MAC address

[kia cat]

Did ask this http://preview.tinyurl.com/pz93a3 a while back. Just had a reply from ISP, keep the disc that came with the new driver and re-install if a similar problem occurs. Can't see how that can cure the problem shoul it happen again. I thought the MAC was unique to the driver.

[rojash]

"I thought the MAC was unique to the driver."
The MAC is normally unique to the card, not the driver (otherwise everyone who had the same driver would have the same MAC!).
Some card/driver combinations allow you to manually override the the MAC stored on the card.

[ChuckFickens]

I saw this the first time round, and it's a little strange!

How on earth are you connecting to the internet that it's your computers mac address that ends up as the public one? (i.e. the one visible to your ISP)

in 95% of setups your computers MAC address would not get past your router. are you on virgin media cable with one of their cable modems?

If you are please spend about �30-�40 on a cable router. it's really not a great idea to have your computer directly on the internet unless you know what your doing security wise.

[kia cat]

Thanks for your replies. I'm only being guided by those who I hope/assume know more than me. [1] The MAC address was "unique" in asmuch as a phone number is. [2] the "card" is built into the driver, hence a new driver install [3] We don't want or need a wireless router at the moment, so do we need a cable router? wouldn't this be something the ISP would supply?

[rojash]

"[1] The MAC address was "unique" in as much as a phone number is. "
Theoretically this is true, but it is possible to spoof a different MAC. But in any case, as Chuck says, the MAC would not normally be exposed to the internet


"[2] the "card" is built into the driver, hence a new driver install"
The card is a physical device, the driver is the software that interfaces it to the operating system. The MAC is normally programmed into the card during manufacture, and is unaffected by changes to the driver (except in some cases where the driver allows you to override the "true" address, and spoof a different one - but even then, the MAC would not be tied to the driver itself, i.e. changing the driver would not automatically change the MAC).

"[3] We don't want or need a wireless router at the moment, so do we need a cable router? wouldn't this be something the ISP would supply?"
Some ISPs supply a modem, some a modem/router, but that's like a "starter kit" - you are not tied to the equipment supplied by the ISP (any more than you are tied to telephone receivers supplied by your phone company)

[kia cat]

Is this worth a try for the future? http://download.cnet.com/Technitium-MAC-Addres s-Changer/3000-2085_4-10554920.html?tag=mncol& cdlPid=10830256
Thanks