Intel's Centrino N wireless fascism

>>> Not sure of the motive, just how it comes across. Straight from Intel's
>>> webpage:
>> [ ... ]
>>> Since the 12.x wireless driver package, the possibility of "spoofing"
>>> the MAC address was blocked to prevent this type of practice."

>The good news is that I have been able to conduct my proposed testing
>with the Atheros AR5007EG wireless NIC on a netbook. Changing the MAC
>address doesn't "take" while running Windows XP, even though the drivers
>do offer the option. Running Ubuntu 10.04, however, I can put in
>totally made-up or real-world MACs.
>
>The way my router reacted was interesting, to say the least.
>
>It's odd that the cheaper, older, more bargain-basement NIC on a netbook
>proved more capable than the "new and improved" NIC on a mid-priced
>notebook, but there you are.
>
>Objekt

Hm. I tried in Win7 with a Ralink 2870 USB adapter (Device Manager >
Advanced > Local MAC Network Address), and indeed it didn't seem to
"take" either - the burned-in MAC still went out over the air.

Maybe Windows is unwilling to let drivers change their MACs or something
these days - which would be a good reason for a driver writer not to bother
support that function.

On 8/31/2011 6:42 PM, Aaron Leonard wrote:
>>>> Not sure of the motive, just how it comes across. Straight from Intel's
>>>> webpage:
>>> [ ... ]
>>>> Since the 12.x wireless driver package, the possibility of "spoofing"
>>>> the MAC address was blocked to prevent this type of practice."
>
>> The good news is that I have been able to conduct my proposed testing
>> with the Atheros AR5007EG wireless NIC on a netbook. Changing the MAC
>> address doesn't "take" while running Windows XP, even though the drivers
>> do offer the option. Running Ubuntu 10.04, however, I can put in
>> totally made-up or real-world MACs.
>>
>> The way my router reacted was interesting, to say the least.
>>
>> It's odd that the cheaper, older, more bargain-basement NIC on a netbook
>> proved more capable than the "new and improved" NIC on a mid-priced
>> notebook, but there you are.
>>
>> Objekt
>
> Hm. I tried in Win7 with a Ralink 2870 USB adapter (Device Manager>
> Advanced> Local MAC Network Address), and indeed it didn't seem to
> "take" either - the burned-in MAC still went out over the air.
>
> Maybe Windows is unwilling to let drivers change their MACs or something
> these days - which would be a good reason for a driver writer not to bother
> support that function.

For what it's worth...

I'm using Windows 7 Pro, 32-bit and the NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps
driver allowed me to change the MAC address of the Ethernet port built
into my XFX MG-63MI-7109 motherboard.

On 8/31/2011 22:29, GlowingBlueMist wrote:
> For what it's worth...
>
> I'm using Windows 7 Pro, 32-bit and the NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps
> driver allowed me to change the MAC address of the Ethernet port built
> into my XFX MG-63MI-7109 motherboard.

Similarly, I had no trouble changing the MAC of the wired NIC built into
my notebook, running Windows 7 Home x64. I used a third-party app
(simply called Windows 7 MAC Address Changer). However, it was unable
to change the MAC address on the wireless adapter (Centrino N 130).

I had the same experience on my desktop machine, which uses an older
motherboard (Asus P5 series) and runs Windows 7 Ultimate x64, except of
course it has no wireless NIC.

I do not think changing wired MAC addresses has been affected for
Windows 7. It is only changing the wireless MAC address that has been
made artificially difficult and/or impossible.

An interesting question is whether I would be able to change the
notebook's wireless MAC address when running Windows XP. Haven't
investigated that yet. I would have to install Windows XP. Intel does
offer Windows XP drivers for the Centrino N 130 adapter, so using
Windows XP may be worth a try.

Objekt

On 9/2/2011 1:13 AM, Objekt wrote:
> On 8/31/2011 22:29, GlowingBlueMist wrote:
>> For what it's worth...
>>
>> I'm using Windows 7 Pro, 32-bit and the NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps
>> driver allowed me to change the MAC address of the Ethernet port built
>> into my XFX MG-63MI-7109 motherboard.
>
> Similarly, I had no trouble changing the MAC of the wired NIC built into
> my notebook, running Windows 7 Home x64. I used a third-party app
> (simply called Windows 7 MAC Address Changer). However, it was unable to
> change the MAC address on the wireless adapter (Centrino N 130).
>
> I had the same experience on my desktop machine, which uses an older
> motherboard (Asus P5 series) and runs Windows 7 Ultimate x64, except of
> course it has no wireless NIC.
>
> I do not think changing wired MAC addresses has been affected for
> Windows 7. It is only changing the wireless MAC address that has been
> made artificially difficult and/or impossible.
>
> An interesting question is whether I would be able to change the
> notebook's wireless MAC address when running Windows XP. Haven't
> investigated that yet. I would have to install Windows XP. Intel does
> offer Windows XP drivers for the Centrino N 130 adapter, so using
> Windows XP may be worth a try.
>
> Objekt

I just tried to change the address on my Lenovo laptop running W7-32
Pro. The adapter menu claimed to have changed the MAC and showed the
new numbers but the wireless router did not see the change, even with a
reboot of the laptop and router.

If I was one of those who believed in conspiracies I'd wonder if
Microsoft has joined those who don't want people to have the possibility
of wireless anonymity, like those at MPAA, RIAA, as well as those
oppressive governments that arbors internet freedom.