Question:
I want to hide the MAC address of my machine from nosy websites that register this detail.
A Google search gives me a bewildering array of programs that can hide and/or alter MAC addresses.
Does anyone here have any hints and tips on what the best solution is?
Also, does anyone know whether my machine's "name" is made available to sites I access? If so, how can I hide this information from snoopy websites?
Answers:
Why would you want to hide you mac address? This is the unique number of your network card. Not much people can do with that anyway. Do you not me IP address?
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Why would you want to hide you mac address?
so that nobody can identify my computer uniquely
This is the unique number of your network card.
I know
Not much people can do with that anyway.
Yes they can - websites/webmasters can - and do - record traffic they get from specific machines
Do you not me IP address?
errm - - - dunno what this means?
Just to clarify, I am not about to go underground and become a spammer who doesn't want anybody to be able to trace them - I just don't want websites I visit to know my MAC address and/or my computer's name. Just like if I wander into a shop to browse, I don't want the shop to record anything about me that enables them to figure out how often I have been to their shop.
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I just don't want websites I visit to know my MAC address and/or my computer's name. Just like if I wander into a shop to browse, I don't want the shop to record anything about me that enables them to figure out how often I have been to their shop.
If websites are able to record your computer's name and mac address I think I'd be more concerned with your firewall settings. I'm pretty sure it's not a standard thing they are able to do.
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If websites are able to record your computer's name and mac address I think I'd be more concerned with your firewall settings. I'm pretty sure it's not a standard thing they are able to do.
It's primarily used by law enforcement agencies when dealing with, among other things, people who visit illegal websites.
From your IP address they are able to force your ISP to reveal your details and then from the MAC address they are able to identify exactly which machine on the premises was being used to visit the said websites.
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I agree with ev0s, what would be the point in hiding a MAC address? The number may be unique but it is also meaningless in terms of personal information. Not sure websites are even capable of determining your mac address anyway are they?
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We can all see it anyway!
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We can all see it anyway!
This is not my MAC address or computer name
I know how to change my IP address - what I am after is information on how I can hide my MAC address and my computer's name.
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I agree with ev0s, what would be the point in hiding a MAC address? The number may be unique but it is also meaningless in terms of personal information. Not sure websites are even capable of determining your mac address anyway are they?
A MAC address is, I believe, a damn side more useful than an IP address to people who want to build up a profile about your surfing behaviour.
IP addresses can be changed easily, MAC addresses (and computer names) not so easily.
Websites are capable of determing MAC addresses - it's one of the bits of information that you broadcast without noticing when surfing.
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Websites are capable of determing MAC addresses - it's one of the bits of information that you broadcast without noticing when surfing.
Do you have a source for this or an example website that shows your mac address? I've never come across it myself and I thought that kind of data was only accessible through netbios which should be inaccessible externally with a firewall.
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I do not own a website so cannot provide an example of what webmasters can see.
However, any webmaster with the right tools can track your Internet activity if they know your MAC Address. Your MAC Address is continuously being sent over WiFi networks, even if they use secure WEP/WPA Encryption.
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However, any webmaster with the right tools can track your Internet activity if they know your MAC Address. Your MAC Address is continuously being sent over WiFi networks, even if they use secure WEP/WPA Encryption.
I know MAC addresses are transmitted over LAN but I still don't see how that translates to internet servers. You've said something I've never heard before and all I want is to be able to verify it from somewhere. Eg where did you hear that MAC addressesand computer names are transmitted over the internet? Anything I can read up on myself. Iwould have thought a site like shieldsup would include that information if it was available.
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I do not own a website so cannot provide an example of what webmasters can see.
However, any webmaster with the right tools can track your Internet activity if they know your MAC Address. Your MAC Address is continuously being sent over WiFi networks, even if they use secure WEP/WPA Encryption.
Where have you seen webmasters that can track MAC addresses?
Simply speaking this is not possible. The only way I can see that someone could get your MAC address is via ActiveX or a Java applet, but even then it may still be tricky and you'd need to allow it. I don't think it's even possible to do via JavaScript. MAC addresses weren't designed for such use, they're a more internal thing.
The average website won't be able to see your MAC address, only the IP of your router. I think you're being overly paranoid. And even if one website does note your IP, it's strictly related to that site and not anywhere else you've browsed. And even then it's purely a number to them, probably something they have thousands for each request.
You mention MAC addresses being sent via Wifi, but again this is purely local. And also it's encrypted. If someone could break that encryption I'd be more worried about your neighbours packet sniffing your browsing habits, than websites trying to track you.
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I am very sure that a MAC address is not transmitted outside of the local LAN.
Have a look at this
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Used to know stuff like this... pretty low-level though. Just had a quick google of OSI and ARP - quite likely that the other end will have your router or modem MAC. Not sure about connected PC details - the router/modem will maintain an ARP table, in theory shouldn't be accessible to the outside world if you have a firewall (I think..).
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the only way to hide it, is to use a proxy server.. but the proxy server will know it.
without the other end knowing your mac address, it won't be able to communicate with you.
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That's the bit I'm not sure about - thought the router would do the address translation. It would have to give its own MAC to the other end, but not necessarily the target PC address..?
Still, plenty of googling pages for the OP (or could get a big box of NICs for a couple of quid each and change them every few weeks...).
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im getting a whiff of over anxious paranoia here. Even if your mac address was broadcast.... it would be meaningless if you were simply surfing web without signing up to anything. it would just be an anonymous number. But, as you have registered on this site... with an email address, and registered for your email address either web based or with your ISP, you have already started a trail of info relating to you. So, if you are that bothered about being tracked on the web, don't surf or use internet cafe's. Although anonymizer.com (?sp) can be good fun.
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You MAC addres is logged by every switch your data goes through when you are browsing the internet that is how they work. There is no need to hide your MAC address, I think your being over paranoid. If your ISP wants to trace you they will have logs to do so.
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Looks I was very mis-informed about how MAC addresses are being used / can be used by webmasters. Thanks to all who responded with better infromation than I had