MAC Address - Learn Networking Concept

What is a MAC address and why is it needed?

A MAC address (media access control address) is a completely unique identifier assigned to a NIC (network interface controller) for use as a community address in communications within a community section. This use is commonplace in most IEEE 802 networking technology, which includes Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

A MAC address is usually stored in the NIC’s flash memory, which means it cannot be changed by the user. However, some NICs allow you to change this value by reprogramming their flash memory.

Why could you need a MAC address? The MAC addresses are an essential detail of laptop networking. MAC addresses uniquely perceive a pc on the LAN. MAC is a vital factor required for network protocols like TCP/IP to be characteristic. Computer operating systems and broadband routers guide viewing and now and again converting MAC addresses.

How do MAC addresses work?

Since MAC addresses are assigned without delay by means of the hardware manufacturer, they're additionally known as hardware addresses. With Microsoft Windows, the MAC cope with is referred to as the bodily cope with. Apple uses the terms Ethernet ID, Airport ID, or WiFi copes with, relying on the communication fashionable.

What are the 3 types of MAC addresses? | Unicast, Multicast, and Broadcast

There are three types of MAC addresses: Unicast, Multicast, and Broadcast. The way to pick out which deals with the kind you are viewing is certainly to study the primary byte. A unicast deal with's first byte might be even, like 02, 04, 06, and many others. The first byte of a multicast address is abnormal, including 01, 03, 05, and so on.

MAC addresses: Unicast

A unicast MAC value is a completely unique address that is used when a body is despatched from an unmarried transmitting device to a single vacation spot device. In Figure 7-11, the destination MAC copes with and the destination IP deal with are both unicast.

MAC addresses: Multicast

As described within the IEEE 802.3 popular, the least large bit within the most huge octet of a MAC deal is the multicast bit. The price 1 of this bit indicates a multicast MAC deal. The broadcast MAC cope with 0xFFFF-FFFF-FFFF can be taken as a special form of multicast MAC deal.

MAC addresses: Broadcast

The Ethernet broadcast address is prominent by using having all of its bits set to 1. As such, its MAC address is the hexadecimal cost of FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF. This address is used to transmit records to all the hosts on the nearby subnet.

How do I find MAC addresses? | Cmd Command

• For windows command: ipconfig /all
• For Linux command: ifconfig /all

Can you change your MAC address?

The MAC deal with this is difficult-coded on a network interface controller (NIC) and cannot be changed. However, many drivers allow the MAC deal with to be changed. Additionally, there is gear that can make an operating machine trust that the NIC has the MAC deal with of a user's choosing.

MAC Address: What Can a Hacker Do With It?

Here’s what a hacker can do with a MAC address: For the most part, a hacker can’t do a lot with your MAC address. They can pretend to be you on the network, which is likely to be annoying more than dangerous.

But, if they get the MAC address to a router, they can spoof the network and potentially steal all kinds of information while you browse the internet.