- Mac Address Randomization Generator Apple Terminal Manual 2016
- Mac Address Randomization Generator Apple Terminal Manual Download
MAC address - Media Access Control address. MAC addresses - hardware addresses that uniquely identifies each node of a network. It is assigned by the vendor or manufacturer and saved to the device memory. According to the OSI model it is a second-level address. How MAC Address Randomization Works on Windows 10 When Apple announced its devices would use random MAC addresses when searching for Wi-Fi networks, it received extensive media attention. And rightly so.
I would like to get a random MAC address every time I turn on my Linux machine (Debian). Is this possible? If so, how?
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1 Answer
It is possible, look at How to change MAC address, posted at September 14, 2005 by Ravi.
Changing MAC address of a machine is called spoofing a MAC address or faking a MAC address. In linux, you can change MAC address of your machine.This is how it is done.
How to change MAC address in Linux
First find the physical MAC address of your machine by running the following command:
The hexadecimal numbers in blue denote my machine's MAC address. Yours will be different. Learn how to use the ifconfig Linux command.
You can also use ethtool to find the hardware address of your machine.
Next, login as root in Linux and enter the following commands:
I have changed the MAC address to a different number highlighted in blue. 00:80:48:BA:d1:30 is the new MAC address I have provided for my Linux machine. You can choose any 48 bits hexadecimal address as your MAC address.
Why you should change MAC address of your Linux machine
These are the reasons you should change the MAC address of your machine.
- For privacy - For instance when you are connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot.
- To ensure interoperability. Some internet service providers bind their service to a specific MAC address; if the user then changes their network card or intends to install a router, the service won't work anymore. Changing the MAC address of the new interface will solve the problem.
Caveats to Changing MAC address
In Linux, Windows, Mac OS X, or a different operating system, changing MAC address is only temporary. Once you reboot your machine, the operating system reflects the physical MAC address burnt in your network card and not the MAC address you set.
Still if you are looking for privacy as @msw pointed out I would go the TOR way.
Risto Salminen
Mac Address Randomization Generator Apple Terminal Manual 2016
