This article gives several methods to spoof a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

• 1Manually
• 2Automatically
  • 2.3Method 3: systemd unit
    • 2.3.1Creating unit
• 3Troubleshooting

Manually

There are two methods for spoofing a MAC address: installing and configuring either iproute2 or macchanger. Both of them are outlined below.

Method 1: iproute2

First, you can check your current MAC address with the command:

How to Change(Spoof) Your MAC Address: The first question you might have about this instructable is why would I need to spoof my MAC address. Well, there are two answers. One, you need to change your MAC address so you network will recognize your device and allow it to connect.

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where interface is the name of your network interface.

The section that interests us at the moment is the one that has 'link/ether' followed by a 6-byte number. It will probably look something like this:

The first step to spoofing the MAC address is to bring the network interface down. It can be accomplished with the command:

Next, we actually spoof our MAC. Any hexadecimal value will do, but some networks may be configured to refuse to assign IP addresses to a client whose MAC does not match up with any of known vendors. Therefore, unless you control the network(s) you are connecting to, use MAC prefix of any real vendor (basically, the first three bytes), and use random values for next three bytes. For more information please read Wikipedia:Organizationally unique identifier.

To change the MAC, we need to run the command:

Where any 6-byte value will suffice for XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX.

The final step is to bring the network interface back up. This can be accomplished by running the command:

If you want to verify that your MAC has been spoofed, simply run ip link show interface again and check the value for 'link/ether'. If it worked, 'link/ether' should be whatever address you decided to change it to.

Method 2: macchanger

Another method uses macchanger (a.k.a., the GNU MAC Changer). It provides a variety of features such as changing the address to match a certain vendor or completely randomizing it.

Install the package macchanger from the official repositories.

The spoofing is done on per-interface basis, specify network interface name as interface in each of the following commands.

The MAC address can be spoofed with a fully random address:

To randomize only device-specific bytes of current MAC address (that is, so that if the MAC address was checked it would still register as being from the same vendor), you would run the command:

To change the MAC address to a specific value, you would run:

Where XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX is the MAC you wish to change to.

Finally, to return the MAC address to its original, permanent hardware value:

Automatically

Method 1: systemd-networkd

systemd-networkd supports MAC address spoofing via link files (see man systemd.link for details).

To set a static spoofed MAC address:

To randomize the MAC address on every boot, set MACAddressPolicy=random instead of MACAddress=spoofed MAC.

Method 2: systemd-udevd

Udev allows you to perform MAC address spoofing by creating the udev rule. Use address attribute to match the correct device by its original MAC address and change it using the ip command:

where XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX is the original MAC address and YY:YY:YY:YY:YY:YY is the new one.

Method 3: systemd unit

Creating unit

Below you find two examples of systemd units to change a MAC address at boot, one sets a static MAC using ip and one uses macchanger to assign a random MAC address. The systemd network-pre.target is used to ensure the MAC is changed before a network manager like Netctl or NetworkManager, systemd-networkd or dhcpcd service starts.

iproute2

systemd unit setting a predefined MAC address:

Mac Spoof Netgear Kb

macchanger

systemd unit setting a random address while preserving the original NIC vendor bytes. Ensure that macchanger is installed:

A full random address can be set using the -r option, see #Method 2: macchanger.

Enabling service

Append the desired network interface to the service name (e.g. eth0) and enable the service (e.g. macspoof@eth0.service).

Reboot, or stop and start the prerequisite and requisite services in the proper order. If you are in control of your network, verify that the spoofed MAC has been picked up by your router by examining the static, or DHCP address tables within the router.

Method 4: netctl interfaces

You can use a netctl hook to run a command each time a netctl profile is re-/started for a specific network interface. Replace interface accordingly:

Make the script executable:

Source: akendo.eu

Method 5: NetworkManager

See NetworkManager#Configuring MAC Address Randomization.

Troubleshooting

Connection to DHCPv4 network fails

If you cannot connect to a DHCPv4 network and you are using dhcpcd, which is the default for NetworkManager, you might need to modify the dhcpcd configuration to obtain a lease.

See also

• Article on DebianAdmin with more macchanger options

MAC spoofing is a technique for changing a factory-assigned Media Access Control (MAC) address of a network interface on a networked device. The MAC address that is hard-coded on a network interface controller (NIC) cannot be changed. However, many drivers allow the MAC address to be changed. Additionally, there are tools which can make an operating system believe that the NIC has the MAC address of a user's choosing. The process of masking a MAC address is known as MAC spoofing. Essentially, MAC spoofing entails changing a computer's identity, for any reason, and it is relatively easy.^[1]

Motivation[edit]

Mac Spoof Software

Changing the assigned MAC address may allow the user to bypass access control lists on servers or routers, either hiding a computer on a network or allowing it to impersonate another network device. MAC spoofing is done for legitimate and illicit purposes alike.

