A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on the physical network segment. MAC addresses are used as a network address for most IEEE 802 network technologies, including Ethernet and Wi-Fi. It is a hardware identification number that uniquely identifies each device on a network.

Differences between WiFi MAC Address and Bluetooth MAC Address:

1. Usage Context:
   • WiFi MAC Address: It is used by devices to connect to a Wi-Fi network. It’s necessary for identifying devices on a LAN and for managing the connectivity and access control.
   • Bluetooth MAC Address: This is used by devices for Bluetooth communications, identifying devices within Bluetooth range and managing connections and data transfer.
2. Assigned Numbers:
   • WiFi MAC Address: WiFi MAC addresses are usually assigned by the manufacturer of the network interface controller (NIC) and are stored in its hardware.
   • Bluetooth MAC Address: Bluetooth MAC addresses are also assigned by the device manufacturer but are used exclusively for Bluetooth communication.
3. Format:
   • Both addresses typically follow the same format — six groups of two hexadecimal digits, separated by colons or hyphens (e.g., 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E).
4. Protocol Standards:
   • WiFi MAC Address: It operates under IEEE 802.11 standards.
   • Bluetooth MAC Address: It operates under the Bluetooth standard, which is IEEE 802.15.1.
5. Scope of Communication:
   • WiFi MAC Address: Used for broader network communication, often over greater distances and for internet connectivity.
   • Bluetooth MAC Address: Used for close-range communication, typically for connecting personal devices or forming small personal area networks.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): BLE, also known as Bluetooth Smart, is a wireless personal area network technology designed and marketed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group aimed at novel applications in the healthcare, fitness, beacons, security, and home entertainment industries. BLE is intended to provide considerably reduced power consumption and cost while maintaining a similar communication range to classic Bluetooth.

MAC Address Randomization: MAC address randomization is a privacy technique whereby mobile devices rotate their MAC addresses at regular intervals or each time they connect to a different network. This prevents the tracking of devices using their MAC addresses across different Wi-Fi networks.

1. WiFi MAC Address Randomization: This is often used in mobile devices to avoid tracking and profiling of the device’s network activity. Different operating systems implement MAC address randomization differently, with varying degrees of effectiveness.
2. Bluetooth MAC Address Randomization: Bluetooth can also employ MAC address randomization, particularly in BLE, to prevent tracking of the device when it is advertising its presence to other Bluetooth devices.

The intent of MAC address randomization is to enhance user privacy, as a static MAC address can potentially be used to track a user’s activities across different networks over time.

Considering new technologies and contrarian ideas, one could also speculate that in the future, MAC address randomization could evolve to use more sophisticated methods of generating temporary addresses or employ additional layers of privacy protection like network-level encryption or the use of one-time addresses that change with each packet sent.

MAC Address Lookup

MAC Address Lookup

The MAC address consists of two main parts:

1. Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI): The first three bytes of the MAC address are known as the OUI or vendor code. This is a sequence of characters assigned by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) to a manufacturer of network-related hardware. The OUI is unique to each manufacturer and serves as a way to identify them globally.
2. Device Identifier: The remaining three bytes of the MAC address are assigned by the manufacturer and are unique to each device. This part is sometimes referred to as the NIC-specific part.

When you perform a MAC address lookup, you’re typically using a tool or online service that has a database of OUIs and knows which manufacturers they correspond to. By inputting the MAC address, the service can tell you which company manufactured the hardware.

Here’s how a typical MAC address lookup works:

1. Input the MAC Address: You provide the full MAC address to a lookup service or tool.
2. Identification of OUI: The service identifies the first half of the MAC address (the OUI).
3. Database Search: The tool searches for this OUI in its database to find the corresponding manufacturer.
4. Output Information: The service then outputs the name of the manufacturer and possibly other details such as location, if available.

It’s important to note that while the OUI can tell you the manufacturer, it doesn’t tell you anything about the device itself, such as the model or type. Also, since a manufacturer may have multiple OUIs, the lookup might return several potential candidates. Furthermore, some services might provide additional details by cross-referencing the MAC address with other databases to determine if the address has been seen in specific networks or locations.

Trace A MAC Address

WiGLE (Wireless Geographic Logging Engine) is a website that offers a database of wireless networks worldwide, with tools for searching and filtering these networks. To trace the location of a MAC address using WiGLE, you would typically follow these steps:

1. Access WiGLE: Go to the WiGLE website and sign in. If you do not have an account, you will need to register for one.
2. Search for MAC Address: Navigate to the search function and enter the MAC address of the wireless network you’re interested in. This MAC address should be associated with a specific wireless access point.
3. Analyze the Results: WiGLE will display any networks that match the MAC address you’ve entered. It will show you a map of where these networks have been logged. The accuracy of the location data can vary depending on how many times and by how many different users the network has been logged.

Regarding differences between Bluetooth and WiFi searches on WiGLE:

• Frequency Bands: WiFi typically operates on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, while Bluetooth operates on the 2.4 GHz band but with a different protocol and shorter range.
• Discovery Protocol: WiFi networks are identified by their SSID (Service Set Identifier) and MAC address, whereas Bluetooth devices use device names and addresses.
• Range of Search: WiFi networks can be detected over longer distances, often tens of meters, while Bluetooth is usually limited to about 10 meters.
• Data Logged: WiFi searches will provide you with network names, security protocols, and signal strength, among other data. Bluetooth searches, which are less common on WiGLE, would typically only give you device names and the type of Bluetooth device.

Regarding MAC address overlap:

• Unique Identifiers: MAC addresses are supposed to be unique identifiers for network hardware, but there are instances of overlap due to manufacturing errors, spoofing, or re-use of addresses in different contexts.
• Impact on Location Tracking: Overlap in MAC addresses can lead to incorrect location information being logged, as the same address may appear in multiple, unrelated places.
• Privacy Measures: Some devices use MAC address randomization to prevent tracking, which can create apparent overlaps in databases like WiGLE, as the same device might be logged with different addresses over time.

WiGLE can be a useful tool for understanding the distribution and range of wireless networks, but it has limitations, particularly in the accuracy of the location data and the potential for MAC address overlap.

References

• User Manual