What is a Mac Address and how do i find my Device’s Mac Address?
Have you ever wondered how your device is recognized on the internet? How does it communicate with other devices in the overwhelming sea of connections? Well, the answer lies within its unique identifier — the MAC address. Just like a fingerprint distinguishes individuals, a Mac Address sets apart your device from billions of others worldwide.
#. What is a MAC Address?
A MAC address is a 12-digit hexadecimal identifier that is assigned to each network-connected device. It acts as a network device’s unique identifier. The device’s manufacturer assigns MAC addresses, which are contained in the device’s Network Interface Card (NIC). They function at the OSI model’s data link layer and are used to ease communication between devices on a local network.
MAC addresses are represented by six dyads of characters, separated by colons or hyphens. For example , a MAC address can be written as “3C:64:91:88:D9:E3” or” 3C-64–91–88-D9-E3." MAC addresses are able to identify specific devices on a network because they are assigned at the hardware level by the device’s manufacturer.
#.How Important is a MAC address?
MAC addresses are important because they are used to track devices used to access the internet or send data on the internet. Let say, someone hacks into a network or sends spam emails, the MAC address of their device can be used to trace them.
MAC addresses are essential for keeping networks secure and ensuring that data is being transferred from the correct source. It is also used for security and troubleshooting.
#.Types Of MAC addresses?
There are three types of MAC addresses: unicast, multicast, and broadcast. A unicast address is assigned to a single device, while a multicast address is allocated to a group of devices. A broadcast address is used to broadcast communication to all devices on a network.
The most frequently seen kind of MAC address is a unicast address. They’re used to uniquely identify a specific device on a network. Unicast addresses are generally used for devices that need to communicate with each other, like computers and printers.
Multicast addresses are used to identify a group of devices that can admit the same data at the same time. Multicast addresses are frequently used for videotape conferencing or streaming audio and videotape content.
Broadcast addresses are used to broadcast data to all devices on a network. Broadcast addresses are generally used for system-wide adverts , like a new software updates, security cautions, etc.
#.How to Locate Your Device’s Mac Address
Here are the steps to find your device’s Unique MAC address on different operating systems:
Windows:
Press the “Windows” key on your keyboard and type “cmd” to open the Command Prompt.
In the Command Prompt, type “ipconfig/all” and press Enter.
Scroll down the list of network adapters until you find the one you’re interested in. The MAC address will be listed as the “Physical Address.”
macOS:
Click on the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.”
In System Preferences, click on “Network” and select the network connection you want to view the MAC address for.
Click on the “Advanced” button and select the “Hardware” tab. The MAC address will be listed as the “Wi-Fi Address.”
Android:
Go to “Settings” and select “About Phone” or “About Device.”
Look for “Status” or “Network” and select “Wi-Fi MAC Address.” The MAC address should be listed here.
`iOS:
Go to “Settings” and select “General.”
Scroll down and select “About.” The MAC address, referred to as the “Wi-Fi Address,” should be listed here.
Linux:
Open a terminal window.
Type the command “ifconfig” and press Enter.
Look for the network interface you want to find the MAC address for (e.g., eth0 for Ethernet, wlan0 for Wi-Fi).
The MAC address is listed as “HWaddr” or “ether” followed by the MAC address in the format xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx.
Smart TVs and Streaming Devices:
The location of the MAC address on smart TVs and streaming devices can vary. Check your device’s settings or network-related sections in the on-screen menu or user manual to find the MAC address.
#.Decoding Your System’s MAC Address.
To determine the meaning of your system’s MAC address, look up the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) portion of the MAC address, this will provide information about the manufacturer or vendor of the network interface card (device). To do this, you can use the various online tools and databases designed specifically for MAC address lookup.
The first 6 hexadecimal characters (xx:xx:xx) in the MAC address represent the OUI. For example, if your MAC address is “00:1A:2B:3D:5E:6F,” the OUI is “00:1A:2B.”
Enter the OUI portion of your MAC address into the search field of the chosen MAC address lookup tool, i.e the first six hexadecimal character(“00:1A:2B.”)
The tool will display the manufacturer or vendor name associated with the OUI.
The manufacturer name is usually presented alongside details about the company and the NIC’s product line.
