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Comment by discobean | Hacker News Reader

I recently tried this and was able to change the address of only the last few characters, it wouldn't let me change the address entirely.

I just suspected it just had a check on the first bytes of the address to be sure it was a valid Apple ethernet adapter.

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This is still unpatched on my system... hope not too many Apple engineers are browsing these forums

If Apple renders it impossible to change my address at all, I definitely won’t be purchasing their computers any more.

Because you can’t change the MAC you are going to completely abandon Apple? This seems a bit ridiculous. I refuse to run Windows and Linux from a GUI/workstation/productivity standpoint doesn’t work for me.

It's probably more of a 'last straw on the camel's back', not the specific situation.

For some privacy features are more important than for others

Changing your MAC is critical to privacy.

It's probably easier to compensate with a portable router that you can configure instead. Unfortunately

MAC addresses were supposed to be a manufacturer ID + a local ID, so I’m not surprised.

The intent was was to prevent collisions, but the use is now as a persistent ID, used for tracking.

If you're randomizing, it's best to use the full range.

Aren't they supposed also to be tools for the _owner_ (ie purchaser) rather than for companies to retain control of.

If you value personal property and freedom you probably don't buy Apple products to start with.

Your "burned in" MAC address doesn't have to be the MAC it tells other systems in ARP replies, which is pretty much the only way a remote system can find out your MAC (essentially, by asking). It also doesn't have to be the MAC it checks when receiving incoming Ethernet frames.

Most uses of MAC spoofing are for privacy; so that entities that collect every MAC they see over a wireless connection aren't able to track your location.

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