How is the banning being done, by computer's IP or username?

Both!

Usually we ban usernames, but if there's more than one violator, spammer precisely, that share same IP address, then that IP address could be suspended too.

Also, we could ban e-mail addresses or set some profile options as a 'key' for a ban.

But every time we ban someone God kills a kitten, so we try not to.

Although Stephen Lynch is here to tell you that killing a kitten isn't so bad, really.

http://www.stephenlynch.com/Kittensong/index.html

(Just a gag, kids: let's all chill.)

Interesting lip-synch here, points for creative effort: http://www.bopsta.com/video.php?VideoId=3458

IP banning is a bit foolish with Dynamic IP's and all also if the spammer has just a little tech knowledge you never see his real IP.
There is also the risk that a group of people share the same external IP, basically meaning that such a ban has the potential to do more harm then good.

p.s.
god might think he can kill kittens, but in the end they will return, rip him/her/it to shreds and eat him/her/it

IP banning is a bit foolish with Dynamic IP's and all also if the spammer has just a little tech knowledge you never see his real IP.
There is also the risk that a group of people share the same external IP, basically meaning that such a ban has the potential to do more harm then good.

i discovered that when i was tracking down kiwi socks, there a 5 long-time members on here with the same IP adress.

That's why we seldom ban IP addresses.

If some exotic IP occurs with bunch of spammers on it, then the only way to get rid of them is to ban that IP.

But, that is a radical solution and as I said I'm not using it often.

your avatar still makes me feel dirty, plazma.....like that stormtrooper is eyeraping me or something.

but his bits are shiny and smooth. And absent.

I think the admins here need to stop registration for 60 days or so to kill off the kiwis.

I think the admins here need to stop registration for 60 days or so to kill off the kiwis.

That's an interesting idea.

There are other ways to identify a user, however they aren't integrated into the Vanilla Vbulletin and of course a number of posters here wouldn't be so happy about the "information collected on them".

Would express how, but we have to keep something up our sleeves.

bonsaikitten dot com

There are other ways to identify a user, however they aren't integrated into the Vanilla Vbulletin and of course a number of posters here wouldn't be so happy about the "information collected on them".

Would express how, but we have to keep something up our sleeves.

...tell me more, of these ways.

...tell me more, of these ways.
Route 1 (http://www.google.co.uk/search?as_q=draqon&hl=en&num=10&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=images)

Route 1 (http://www.google.co.uk/search?as_q=draqon&hl=en&num=10&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=images)
Route 1 (http://www.google.co.uk/search?as_q=redarmy11&hl=en&num=10&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=images)

No, none of those.

Lets say you have a real good recipe and you wanted to keep it "Special", when someone asks you for the ingredients it's obviously the case to leave one or two out, just to make sure that you version of what ever is tastes different.

You can apply the same logic to identifying users, although I think drawing the line at rootkits would have to be in order. :P