New hardware for existing Internet Service Providers (ISP)[edit]

Many ISPs register the client's MAC address for service and billing services.^[2] Since MAC addresses are unique and hard-coded on network interface controller (NIC) cards,^[1] when the client wants to connect a new device or change an existing one, the ISP will detect different MAC addresses and might not grant Internet access to those new devices. This can be circumvented easily by MAC spoofing, with the client only needing to spoof the new device's MAC address so it appears to be the MAC address that was registered by the ISP.^[2] In this case, the client spoofs their MAC address to gain Internet access from multiple devices. While this is generally a legitimate case, MAC spoofing of new devices can be considered illegal if the ISP's user agreement prevents the user from connecting more than one device to their service. Moreover, the client is not the only person who can spoof their MAC address to gain access to the ISP. Computer crackers can gain unauthorized access to the ISP via the same technique. This allows them to gain access to unauthorized services, while being difficult to identify and track as they are using the client's identity. This action is considered an illegitimate and illegal use of MAC spoofing.^[3]

This also applies to customer-premises equipment, such as cable and DSL modems. If leased to the customer on a monthly basis, the equipment has a hard-coded MAC address known to the provider's distribution networks, allowing service to be established as long as the customer is not in billing arrears. In cases where the provider allows customers to provide their own equipment (and thus avoid the monthly leasing fee on their bill), the provider requires that the customer provide the MAC address of their equipment before service is established.

Fulfilling software requirements[edit]

Some software can only be installed and run on systems with pre-defined MAC addresses as stated in the software end-user license agreement, and users have to comply with this requirement in order to gain access to the software. If the user has to install different hardware due to 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 using MAC spoofing. The user has to spoof the new MAC address so that it appears to be the address that was in use when the software was registered.^{[citation needed]} It is difficult to define this use case as either a legitimate or an illegitimate reason for MAC spoofing. Legal issues might arise if the software is run on multiple devices at once by using MAC spoofing. At the same time, the user can access software for which they have not secured a license. Contacting the software vendor might be the safest route to take if there is a hardware problem preventing access to the software. Software may also perform MAC filtering in an attempt to ensure unauthorized users cannot gain access to certain networks which would otherwise be freely accessible with the software. In such cases MAC spoofing can be considered a serious illegal activity and legal action may be taken.^[4]

Identity masking[edit]

If a user chooses to spoof their MAC address in order to protect their privacy,^{[citation needed]} this is called identity masking. As an example motivation, on Wi-Fi network connections a MAC address is not encrypted. Even the secure IEEE 802.11i-2004 (WPA) encryption method does not prevent Wi-Fi networks from sending out MAC addresses.^{[citation needed]} Hence, in order to avoid being tracked, the user might choose to spoof the device's MAC address. However, computer crackers use the same technique to bypass access control methods such as MAC filtering, without revealing their identity. MAC filtering prevents access to a network if the MAC address of the device attempting to connect does not match any addresses marked as allowed, which is used by some networks. Computer crackers can use MAC spoofing to gain access to networks utilising MAC filtering if any of the allowed MAC addresses are known to them, possibly with the intent of causing damage, while appearing to be one of the legitimate users of the network. As a result, the real offender may go undetected by law enforcement.^{[citation needed]}

MAC Address Randomization in WiFi[edit]

To prevent third parties from using MAC addresses to track devices, Android, Linux, iOS, and Windows^[5] have implemented MAC address randomization. In June 2014, Apple announced that future versions of iOS would randomize MAC addresses for all WiFi connections. The Linux kernel has supported MAC address randomization during network scans since March 2015,^[6] but drivers need to be updated to use this feature.^[7] Windows has supported it since the release of Windows 10^[5] in July 2015.

Controversy[edit]

Although MAC address spoofing is not illegal, its practice has caused controversy in some cases. In the 2012 indictment against Aaron Swartz, an Internet hacktivist who was accused of illegally accessing files from the JSTOR digital library, prosecutors claimed that because he had spoofed his MAC address, this showed purposeful intent to commit criminal acts.^[4] 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 activities and identities, which resurrected moral and legal arguments surrounding the practice of MAC spoofing among several blogs and newspapers.^[8]

Limitations[edit]

MAC address spoofing is limited to the local broadcast domain. Unlike IP address spoofing, where senders spoof their IP address in order to cause the receiver to send the response elsewhere, in MAC address spoofing the response is usually received by the spoofing party if the switch^{[clarification needed]} is not configured to prevent MAC spoofing.

See also[edit]

• ifconfig, linux utility capable of changing MAC address

Mac Spoof Android

References[edit]

Mac Spoofer Ios

1. ^ ^abCardenas, Edgar D. 'MAC Spoofing--An Introduction'. GIAC Security Essentials Certification. SANS Institute. Retrieved 8 February 2013.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
2. ^ ^ab'MAC Spoofing'. Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Research and Development Section in Collaboration with the NCECC’s Technology Unit. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2013.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
3. ^Gupta, Deepak; Gaurav Tiwari (4 November 2009). 'MAC SPOOFING AND ITS COUNTERMEASURES'(PDF). International Journal of Recent Trends in Engineering. 2 (4): 21. Retrieved 8 February 2013.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
4. ^ ^abIndictment against Aaron Swartz
5. ^ ^abhttp://papers.mathyvanhoef.com/asiaccs2016.pdf
6. ^https://w1.fi/cgit/hostap/plain/wpa_supplicant/ChangeLog
7. ^https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=ad2b26abc157460ca6fac1a53a2bfeade283adfa
8. ^Change MAC Address: Use Public WiFi Signals Without Any Limits, Not To Mention Serious Privacy Benefits

Mac Spoof Windows 10