Is a MAC address hard-coded and impossible to spoof?

Is a MAC address hard-coded and impossible to spoof?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only in certain devices
• D. Depends on the network settings

Answer: (B)

A Media Access Control (MAC) address is a hardware identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on the physical network segment. While MAC addresses are typically hard-coded into the device's network interface card (NIC) by the manufacturer, they are not impossible to spoof. Spoofing a MAC address involves altering the configuration of the device's network interface to present a different MAC address than the one originally assigned. This can be done using various software tools or by changing settings within the operating system on most devices, allowing users to impersonate other devices on the network. This flexibility means that while MAC addresses serve as unique identifiers within a local network, their nature allows for unauthorized modifications and impersonations, which enhances the potential for malicious activities, such as evading network security measures or accessing restricted network resources. The other options do not fully capture the reality of how MAC addresses function. They may suggest misconceptions about the fixed nature of MAC addresses or imply that certain conditions limit their ability to be spoofed.

A Media Access Control (MAC) address is a hardware identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on the physical network segment. While MAC addresses are typically hard-coded into the device's network interface card (NIC) by the manufacturer, they are not impossible to spoof.

Spoofing a MAC address involves altering the configuration of the device's network interface to present a different MAC address than the one originally assigned. This can be done using various software tools or by changing settings within the operating system on most devices, allowing users to impersonate other devices on the network.

This flexibility means that while MAC addresses serve as unique identifiers within a local network, their nature allows for unauthorized modifications and impersonations, which enhances the potential for malicious activities, such as evading network security measures or accessing restricted network resources.

The other options do not fully capture the reality of how MAC addresses function. They may suggest misconceptions about the fixed nature of MAC addresses or imply that certain conditions limit their ability to be spoofed.