Blocking an IP Address for Mac Users. To block an IP address on your Mac computer, you’re going to need access to your wireless router (or LAN router, which connects to the internet using an Ethernet cable). Knowing the password is essential, which can often be found printed or stuck on the outside of the modem. May 19, 2014 Straightforward setup: Apart from installing My IP Hide for Mac, all you have to do to get a new IP address is create a trial account, activate it, and connect to the Didsoft network. Apr 08, 2020 Clients use IP addresses to reach servers, and servers use IP addresses to send requested data back to the correct client. That request-and-response system is part of the TCP/IP model, which governs how devices on the internet communicate with one each another.

Learn how to spoof your MAC address with a MAC address hider.

Learn how to hide your MAC address (courtesy Christiaan Colen / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Why learn to hide MAC address for your computer and protect your privacy? It is interesting to note how our Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or Sensitive Personal Information (SPI) is increasingly under attack. A quick check on Wikipedia gives you a long list of over 20 different pieces of data which can be (and are) used to identify, locate, profile and target you.

Although it’s of scary, I guess we all have become used to the threat of our privacy being compromised. Long gone are the days when the only way persons were identified was by their face, fingerprints, or handwriting.

By the way, for cynics who may scoff at the need for privacy as simply an excuse to do illegal activities, they should know that there is a community of law-abiding citizens who do prefer privacy. In fact, what seems more unethical is that there is an entire industry ranging into the billions of dollars involving the sale and resale of our personal information – not to mention the wholesale spying of governments into every bit (literally) of our online data.

Our Privacy Under Increasing Attack

Our lives creep ever closer to what is depicted in futuristic dystopian movies. Check or yourself. Go to Facebook ads and check out how easily you can specifically target an audience. If this is the sort of targeting available to Joe and Jane Blo, imagine how specific the big & powerful players can target you? It’s no stretch to imagine they can target right down to the level of specific individuals.

You have probably noticed how Google can suggest a particular item for you to buy or when Facebook and LinkedIn suggest that you send a friend or connection request to a particular person. Of course, this is all just the tip of the iceberg.

As you become more informed, you will discover many more potential ways in which your privacy can be compromised or is already compromised—that is the reality. For starters, ensure that you read https://www.cogipas.com/top-10-essential-internet-privacy-tips/.

Free

Tracking and Profiling is Getting More Sophisticated & Moving Away from IP Addresses

Most people know that the IP address of our devices can give away our location and a whole bunch of other information. That is just one important reason why we recommend using a trusted VPN service as a basic privacy measure.

  • see What’s My IP Address?

However, another way in which individuals and their online activities can be identified is through the manipulation of the MAC address on their devices. The stark reality of this was highlighted by the famous whistle-blower Edward Snowden who disclosed that NSA tracks persons via their devices’ MAC addresses.

The startup company Renew tested this successfully by tracking mobile devices in and around London. This is why Apple has started introducing a system of generating random MAC addresses on their iOS devices.

What is a MAC Address?

The MAC acronym actually stands for Media Access Control. It is a unique identification code which is hard-wired or hard-coded into your computer’s and other mobile devices’ Network Interface Card (NIC) hardware. The NIC is needed by your devices when connecting to a network whether it is wired (Ethernet) or wireless (Wi-Fi). The MAC address is usually in the form of six sets of two-digit characters, separated by colons. A typical MAC address may look something like 00:0a:98:9d:65:16.

Please note that there is a different MAC address for each network interface. And so, a laptop computer that has an Ethernet port and a Wi-Fi radio will have different MAC addresses for the wired and the wireless network interfaces.

MAC addresses are 48 bits in length and the first 24 bits contain a unique set of characters known as the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) or vendor ID. This identifier or ID uniquely identifies the manufacturer of the networking hardware. The following are the OUI for some manufacturers:

Belkin: 00-30-BD

Cisco: 00-40-96

Dell: 00-14-22

Nortel: 00-04-DC

Some manufacturers of larger networking hardware may use more than one set of Organizationally Unique Identifiers (OUI).

With your MAC address, you become identifiable on a network. As a matter-of-fact, there are some schools and companies which require that persons accessing their wifi provide their MAC address. With that information (and, may I say, under normal conditions), network administrators can use MAC filtering and prevent unauthorised entry to their network even if the unwanted device was issued a different IP address by DHCP.

Network administrators also use MAC addresses for diagnosing network issues since they don’t change (under normal circumstances) in comparison to dynamic IP addresses which may change.

Can I Block my MAC address?

