Although physical MAC addresses are permanent by design, several mechanisms allow modification, or "spoofing", of the MAC address that is reported by the operating system. This can be useful for privacy reasons, for instance when connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot, or to ensure interoperability. Some internet service providers bind their service to a specific MAC address; if the user then changes their network card or intends to install a router, the service won't work anymore. Changing the MAC address of the new interface will usually solve the problem. However, this action is generally frowned upon and if the service provider is able to detect that a MAC address is spoofed and prohibits spoofed MAC addresses, this method will not work. Similarly, some software licenses are bound to a specific MAC address. Software-based changes to the MAC address simply modify operating system configuration data and are not permanent; with most operating systems and drivers, the MAC address will revert to the value physically stored in the card after a reboot.
A hardware-based change to the MAC address, on the other hand, is permanent because it erases the MAC address physically stored in the card's EEPROM and overwrites it with a desired MAC address. Making this hardware-based modification is tricky, however, as it requires the user to operate desoldering equipment and an EEPROM Programmer (hardware).
As a MAC address can be changed, it can be unwise to rely on this as a single method of authentication. IEEE 802.1x is an emerging standard better suited to authenticating devices at a low level.
2007-02-03 06:07:52
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answer #1
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answered by prmaples 4
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Your MAC address is hard coded into the network card and is unique. While you can't change the actual address, you can "spoof" it in Windows, though there are not too many legitimate reasons to do this.
Do you mean change your IP address?
2007-02-03 06:05:24
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answer #2
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answered by Martik1 2
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MAC address uniquely identifies your network adapter. This is assigned at manufacture time and can't be changed
2007-02-03 06:05:20
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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you cant just simply change the mac address
for that u need to contact the vendor and ask him to do that
there are some third party software but it can create conflict on the internet and u wont be able to connect to internet then after
ya but its for sure that u can change it but u need to be speciallized in some area of hardware.
2007-02-03 06:13:10
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answer #4
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answered by Akhilesh 2
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3.5 in the listed source.
2007-02-03 06:07:11
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answer #5
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answered by John W 3
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cant.
2007-02-03 06:04:29
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answer #6
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answered by sunyrob 1
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