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    PFSense and Mac Addresses.

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • W
      westlos
      last edited by

      PFSense and Mac Addresses.

      Does PFSense block websites, Apps from seeing the Mac Addresses of a PC and connected devices? If no, is there a way to block, disguise or change them?

      Thanks

      A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • A
        akuma1x @westlos
        last edited by

        @westlos MAC addresses are not passed thru an internet modem or router. They are only used on your local networks to move traffic around.

        Read about it here:
        https://www.homenethowto.com/switching/mac-addresses/

        W 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • W
          westlos @akuma1x
          last edited by

          @akuma1x

          Thank you.

          What about using apps like Facebook, do they have a way to access Mac Addresses?

          JKnottJ johnpozJ 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • JKnottJ
            JKnott @westlos
            last edited by

            @westlos

            There is nothing that stops an app from reading the MAC address and passing it on. But that has nothing to do with pfsense. As mentioned above, at the L3 network level, where pfsense operates, MAC addresses are not passed by a router.

            PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
            i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
            UniFi AC-Lite access point

            I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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            • johnpozJ
              johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @westlos
              last edited by johnpoz

              @westlos said in PFSense and Mac Addresses.:

              What about using apps like Facebook

              Why would you care if they are? If your that worried, if a real os and not some tablet or phone.. You could change your mac address.. Maybe whatever OS your running on your phone or tablet allows you do it as well?

              In windows its as simple as this. You can view your mac in windows with ipconfig /all

              mac.png

              Pretty much any OS, and nic driver should allow you to do this. Be careful with what you set it to.. It needs to be valid, and not a multicast mac, etc.

              But again - why would you care if some app can see your mac address?

              Again as mentioned this mac is used on the local L2 only, it not use with traffic to the internet for example, only for your PC to talk to devices on your network, ie your router lan side interface, etc.

              Its a non identifying number, the 1st show you the maker of the device. 00133B for example is

              https://www.macvendorlookup.com/
              lookup.png

              The last 3 numbers would be just the numbers they put on the specific device when they manufactured it.. There is no way to track that to you.. Other than if got with the maker, and said who did you sell this too, hey store who bought this item with serial# (that is if the store actually tracked purchases based on serial# of some nic sold).. Oh F they paid cash - lets go to the camera's, oh there he is buying it with that hoodie.. ENHANCE VIDEO.. Oh its Bob! ;)

              Or if that nic was sold to say DELL, then have to get with DELL - hey where did this computer go that you put nic with mac abc in?

              I think maybe you been watching too many h@ck3r movies ;)

              An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
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