MAC address

From Saferpedia

Within computer networks MAC address (Media Access Control) is an unique identifier assigned to most of the network boards or network interface cards. This address is assigned by the manufacturer in order to identify it and is used in substrates of the MAC protocols. If the address is assigned by the manufacturer it encrypts the identification number of the manufacturer. This address is also known as EHA (Ethernet Hardware Address).

There are three numbering spaces managed by the IEEE – Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, which are common to formulate a MAC address: MAC: MAC-48, EUI-48 and EUI-64. IEEE supports commercial trademarks EUI-48 and EUI-64, where EUI stands for Extended Unique Identifier.

Although the intention was that MAC to be a globally unique and permanent identifier, nowadays it's possible to change the MAC address on most of the network boards. This action is usually called "forging the MAC address".