MACAdressRandomisierung

MAC Address Randomization is a security feature designed to enhance privacy and reduce tracking by making a device's Media Access Control (MAC) address appear random rather than fixed. The MAC address is a unique hardware identifier assigned to network interfaces, traditionally used for device identification on local area networks (LANs). While MAC addresses are not inherently private, they can be exploited by malicious actors to track user movements across networks, enabling profiling or unauthorized access attempts.

The process involves generating a temporary, pseudo-random MAC address that remains consistent for a single network session but changes upon reconnecting to a different network. This technique is commonly implemented in operating systems like macOS, Windows 10, and Linux to protect user privacy. For example, macOS introduced MAC Address Randomization in 2018 as part of its privacy-focused updates, allowing devices to obscure their true MAC addresses when connecting to Wi-Fi networks.

MAC Address Randomization works by modifying the least significant bits of the original MAC address, ensuring it remains recognizable to the user’s own devices while appearing different to external observers. This approach helps mitigate risks associated with MAC address spoofing and passive tracking, though it does not prevent all forms of network surveillance, such as those relying on IP addresses or other identifiers.

While the feature improves privacy, it may occasionally cause compatibility issues with certain network configurations that rely on MAC address filtering. Users can typically enable or disable MAC Address Randomization through their operating system’s network settings, though the default behavior often prioritizes privacy by enabling it automatically.