Well, the answer to this question may have a YES-NO kind of answer. As for the NO-part of the answer, every device on a network has to present a MAC address and so access to a MAC address cannot be blocked. The situation can be compared to the postal system. For persons to get their mail, they need to use an address. Without an address, the postman will not know where to leave a package. In a similar way, devices on a network have to present a MAC address so that their data packets can be routed to them. However, that MAC address need not be the original hard-coded MAC address that the device was manufactured with. And so, in this context, YES we can hide (or if you prefer block) our original MAC address by using another MAC address. This pseudo-MAC address may be a random one that is changed by the user or generated by computer software or it could be one that is spoofed from another device which has access to the network. In this way, a computer system may be manipulated so that the MAC address reported by the operating system does not match the permanent physical MAC address. This is beneficial for addressing privacy concerns when doing things like using a Wi-Fi hotspot.

IMPORTANT: This method of switching the MAC address is not permanent. The computer will restore the permanent physical MAC address after it is rebooted.

NOTE: Apart from the MAC address on your computer’s network adapters, there is also a MAC address for your router. Therefore, if you are operating your own home network, you may have to change your router’s MAC address as well as your computer’s MAC address. You will be able to change the MAC address on your router using your router’s web interface.

Software which can spoof your MAC Address

The following is a list of software tools which may be used to change your computer’s MAC address. The list includes tools for both Windows and Mac systems.

  1. Technitium MAC Address Changer https://technitium.com/tmac/
  2. NoVirusThanks MAC Address Changer http://www.novirusthanks.org/products/mac-address-changer/
  3. SMAC MAC Address Changer http://www.klcconsulting.net/smac/#Download
  4. Change MAC Address http://lizardsystems.com/change-mac-address/
  5. MacAppStuff Spoof MAC for Mac http://download.cnet.com/MacAppStuff-Spoof-MAC/3000-2144_4-75289372.html
  6. ChangeMAC for Mac http://download.cnet.com/ChangeMAC/3000-18508_4-169342.html
  7. MAC Change http://download.cnet.com/MAC-Change/3000-2085_4-10343579.html
Mac

Spoofing your MAC Address in Windows

Although there is software designed specifically to spoof MAC addresses, spoofing is possible without the use of additional software. It can be done safely within the Windows operating system and it is legal too. The following sets out how you may spoof your MAC address within Windows — of course, you do so at your own risk.

STEP 1: Locate the Device Manager

For Windows 8.1 and higher, you may press Windows Key + X before clicking Device Manager.

For Windows 7, you may type “Device Manager” in the Search box which comes up when you press the Windows key. Click Device Manager or press enter to open the console.

STEP 2: Identify the network interface that you wish to modify or spoof.

Identify “Network Adapters” from the list of devices. Double-click it to reveal all available network interfaces. Right-click the one you wish to modify and then click Properties.

STEP 3: Change the MAC address

Open the Properties window, click the Advanced tab and then select Network Address from the options listed. If you don’t see this option then your network driver doesn’t have this feature.

Switch the option from “Not Present” to “Value”. You may see “0000000000” in the Value box. Remove this entry and then insert your new MAC address without any additional spaces or characters. Press OK.

Spoofing your MAC Address on Apple’s Mac OS X

Although the Mac OS X allows you to see the MAC address for each network interface via its System Preferences, it does not allow users to change it from that point. However, users may change it by using a single command.

Press Command + Space, type “Terminal”, and press the Enter key to open a Terminal window. You will need to run the command below. Remember to replace en0 with the correct network interface name and replace xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx with your desired MAC address.

sudo ifconfig en0 xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx

Generally speaking, the network interface will be en0 or en1 based on whether you are modifying the Wi-Fi or Ethernet interface. If unsure of the network interface name, run the ifconfig command to view all interfaces.

REMEMBER: This method of switching the MAC address is not permanent. The computer will restore the permanent physical MAC address after it is rebooted.

IP blocker software tools restrict undesired IP addresses. When you are online and access internet, you have an exclusive IP address just like your residence, which is traceable and inform other users where exactly you are located. To prevent others particularly hackers from tracking your IP addresses, break into your computers and pirate confidential information you require IP blocker software.

Related:

These software packages not only hide your real location but also keep your online surfing private, assuring you the immunity to surf freely without any information leakage

1. Hide My IP

This is another one of the most popular IP address blockers. It not only lets you surf anonymously but also lets you send anonymous emails. It forbid hackers from acquiring your IP address and prevents the government from spying on you. You can access IP addresses of over 90 countries using this software tool.

2. HotSpot Shield

It is one of the fastest and finest VPNs. It has plenty of features like securing your internet connection and encrypting your private data so that you can safely and securely surf web whether you are at home or in public. It also provides accessibility to blocked and censored websites using Hotspot Shield VPN.

