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Randomize your WiFi MAC address on Ubuntu

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Re: Randomize your WiFi MAC address on Ubuntu

#41

Post by tinus_hn »

wildrhythms wrote: post #37
throwmenow_0140 wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would be interested where that happens because I've never encountered something like this (binding the mac to the access) in public networks e.g. McDonald's, hotels and other shops. I did only get access codes which could be used for a specific time where I just changed my mac address. I only know about mac whitelisting in protected networks managed by wary administrators.

Airports do this all the time: Wifi is free for 1 hour, after that it's $X/hour. It's simply putting a "timer" on the MAC address.

Then randomizing that address gives you a new hour every time.

Re: Randomize your WiFi MAC address on Ubuntu

#42

Post by Tharkun »

throwmenow_0140 wrote: post #36
larrykwg wrote: post #14

This seems like a good idea until you realize that you are the only one using a random mac address. (There is a vendor prefix at the beginning of every mac) Better would be to take a bit more care in choosing a more realistic address.

I think it's not a good idea to change your mac address as your only precaution against tracking. The DNS requests you'll make will reveal which sites you frequent. I would advise to use a VPN connection. In this case it doesn't matter that you've randomized your mac address in a way which can be clearly identified as random. And even then you can see the VPN server IP in the logs so you should also make precautions…

If you're paranoid enough to be spoofing your MAC address, surely you're paranoid enough not to rely on shady DNS servers?

Re: Randomize your WiFi MAC address on Ubuntu

#44

Post by lowglow »

buildbuildbuild wrote: post #43

Be aware that this technique could be illegal or appear suspicious in some jurisdictions. MAC address randomization was mentioned in Aaron Swartz's indictment for wire fraud. See page 7: https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/threatlevel/2012/09/swart...

Can you show me where changing your MAC address is illegal?

Re: Randomize your WiFi MAC address on Ubuntu

#45

Post by tinus_hn »

throwmenow_0140 wrote: post #36
larrykwg wrote: post #14

This seems like a good idea until you realize that you are the only one using a random mac address. (There is a vendor prefix at the beginning of every mac) Better would be to take a bit more care in choosing a more realistic address.

I think it's not a good idea to change your mac address as your only precaution against tracking. The DNS requests you'll make will reveal which sites you frequent. I would advise to use a VPN connection. In this case it doesn't matter that you've randomized your mac address in a way which can be clearly identified as random. And even then you can see the VPN server IP in the logs so you should also make precautions…

Your adversary probably isn’t the NSA, it’s commercial tracking services. Their business is tracking the general public, they don’t care about one weird person.

Unless avoiding this becomes common practice and then the whole story changes.

Re: Randomize your WiFi MAC address on Ubuntu

#46

Post by tombrossman »

tinus_hn wrote: post #41
wildrhythms wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Airports do this all the time: Wifi is free for 1 hour, after that it's $X/hour. It's simply putting a "timer" on the MAC address.

Then randomizing that address gives you a new hour every time.

Yes, tested and working for 10+ years now. Also works well if usage is capped/throttled after a certain amount and you wish to 'reset' the connection. Try not to abuse this on a shared network obviously, but if you have a legitimate need it's very simple.

Re: Randomize your WiFi MAC address on Ubuntu

#47

Post by ashleyn »

lowglow wrote: post #44
buildbuildbuild wrote: post #43

Be aware that this technique could be illegal or appear suspicious in some jurisdictions. MAC address randomization was mentioned in Aaron Swartz's indictment for wire fraud. See page 7: https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/threatlevel/2012/09/swart...

Can you show me where changing your MAC address is illegal?

It's not illegal, it can be detected and then used against you in an indictment. It's like saying you dislike someone, they go missing, and the prosecutor mentions what you said.

Re: Randomize your WiFi MAC address on Ubuntu

#48

Post by heartbreak »

throwmenow_0140 wrote: post #31
xigency wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because maybe you had to pay to access the network and part of that involved binding your mac address. For example, calling the hotel desk to get your device to work.

Would be interested where that happens because I've never encountered something like this (binding the mac to the access) in public networks e.g. McDonald's, hotels and other shops. I did only get access codes which could be used for a specific time where I just changed my mac address. I only know about mac whitelisting in protected networks managed by wary administrators.

All of the universities I attended used MAC address whitelisting.

Re: Randomize your WiFi MAC address on Ubuntu

#49

Post by [deleted] »

throwmenow_0140 wrote: post #36
larrykwg wrote: post #14

This seems like a good idea until you realize that you are the only one using a random mac address. (There is a vendor prefix at the beginning of every mac) Better would be to take a bit more care in choosing a more realistic address.

I think it's not a good idea to change your mac address as your only precaution against tracking. The DNS requests you'll make will reveal which sites you frequent. I would advise to use a VPN connection. In this case it doesn't matter that you've randomized your mac address in a way which can be clearly identified as random. And even then you can see the VPN server IP in the logs so you should also make precautions…

[deleted]

Re: Randomize your WiFi MAC address on Ubuntu

#50

Post by tedunangst »

code_duck wrote: post #35
kpozin wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you connect to any hotspot with a captive portal, you would need to deal with the portal again every 5 minutes.

The MAC could remain unchanged for established connections while changing for new connection offers.

What does that accomplish?
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