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Jessiej1980 Author

Level 1

8 points

I think someone has spoofed my MAC address!?

I'm hoping someone can help me. This is a big deal for me :o(

On a social media site where I have an account a friend of mine said that another user who had been sending messages had the same mac and IP address as my account... So looks like I have multiple accounts and using one device.

I however have not been! I only have one email address and most sites don't allow 2 accounts with same email address for starters.

I've reAd up a lot online prior to asking here - I'm led to believe that you can copy and spoof these addresses, I also hear they can sometimes how the same

If using the same wifi ( but different devices? ) is this true?

Is it possible someone is messing with things?

Can I get or can I change my MAC address to stop this happening??

Be grateful for any help as this is causing a lot of emotional trouble.

Thanks in advance.

iPhone 4S, iOS 7.1.1

Posted on Apr 23, 2014 3:32 PM

34 replies

Jessiej1980 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 24, 2014 9:53 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

And same MAC address?

I've just spoken to my service provider of my iPhone. They have informed me that if using an iPhone via 3G then an ip and MAC address could not be traced, only a phone number.

They said also if 2 phones accesses a site through wifi router it would show as same mac and IP address.

However, no matter what.. The fact that said person is telling me they have evidence of my mac and IP address this is completely illegal. As they would of had to use some hacking software to be able to find this out. So I could infact report them!!

Apr 24, 2014 10:21 AM in response to Jessiej1980

Two situations.

If you were using WiFi it would mean that your router had been hacked. Which isn't that hard to do with most home routers. They are buggy as heck. It would be illegal.

If you were using 3G it would be impossible for them to have your IP address or your MAC address. Cellular data connections are implemented as "double NAT (Network Address Translation)". Your phone connects to a a tower, the tower connects your phone to a switch, which assigns the phone an IP address. The switch then acts as a "proxy" on your behalf to connect to your destination (email server, web site, web service, etc). The destination only sees the IP address of the cellular switch; it does not see your IP address at all. This is similar to using a home router, where the destination sees the IP address of the router, not of your phone.

Yes, you could report them. And if it was across state lines or you suspect it was you could report them to the FBI, who are better qualified to deal with Internet fraud than local police are.

Jessiej1980 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 24, 2014 11:20 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

So to finalise and summarise;

They could be talking crap,

However if they do have what they say they have it doesn't PROVE it's one person using one iPhone to message people from two accounts. ( via an internet site ) It could mean 2 iPhones using the same wireless router therefore showing the same addresses to them.

If I was using 3G they are lying as they couldn't see that information anyway??

And the fact they say that have my mac and IP address they went to some developing hacking trouble

To get it which is in fact ... ILLEGAL!

Apr 24, 2014 11:50 AM in response to Jessiej1980

Good summary.

Jessiej1980 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 24, 2014 1:46 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Add a spanner in the works. ' mac sniffing' is not illegal.

I've also just been told that even if going through same wifi 2 iPhones mac addresses would never show the same, neither would the IP address.

So... I'm now back at square one it seems and feeling ill with worry. I can't seem to get any "fact" on any of this.

So it's still looking like I've been using multiple accounts from one device/my iPhone. :o(

Apparently, said person who has this evidence of my mac and IP address for both accounts is very 'up' on pcs and 'mac sniffing'

Apr 24, 2014 2:00 PM in response to Jessiej1980

Or is lying through their teeth. Have they told you your Mac address and IP address yet? This is someone who is either teasing you or is trying to extort something from you. You should not be putting up with it. If it is extortion call the police.

Who told you mac sniffing is not illegal? The same person who is illegally stalking you?

Jessiej1980 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 24, 2014 2:24 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

No. A friend told me it's not illegal. I need this confirmed though. I don't know where to go to get facts. :o(

They haven't told me what it is no, or shown me what they have. They are saving that to show someone else, hence why I'm worried as someone else if they see or think I've been using multiple accounts from one phone will probably not want to know me anymore. Hence why I'm so desperate to get facts on this and find things out.

Apr 24, 2014 2:26 PM in response to Jessiej1980

Sounds like stalking to me. Mac sniffing by itself may not be illegal, but doing it for an illegal purpose certainly is.

Jessiej1980 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 24, 2014 2:49 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Can I find proof that it is though? Where does it say that in fact?

And given this person says they have this evidence that I'm using multiple accounts how on earth do I prove I haven't??

Some people say if accessing site through wifi then multiple mac add is same, others say 2 phones will never show the same??

To shed a little more light the person who says they have this info is the best friend of someone I have been seeing. So... They say they don't trust me and will be showing him this info.

I know **** well I've not had 2 accounts only the one which I access via my

Phone. But to him it's going to look bad if they have what they say they have isn't it??

All I have is bits of info here and there on mac and ip addresses.

Apr 26, 2014 5:50 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Hi Lawrence, can someone find your MAC address to your iPhone if you were connected to public wifi and created a social media account? For example if they knew the IP address from when you opened the account? Or what if you were on 3G/4g?

Apr 26, 2014 5:54 PM in response to Clueless321

Anyone with a WiFi sniffer app can get your MAC address from a public WiFi. If you create a social media account, however, the entire transaction would be encrypted so they would have no way of knowing what account you created.

If you are not on WiFi but are on cellular data no one can determine your Mac address, your IP address or what you did while connected. Cellular data is completely secure (except from the NSA).

Apr 26, 2014 6:06 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

**** NSA....lol

What if i do know the account created? For example Facebook, they have a feature to find out who (ip address) created the account even if the account has been deleted. Would it than be easy to find the MAC address of the iPhone user if they were on public wifi?

Apr 26, 2014 6:12 PM in response to Clueless321

Also once you have a MAC address, does that tell you who's device it is? If not can you find out the person who owns it?

Chris CA

Level 10

82,476 points

Apr 26, 2014 6:16 PM in response to Dirty Vegas

Dirty Vegas wrote:

Here is the information you need to know about a MAC address. Most important to understand is that "MAC" is not short for McIntosh.

It's not short for Macintosh (made by Apple) either.

McIntosh makes stereo amplifiers.

Apr 26, 2014 6:24 PM in response to Clueless321

Any website can determine the IP address of anyone who visits the site. However, if you use public WiFi the IP address will be the address of the hotspot, so it could not be easily traced to you unless the place was empty at the time. Over cellular data it would be the IP of the cellular carrier's switch. Law enforcement could get a warrant to see whose phone had that IP address at the time of the access, but it would be a big deal and they wouldn't bother unless there was a felony involved.

I think someone has spoofed my MAC address!?