1. Unless you choose to [[hide that you are connecting to the Tor network|anonymous_internet/tor]], someone who monitors your Internet connection can know that. In this case, your MAC address can **reveal that you are a Tor user**.
<p>To learn how Tails implements MAC address anonymization, see our [[design documentation about MAC address anonymization|contribute/design/MAC_address]].</p>
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In some situations MAC address spoofinganonymization is not useful but can instead be problematic. In such cases, you might want to [[disable MAC address spoofing|mac_spoofing#disable]]anonymization as instructed below.
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.
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Note that even if MAC spoofingaddress anonymization is disabled, your anonymity on the Internet is preserved:
Note that even if MAC address anonymization is disabled, your anonymity on the Internet is preserved:
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However, as [[discussed above|doc/first_steps/welcome_screen/mac_spoofing#what-is-mac-address]], disabling MAC address spoofinganonymization makes it possible again for the local networkfor someone to track your geographical location. If this is problematic, consider using a different network deviceinterface, like a [[USB Wi-Fi adapter|doc/anonymous_internet/no-wifi#wifi-adapters]], or moving to another network.
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.
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**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 spoofinganonymization 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.
**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.
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On some network interfaces, **MAC address spoofinganonymization is impossible** due to limitations in the hardware or in Linux. Tails temporarily disables such network interfaces. You might disable MAC address spoofinganonymization to be able to use them.
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.
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Some networks **only allow connections from a list of authorized MAC addresses**. In this case, MAC address spoofinganonymization makes it impossible to connect to such networks. If you were granted access to such network in the past, then MAC address spoofinganonymization might prevent you from connecting.
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.
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**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 spoofinganonymization is probably useless. But if access to your local network is restricted based on MAC addresses it might be impossible to connect with aspoofn anonymized MAC address.
**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.
Select the <span class="guilabel">Don't anonymize MAC addresses</span> option.
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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 spoofinganonymization. If you decide to disable MAC address spoofinganonymization your computer can already be identified by your ISP.
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.
