So before the KGB comes a knockin'.................. In other words, if the MAC address of your cable modem doesn't match the unique hardware number of the same each and every time your IP comes up, you might keep getting packets, at least long enough for the KGB to break the door down and confiscate every single piece of electrical equipment and paper remotely involved or connected to a computer. I know I sure wouldn't want to be adjusting some unbeknownst to him or her's morphine drip in an ICU somewhere in some part of the world that isn't quite up to par with us.
I think it would be wiser to do any testing while NOT connected to the Internet. I would also look at the BOOTP command and maybe learn a little scripting for the BOOTP command. But I most definitely would not ever ever ever think about putting another in danger or ruining their service because of my own innocent/ignorant testing protocol. On Wed January 1 2003 19:44, you wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > On Wednesday 01 January 2003 04:21, Cameron Nikitiuk wrote: > > From what I understand it is impossible > > for any device to have the same MAC as anyone else. > > oh, it's possible. but if they are on the same local network things won't > work properly. but it hardly matters if you are on different networks. > > > As far as changing a > > MAC, unless you are changing the device you aren't able to do it. If you > > were, it would make IP spoofing and hacking a hell of a lot easier. > > well, only marginally easier, as the MAC is usually only visible locally > (though one can get a peak at it remotely if the remote machine is using > particularly stupid software, like MS Word. i kid you not.). the MAC only > really matters locally, though, as it is used by the Ethernet network to > perform final delivery of packets. so getting on to a network that only > accepts certain MAC addresses or spoofing another machine on the same > network, for instance, can be done by changing your MAC, but that's about > it. > > > As far as why do you have a MAC? Like others have mentioned, having a > > registered MAC (with the manufacturer) allows your device to communicate > > with others, as well as giving a way for your machine to be identified. > > the manufacturer has nothing to do with "registering" your card's MAC. you > can enter your own MAC address and things will be just fine. the numbers > are usually manufacturer specific so as to avoid cards with the same MAC > address being sold on the market (which would mean they wouldn't work > properly on the same local network). > > > This is beneficial for firewalls, and other security devices as they may > > be able to filter and limit access by a MAC address. > > yes, this is a common usage of MAC addresses, as are things like network > address allocation (e.g. DHCP)... such applications require a fairly static > network to be useful, though. > > - -- > Aaron J. Seigo > GPG Fingerprint: 8B8B 2209 0C6F 7C47 B1EA EE75 D6B7 2EB1 A7F1 DB43 > > "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler" > - Albert Einstein > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.0.7 (GNU/Linux) > > iD8DBQE+E5lr1rcusafx20MRAvUAAJ98iXBT6hMMX6OePkCANMIkWbyZ7gCfdzms > 4e/H9MROJ/6zdrSTVfp2H18= > =u4Wr > -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
