Re: Mac address & hostname automatic randomizer freeware for Windows

[jhailey@hotmail.com]

On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:24:49 -0800, John Navas wrote:

> Because it won't do any real good. Your ISP knows who you are from the
> IP address.

Aha! I see what the problem is!

John, you and Jeff are well known here (on alt.internet.wireless), and
Franklin, Ari, and others are just as well known on the freeware side), so
your points must be valid.

So why the difference of opinion?

You say the person who pays the ISP bill can be identified (and I agree).
But, for a P2P civil court case to be successful, it is not enough to
identify the person who pays the ISP bill (these cases have been thrown out
of court).

So, you're making a (correct) claim the owner of record for the account can
be identified (and nobody is disputing that) but we're making a claim that
the actual PERSON doing the egregious download or upload or email is who
we're trying to protect.

The RIAA, for example, must identify the person who performed the P2P act -
not the owner of the account when the act occurred!

Changing the MAC address and router hostname helps obfuscate exactly which
PC or exactly which router or exactly which cellphone or exactly which iPod
connected at the time the offence supposedly occurred.

So, if you're going to use P2P software or write nastigrams to your
CEO, or even play a prank on your HR director, then you probably should (I
would think you really MUST but that's why I'm here asking) randomize your
ROUTER hostname and your ROUTER MAC address.

Is there freeware that randomizes the ROUTER's hostname and router MAC
address?

[John Navas]

On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:46:33 -0800, "jhailey@hotmail.com"
<jhailey@hotmail.com> wrote in
<ckY3l.10536$yr3.7147@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com>:

>On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:24:49 -0800, John Navas wrote:
>
>> Because it won't do any real good. Your ISP knows who you are from the
>> IP address.
>
>Aha! I see what the problem is!
>
>John, you and Jeff are well known here (on alt.internet.wireless), and
>Franklin, Ari, and others are just as well known on the freeware side), so
>your points must be valid.
>
>So why the difference of opinion?

What difference of opinion? If you're concerned about security, then
look to those with security knowledge. Conventional wisdom about
security is very often wrong.

>You say the person who pays the ISP bill can be identified (and I agree).
>But, for a P2P civil court case to be successful, it is not enough to
>identify the person who pays the ISP bill (these cases have been thrown out
>of court).

Which cases? On what basis?

>So, you're making a (correct) claim the owner of record for the account can
>be identified (and nobody is disputing that) but we're making a claim that
>the actual PERSON doing the egregious download or upload or email is who
>we're trying to protect.

I don't see a substantial difference.

>The RIAA, for example, must identify the person who performed the P2P act -
>not the owner of the account when the act occurred!

Citation?

>Changing the MAC address and router hostname helps obfuscate exactly which
>PC or exactly which router or exactly which cellphone or exactly which iPod
>connected at the time the offence supposedly occurred.

I don't think it makes a material difference.

>So, if you're going to use P2P software or write nastigrams to your
>CEO, or even play a prank on your HR director, then you probably should (I
>would think you really MUST but that's why I'm here asking) randomize your
>ROUTER hostname and your ROUTER MAC address.

I can think of lots easier and more effective ways.

>Is there freeware that randomizes the ROUTER's hostname and router MAC
>address?

Now that it's clear why you want to do this, I'm not going to provide
any further help. Good luck.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://wireless.navas.us>
John FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.navas.us/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.navas.us/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.navas.us/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

[Ari]

On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:12:42 -0800, John Navas wrote:

> On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:46:33 -0800, "jhailey@hotmail.com"
> <jhailey@hotmail.com> wrote in
> <ckY3l.10536$yr3.7147@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com>:
>
>>On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:24:49 -0800, John Navas wrote:
>>
>>> Because it won't do any real good. Your ISP knows who you are from the
>>> IP address.
>>
>>Aha! I see what the problem is!
>>
>>John, you and Jeff are well known here (on alt.internet.wireless), and
>>Franklin, Ari, and others are just as well known on the freeware side), so
>>your points must be valid.
>>
>>So why the difference of opinion?
>
> What difference of opinion? If you're concerned about security, then
> look to those with security knowledge. Conventional wisdom about
> security is very often wrong.

OK, you're conventional, you win, Naval. lol

Btw, Naval, why is it you keep removing the alt.privacy groups from this
thread? Maybe it's because the last time you entered the Lion's Den you
got eaten like a fat, juicy Christian after a two week fast at the
Circus Maximus for the tigers? lol
--
Meet Ari!
http://tr.im/1fa3

[Ari]

On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:46:33 -0800, jhailey@hotmail.com wrote:

> You say the person who pays the ISP bill can be identified (and I agree).

I don't.

> But, for a P2P civil court case to be successful, it is not enough to
> identify the person who pays the ISP bill (these cases have been thrown out
> of court).
>
> So, you're making a (correct) claim the owner of record for the account can
> be identified (and nobody is disputing that)

I do.

> but we're making a claim that
> the actual PERSON doing the egregious download or upload or email is who
> we're trying to protect.
>
> The RIAA, for example, must identify the person who performed the P2P act -
> not the owner of the account when the act occurred!

RIAA can claim conspiracy and compliance, that alone is enough **** to
get into. The DMCA is very broad in its discovery and judicial interp.

> Changing the MAC address and router hostname helps obfuscate exactly which
> PC or exactly which router or exactly which cellphone or exactly which iPod
> connected at the time the offence supposedly occurred.

Any and all.

> So, if you're going to use P2P software or write nastigrams to your
> CEO, or even play a prank on your HR director, then you probably should (I
> would think you really MUST but that's why I'm here asking) randomize your
> ROUTER hostname and your ROUTER MAC address.

If that is the only access means you have, yes. Brighter people have
dozens of access schemes much better.

> Is there freeware that randomizes the ROUTER's hostname and router MAC
> address?

Yes, .bat files.
--
Meet Ari!
http://tr.im/1fa3