3. Mask My IP

Mask My IP is an IP addresses hiding tool specifically designed to protect your IP address from hackers and other identity thieves, who can anytime get into your computer tracking your IP address and can not only track your online surfing but can also wipe off your private information and leak it.

4. IP Hider pro

Best Ip Address Blocker

This one is among the most qualified software to hide your IP address. You can not only hide your real location but you are also assured of the government level safety factor so that nobody can track your internet traffic. It gives you the privilege to choose the time for which you can keep the same IP address or change in every 1,5, 30 or 60 minutes.

5. Hide all IP

Its one of the most trusted IP hides software in the world. It’s a single click software where you simply click “connect” and your IP address is hidden instantly. Its servers are located all over the world which can be connected easily if you want to change your IP address, just click the “connect” button again.

6. Platinum Hide IP

This is a professional software tool providing Platinum online privacy protection. Its features reflect that it has been built on technology to protect user’s privacy. It essential features are, it anonymizes you by hiding your IP thus protecting you from being tracked, send anonymous emails, visit blocked and censored websites .

7. Open VPN

OpenVPN is an open source software application that creates secure connections and remote access facilities. Its provides encryption of both data and control channels thus protecting it from being accessed by any outside user. It can also block IP addresses so that your online surfing and internet traffic remains safe and secure.

8. ProxyShell Hide IP

It is one of the most powerful and effective programs to use. Its most essential feature is that it uses multiple proxies to hide IP address. It has the ability to use up to 10 proxy IPs simultaneously and can change IP for each site automatically which makes it nearly impossible for track down real IP address.

What is IP blocking software?

Whenever you are online and active on the internet, your computer is assigned with a unique IP address which serves as an online identifier for your device. This IP address can be used to trace your computer’s location through the internet and its possible that using which any outside user can break into your computer using malicious software and application tools and this is where IP blocking software role comes into play. This software is used to block other users to trace your IP address. There are various techniques used by this software to ensure that outside users are unable to track down your real IP address like using proxy IPs through private proxy servers. They are particularly useful to protect your online privacy and security i.e. internet surfing as well as the private data and information stored in the computer from hackers and identity thieves.

Ip Address Blocker Chrome Extension

Ip Address Blocker Free Mac

How to install an IP blocking software?

In order to install the IP blocking software, you have to download the installation file from the publisher’s website. For downloading it, you need to go to the link mentioned below the respective software. Once you click on the link, it will redirect you to the download page of the software. Click the download button and once the file is downloaded, follow the step by step installation procedure to install the file. Some of the software can be used directly from the website for hiding the IP address and do not require any downloading.

Benefits and features of IP blocker

Blocker

An IP blocking software should have the function of providing complete security and privacy to the user in terms of his internet traffic as well as his private information saved on the computer, so that whenever the user goes online, he should feel safe and secure from any kind of cyber threat. The most significant feature of an IP blocking software is that it should be able to prevent the location of the computer from being tracked through its unique IP address by other users specifically hackers and snoopers who can enter the system of the user and hack it, leaking out all the confidential information. And the only way to prevent the hackers from entering the system is by hiding the real IP address of the user through IP blocking software.

The other important feature of an IP blocker is that the user should be able to access and visit the restricted and censored websites without losing its own privacy to other online users.

9. Great Free windows IP blocking software- Easy Hide IP

It’s one of the most frequently used IP blocking software for Windows and a very reliable one. It simply hides your IP address while you are online to make your computer untraceable. It operates by routing your internet traffic through a series of servers that makes it impossible to track your IP address.

10. Great Free Android IP blocking software- Tunnel bear

This is one of the most preferred software for hiding IP address from hackers and snoopers. Its basically a VPN that hides your IP address by replacing it with a US, UK’s IP address giving you total privacy while online surfing as well as helps you keep your private information confidential.

11. Great Free Mac Os IP blocking software- My IP Hide

This is one of most popular IP blocking software particularly because of its ability to provide incredibly fast proxy service which not only hides your original IP address by an encrypted traffic but also lets you visit restricted and censored sites without any fear of being tracked by hackers.

More IP blocking software for Windows, Mac, and Android platform

Download Ip Blocker

For Windows version “Hide All IP”, “Hotspot Shield”, “Betterment” are some of the most popular IP blocking software. “PeerGuardian”, “ExpressVPN”, “Open VPN” are some of the most popular IP blocking software for Mac. For android, some of the popular IP blocking software are “phoney”, “SumRando VPN”.

Ip Address Blocker Free Mac Download

12. Most popular IP blocker for 2016 is NordVPN

This is one of the world’s most advanced IP blocker. It gives you complete privacy while you are browsing online with unrestricted access to blocked websites. You can also save a lot of time using its superfast customized servers built for the specific type of browsing located across 49 countries.

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