How to hide MAC address? Why should this be done?

Most people have at least a vague idea of ​​what an IP address is, and some understand the consequences of disclosing it to threat actors and other third parties.

But what is the MAC address? What are they for and how can cybercriminals exploit them? More importantly, how do I hide the MAC address?

What is MAC address? Why hide it?

Every device connected to the Internet has a Media Access Control (MAC) address, which usually consists of 6 sets of 2 characters. So a typical MAC address would look like this: 18-3B-5D-03-8A-40.

The MAC address is like the ID number for your computer, smartphone, router, etc. Your computer or smartphone will not be able to function properly or will not be able to connect to the network without the MAC address. .

These addresses do not change on their own, just like IP addresses. Instead, they are specified by the manufacturers themselves. However, a device can have more than one MAC address. For example, if your laptop has both built-in WiFi and an Ethernet port, it has two MAC addresses.

Because MAC addresses are basically written to, they play a role in securing the network.

Let's say the network administrator wants to block a certain device from accessing the network. What security mechanism will they use? A quick way to do that is to block that device's MAC address. Alternatively, they can only whitelist certain MAC addresses - this is a common access control method known as MAC address filtering.

Unlike IP addresses, MAC addresses are not public. This means that the websites you visit do not know your MAC address. However, any network you connect to has access to your MAC address. This can put you at risk, if the network is public or compromised.

Whether you want to bypass certain restrictions, protect yourself against attacks and similar types of cybercrime, or just want to enhance your privacy, knowing how to hide your MAC address you are very helpful.

How to hide MAC address

Before hiding the MAC address, you need to find it. This should only take a few minutes, no matter what device and operating system you're using. Refer to the following instructions for how to do this:

After finding out the MAC address, you can hide it. Technically, since you can't connect to an access point without a MAC address, you're just spoofing and changing it, but you're becoming harder to track.

On Windows, Linux and MAC OS X

Detailed instructions are in: How to change MAC address on Windows, Linux and MAC OS X.

On Android and iOS

Newer versions of iOS and Android operating systems have MAC randomization enabled by default. Thanks to this feature, your MAC address will change whenever you connect to a new network.

If you want to check if your smartphone has a built-in MAC randomization feature, here is how.

If you have an Android smartphone, go to the Settings menu and navigate to Connections. Tap the WiFi network you're connected to, then tap the gear icon. Expand the menu if necessary and look for "Mac address type" . This will show "Randomized MAC" or "Phone MAC" - you will most likely be able to switch between the two options.

Apple added automatic MAC address randomization in iOS 14. The feature is enabled by default, but you can turn it off by going to the Settings menu, finding the WiFi network you're connected to, and toggling the slider beside it. Private Address.

It is theoretically possible to change the MAC address of your smartphone manually. However, your device needs to be rooted or jailbroken. Unless you're very confident in your skills, don't jailbreak your iPhone or root your Android smartphone, as doing so can cause irreparable problems.

Knowing how to change the MAC address is very important

Learning what MAC addresses are for, how they work, and why you should consider changing them in certain situations can make a real difference in terms of cybersecurity. Likewise, knowing how to disable and enable MAC address randomization can save you a lot of trouble, as well as eliminate potential connection and security issues.

With that said, if you regularly use public WiFi, make sure you're prepared to deal with other common cyber threats and understand how hackers take advantage of hotspots.

Lesley Montoya

Update 27 June 2023