A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to network interface controllers (NICs) for communications on a network.
💡 Key Point: Websites cannot directly access your MAC address through browsers. However, native applications and some network protocols can expose it.
📋 MAC Address Format
00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E (colon notation)
00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E (hyphen notation)
001A.2B3C.4D5E (dot notation)📊 Structure
- First 3 bytes (OUI): Manufacturer identifier
- Last 3 bytes (NIC): Device-specific identifier
🔍 Exposure Risks
- Local network: Visible to devices on same network
- Native apps: Desktop applications can read it
- WiFi probing: Devices broadcast MAC when searching for networks
🛡️ MAC Spoofing
MAC addresses can be changed at the OS level. Many privacy tools and antidetect solutions randomize MAC addresses to prevent tracking.