MAC spoofing

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MAC spoofing is a technique for changing the Media Access Control (MAC) address specified by the manufacturer of the network interface on the network device. MAC addresses encoded strictly on the network interface controller (NIC) can not be changed. However, many drivers allow MAC addresses to be changed. In addition, there are tools that can make the operating system believe that the NIC has a user-selectable MAC address. The MAC address masking process is known as MAC spoofing. Basically, MAC spoofing requires changing the identity of the computer, for whatever reason, and it's relatively easy.

Video MAC spoofing

Motivation

Changes to the specified MAC address can allow to pass through access control lists on the server or router, either hiding computers on the network or allowing to mimic other network devices. MAC spoofing is done for legitimate purposes and is prohibited alike.

New hardware for existing Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Many ISPs register a client's MAC address for billing services and services. Because the MAC address is unique and hard-coded on the network interface controller card (NIC), when the client wants to connect a new gadget or change its existing gadget, the ISP will detect a different MAC address and the ISP may not provide Internet access to the new device. This can be circumvented easily by MAC spoofing. The client only needs to forge new device MAC addresses to the MAC address enrolled by the ISP. In this case, the client falsified its MAC address to gain Internet access from multiple devices. While this seems like a legitimate case, the new MAC spoofing gadget can be considered illegal if the ISP's user agreement prevents users from connecting more than one device to their service. In addition, the client is not the only person who can deceive his MAC address to gain access to the ISP. Hackers may gain unauthorized access to ISPs through the same technique. This allows hackers to gain access to unauthorized services, and hackers will be difficult to identify because hackers use client identities. This action is considered an illegal use of MAC and illegal spoofing as well. However, it is very difficult to track hackers using MAC spoofing.

This also applies to equipment where customers, such as cable modems and DSL. In cases where providers rent equipment to customers monthly, the CPE has a hard-coded MAC address that is on a list of known provider's distribution networks, enabling the service to be set as long as the customer is not in the billing arrears. In cases where providers allow customers to provide their own equipment (and thus avoid monthly rental charges on their bills,) providers require customers to give them the MAC address of their equipment before the service will be set.

Meet the software requirements

Some software may only be installed and run on systems with a designated MAC address as specified in the software end-user license agreement, and the user must comply with these requirements to gain access to the software. If the user has to install a different hardware due to a malfunction of the original device or if there is a problem with the user's NIC card, then the software will not recognize the new hardware. However, this problem can be solved by using MAC spoofing. Users should only spoof a new MAC address to mimic the MAC address registered by the software. This activity is very difficult to define as a valid or unauthorized reason for MAC spoofing. Legal issues may arise if the user grants access to the software on multiple devices simultaneously. At the same time, the user can gain access to software for which he or she has not been licensed. Contacting software vendors may be the safest route to take if there is a hardware problem that hinders access to the software. The software can also perform MAC filtering because the software does not want unauthorized users to gain access to the particular network on which the software grants access. In such cases MAC spoofing can be considered as a serious illegal activity and can be punished legally.

Identity masking

If the user chooses to spoof his MAC address to protect user privacy, this is called identity masking. Someone might want to do this because, for example, on a Wi-Fi network connection, the MAC address is not encrypted. Even the secure IEEE 802.11i-2004 (WPA) encryption method does not prevent the Wi-Fi network from sending MAC addresses. Therefore, to avoid being tracked, users may opt to spoof the device's MAC address. However, hackers use the same technique to maneuver around network permissions without revealing their identity. Some networks use MAC filtering to prevent unwanted access. Hackers can use MAC spoofing to gain access to certain networks and do some damage. Hacking of a MAC hacker pushes responsibility for any illegal activity to the original user. As a result, the perpetrator can actually not be detected by law enforcement.

MAC Address Tracking in WiFi

To prevent third parties using MAC addresses to track devices, Android, Linux, iOS, and Windows have implemented MAC address randomization. In June 2014, Apple announced that their future version of the iOS platform would randomize the MAC address for all WiFi connections. The Linux kernel has supported MAC address randomization during network scanning since March 2015, but drivers need to be updated to use this feature. Windows has supported it since the release of Windows 10 in July 2015.

Maps MAC spoofing

Controversy

Although the MAC spoofing address is not illegal, its practice has caused controversy in some cases. In the 2012 indictment against Aaron Swartz Internet hacktivist, who was accused of illegally accessing files from the JSTOR digital library, the prosecutor claimed that because he had faked his MAC address, it indicated a deliberate intention to commit a criminal offense. In June 2014, Apple announced that future versions of their iOS platform would randomize MAC addresses for all WiFi connections, making it more difficult for internet service providers to track user activity and identity, generating moral and legal arguments surrounding MAC spoofing practices among them. some blogs and newspapers.

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Limitations

MAC address spoofing is limited to the local broadcast domain. Unlike IP spoofing addresses, where the sender spoofs their IP address to cause the receiver to send a response elsewhere, the MAC address spoofing response is usually received by the spoofing party if the switch is not configured to prevent MAC spoofing.

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See also

• MAC Address
• Promiscuous mode
• Spoofing IP
• ifconfig, a linux utility capable of changing MAC addresses

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External links

• SpoofMAC program, cross-platform (Windows, OS X, Linux) to change MAC address
• GhostMAC Windows MAC address changer
• MAC XSOID address changer OSX
• Wifi Mac Changer Android MAC Address Changer

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References

Source of the article : Wikipedia