websites, or forums, block Tor exit nodes.) The site does not have a .onion address (Tor sites/addresses look like this: http://2gzyxa5ihm7nsggfxnu52rck2vv4rvmdlkiu3zzui5du4xyclen53wid.onion). It's on the to-do list.
Of course, you don't have to trust the forum administrator to not log your IP address. If you want to hide your IP address (the address of your computer on the internet) you can use a VPN or you can use Tor (https://www.torproject.org/) (https://www.torproject.org). This post was made while using the Tor Browser (https://www.torproject.org/download).
So if you use Tor you can have a high level of anonymity while posting to the forum either as guest or with an account, even without the site having a .onion address/site.
Summary of your options...
- Posting as Guest = Forum administrator doesn't know who you are (unless you tell everyone in your post).
- Posting as Guest using Tor (or a VPN) = If you don't trust that the forum administrator isn't logging, then the log will show the Tor exit node (or your VPN) is your IP address.
- Posting as a logged in user (using an account) = The administrator of the forum can see your IP address. And still doesn't know who you are, unless you tell them.
- Posting as a logged in user over Tor (or a VPN) = The administrator of the forum will see the IP address of the Tor exit node (or your VPN) and still not know who you are, unless you tell them.
- Using the website or this forum over Tor (when/if) using the .onion address = Will hide that you're using the site, or forum, from other parts of the system, such as your ISP (internet service provider) and hide your IP address from the site/forum administrator both as Guest or as logged-in user.
Want to post an anonymous tip, information, or opinion? I, the administrator, say you can trust me not to track you or to disclose your identity. But I could be compelled by law to try to do so, or the government could secretly take over the site. So how can you protect yourself, whether you trust me or not? Use the .onion site if/when it's available, if you're trying to protect yourself from being unmasked/identified from your use of this site/forum.
I know I should keep this post to only the part above the dotted line to avoid annoying most people and there is a lot more about the stuff below the line for anyone that wants to learn about it. Post any questions or comments below.
The website now has a .onion address: http://gp5nikn2jvifgoqbqhuyvtp3wbupmxe7jwnpis4gzueq7mvb7hsjsxqd.onion
However, the forum is not a part of the .onion site for now.