Tracking users using MAC address - GoFuckYourself.com

greg80 · 08-16-2013, 02:43 PM

I was told by a programmer user can be tracked using their MAC address. Is this true, could you track someone like that instead of IP or cookies?

Also, do you think google is capably of tracking you using your MAC address?

Thanks

just a punk · 08-16-2013, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg80

I was told by a programmer user can be tracked using their MAC address. Is this true, could you track someone like that instead of IP or cookies?

Also, do you think google is capably of tracking you using your MAC address?

Thanks

To do so you have collect a world-wide database of MAC-s. Google is collecting it all the time.

just a punk · 08-16-2013, 03:11 PM

Here is a solution how to avoid tracking of your MAC. Browse internet from a virtual machine ;)

Ferus · 08-16-2013, 04:17 PM

They can view your gateway MAC at best, not the endpoint

johnnyloadproductions · 08-16-2013, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberSEO

Here is a solution how to avoid tracking of your MAC. Browse internet from a virtual machine ;)

browserstack?

rowan · 08-16-2013, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg80

I was told by a programmer user can be tracked using their MAC address. Is this true, could you track someone like that instead of IP or cookies?

Perhaps they mean tracking smartphones by their wifi MAC address. There's a company in London which is working on targeting advertising by doing this. They even suggest using multiple mini access (snoop) points to determine how long someone sits at a bar, or which restroom they go into. By linking these access points together they can gradually build up a profile of the person.

With regards to Google, I don't know of any way that a stock web browser would reveal a MAC address to a remote site. A malicious plugin or malware could do this, of course.

just a punk · 08-17-2013, 01:33 AM

Open https://maps.google.com/ or http://maps.yandex.ru/ and click "on show my location". Make sure that geo tracking is enabled in your browser (e.g. in FireFox: about:config -> geo.enabled and geo.wifi.uri). So if you are on wifi, you'll see your exact location on those maps even if your PC has no GPS module.

Google Chrome and other browsers do the same. Furthermore, geo tracking is always enabled by default.

rowan · 08-17-2013, 04:14 AM

Wifi based geo tracking is done by your browser reporting back *other* MACs it sees.

DamianJ · 08-17-2013, 04:23 AM

For tracking, fingerprinting is the way forward.

Lichen · 08-17-2013, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamianJ

For tracking, retinal scanning is the way forward.

Fixed it for you.

just a punk · 08-17-2013, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowan

Wifi based geo tracking is done by your browser reporting back *other* MACs it sees.

Exactly. That's why the one needs a huge database of MAC's. Google, Microsoft, Apple, Secret Services and others have it already.

DamianJ · 08-17-2013, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lichen

Fixed it for you.

Biometrics is going to be great when they get it working, in the meantime, browser/os fingerprinting is a pretty good option.

greg80 · 08-17-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowan

Wifi based geo tracking is done by your browser reporting back *other* MACs it sees.

Yes, exactly. So the browser does not pass the MAC address?

edgeprod · 08-17-2013, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg80

Yes, exactly. So the browser does not pass the MAC address?

It can, using Java applets, I believe.

rowan · 08-17-2013, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg80

Yes, exactly. So the browser does not pass the MAC address?

I'm not so sure, really. On the face of it, phoning home your own MAC would seem a bit silly, especially if you're on a mobile device, but I guess it could be used as a tie-breaker if there wasn't sufficient data to be confident.

If the desktop you're using is running "host AP" software then Google and other *cough*mapping*cough* companies will have captured its MAC and SSID as they drove past, just like any other AP.

signupdamnit · 08-17-2013, 04:38 PM

It's probably not an option for what you are looking for.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1...ing-javascript
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9...eb-application

Fingerprinting can be fairly effective though:

https://panopticlick.eff.org/

I have an odd ball setup and mine was unique among the 3.2 million tested so far.

08-16-2013, 02:43 PM	#1
greg80 Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,644	Tracking users using MAC address I was told by a programmer user can be tracked using their MAC address. Is this true, could you track someone like that instead of IP or cookies? Also, do you think google is capably of tracking you using your MAC address? Thanks __________________ Say no to GoDaddy and high renewal prices! Go with NameSilo - FREE private whois for life, $8.99 regstrations and renewals. Free redirects, emails, great control panel and more! NameSilo rocks!

08-16-2013, 03:11 PM	#3
just a punk So fuckin' bored Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 32,384	Here is a solution how to avoid tracking of your MAC. Browse internet from a virtual machine ;) __________________ Obey the Cowgod

08-17-2013, 01:33 AM	#7
just a punk So fuckin' bored Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 32,384	Open https://maps.google.com/ or http://maps.yandex.ru/ and click "on show my location". Make sure that geo tracking is enabled in your browser (e.g. in FireFox: about:config -> geo.enabled and geo.wifi.uri). So if you are on wifi, you'll see your exact location on those maps even if your PC has no GPS module. Google Chrome and other browsers do the same. Furthermore, geo tracking is always enabled by default. __________________ Obey the Cowgod

08-17-2013, 04:38 PM	#16
signupdamnit Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,697	It's probably not an option for what you are looking for. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1...ing-javascript http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9...eb-application Fingerprinting can be fairly effective though: https://panopticlick.eff.org/ I have an odd ball setup and mine was unique among the 3.2 million tested so far. __________________ You don't like my posts? Put me on ignore or fuck right off. I'll say what I want.

08-16-2013, 04:17 PM	#4
Ferus Bye - Left to do stuff Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 4,108	They can view your gateway MAC at best, not the endpoint

08-17-2013, 04:14 AM	#8
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	Wifi based geo tracking is done by your browser reporting back other MACs it sees.

08-17-2013, 04:23 AM	#9
DamianJ Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: A magical land Posts: 15,808	For tracking, fingerprinting is the way forward.