None

Source string added
[[!img additional.png class="screenshot" alt=""]]
09/18/2025
None

Source string added
Select the **Don't anonymize MAC addresses** option.
06/26/2025
None

Source string added
However, as [[discussed above|doc/first_steps/welcome_screen/mac_spoofing#what-is-mac-address]], disabling MAC address anonymization makes it possible for someone to track your geographical location. If this is problematic, consider using a different network interface, like a [[USB Wi-Fi adapter|doc/anonymous_internet/no-wifi#wifi-adapters]], or moving to another network.
05/27/2024
None

Source string added
**Using a public computer**, for example in an Internet café or a library. This computer is regularly used on this local network, and its MAC address is not associated with your identity. In this case, MAC address anonymization can make it impossible to connect. It can even **look suspicious** to the network administrators to see an unknown MAC address being used on that network.
09/08/2023
None

Source string added
Every network interface — wired or Wi-Fi — has a [[!wikipedia MAC address]], which is a serial number assigned to each interface at the factory by the vendor. MAC addresses are used on the local network to identify the communications of each network interface.
09/08/2023
None

Source string added
</div>
02/18/2022
None

Source string added
<p>To learn how Tails implements MAC address anonymization, see our
[[design documentation about MAC address anonymization|contribute/design/MAC_address]].</p>
02/18/2022
None

Source string added
<div class="tip">
02/18/2022
None

Source string added
Some [[!wikipedia captive portals]] might send your MAC address over the Internet to their authentication servers. This should not affect your decision regarding MAC address anonymization. If you decide to disable MAC address anonymization your computer can already be identified by your ISP.
07/13/2021
None

Source string added
Choose **MAC Address Anonymization** in the **Additional Settings** dialog.
07/13/2021
None

Source string added
You can disable MAC address anonymization from the [[Welcome Screen|welcome_screen]]:
07/13/2021
None

Source string added
Disable MAC address anonymization
07/13/2021
None

Source string added
**Using your own computer at home**. Your identity and the MAC address of your computer are already associated to this local network, so MAC address anonymization is probably useless. But if access to your local network is restricted based on MAC addresses it might be impossible to connect with an anonymized MAC address.
07/13/2021
None

Source string added
Some networks **only allow connections from a list of authorized MAC addresses**. In this case, MAC address anonymization makes it impossible to connect to such networks. If you were granted access to such network in the past, then MAC address anonymization might prevent you from connecting.
07/13/2021
None

Source string added
On some network interfaces, **MAC address anonymization is impossible** due to limitations in the hardware or in Linux. Tails temporarily disables such network interfaces. You might disable MAC address anonymization to be able to use them.
07/13/2021
None

Source string added
Note that even if MAC address anonymization is disabled, your anonymity on the Internet is preserved:
07/13/2021
None

Source string added
In some situations MAC address anonymization is not useful but can instead be problematic. In such cases, you might want to disable MAC address anonymization as instructed below.
07/13/2021
None

Source string added
When to disable MAC address anonymization
07/13/2021
None

Source string added
**Using your own computer on a network that you use frequently**, for example at a friend's place, at work, at university, etc. You already have a strong relationship with this place but MAC address anonymization hides the fact that your computer is connected to this network *at a particular time*. It also hides the fact that *you* are connecting to the Tor network on this network.
07/13/2021
None

Source string added
**Using your own computer on an public network without registration**, for example a free Wi-Fi service in a restaurant where you don't need to register with your identity. In this case, MAC address anonymization hides the fact that your computer is connected to this network.
07/13/2021

Search