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Using MAC Address to Uniquely Identify Computers

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the now-there's-a-useless-idea dept.

An anonymous reader writes "One of Australia's gaming networks, GamesArena has recently imposed a third party program required to access their gaming servers. One of it's features is that it records your NIC's MAC address to identify your computer, and subsequently in future, ban you if you cheat/break the rules etc. The response from players is mixed. It is not open source software, nor is it optional to install. "Install it or find another server to play on". Question remains, is it going too far?" Definitely not- unfortunately it won't work since MACs are changable.

12 of 561 comments (clear)

  1. Oh this will be pissing people off by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    1) Get your mac adress banned
    2) Sell Network Card
    3) Some one buys new card
    4) They are banned
    There will be plenty of second hand NICS for sale becuase of this. its a 1 2 3 profit plan.

  2. Re:Changable? by snookerdoodle · · Score: 5, Funny

    Uh, that might actually BE the point - anyone with $10 for a new NIC can change their MAC address, no brains required...

    If you have brains, you can save $10... ;-)

    Mark

  3. OMG OMG G4/\/\354R3|\|4 0\/\/5 J00! by pumkinut · · Score: 4, Funny

    As if people whining on CounterStrike weren't bad enough, now we have to listing to 14 year olds complain about having to buy a new NIC every time they cheat online.

    --
    "It's hard to be a man when there's a gun in your hand"
  4. Hah! Won't work for me! by Gambit+Thirty-Two · · Score: 4, Funny

    I keep a fresh supply of token ring cards handy to swap out if the need arrises.

    And im not joking:
    http://gambit32.org/albums/other/aag.jpg

  5. Modems by DJPenguin · · Score: 5, Funny

    What happens if you are logged in via dial-up? Will it ban the MAC address of the box at the ISP that you're dialed in to? :)

  6. out of line! by mary_will_grow · · Score: 5, Funny

    >"...Question remains, is it going too far?" Definitely not-

    Thanks for answering that one for us. Without your moral framework we would be lost in the chaotic hell of self determination.

    --
    Why stick up for big business?
  7. My MAC is 00:00:00:37:33:73 by bartman · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder how many people will change theirs to same as mine...

    --
    -- bartman
  8. Easy way to find out if you're cheating on dial-up by rcs1000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Simple: if you are winning at Counter Strike despite a ping of 1,000+, then you must be cheating.

    I mean, duh...

    --
    --- My dad's political betting
  9. Re:What of windows? by tom.allender · · Score: 5, Funny

    If everyone uses DEADBEEFBABE that will create another problem...

  10. Re:buy a new network card by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Congratulations, you just violated the DMCA.

    The MAC address checker is a security measure, and you just published information on how to circumvent it.

  11. Re:Exposing myself. by jayayeem · · Score: 5, Funny

    It is a typo for "Tolkien Ring", a system in which the computer that holds the "One True Ring" becomes the most powerful machine on the network.

    --
    I metamoderate, therefore I am
  12. New way to remove honest players by Jeppe+Salvesen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Great. This is another way to get rid of those pesky, honest players and my enemies.

    I'll just assume their MAC address, misbehave like hell. Their MAC gets banned, and I get rid of the losers.

    Alone, I shall reign through spite and malice.

    --

    Stop the brainwash