What is a MAC address and IP address?

MAC Address stands for Media Access Control Address. MAC Address ensure that physical address of the computer is unique. IP Address is a logical address of the computer and is used to uniquely locate computer connected via a network.

What is the work of IP address?

An IP address is a unique address that identifies a device on the internet or a local network. In essence, IP addresses are the identifier that allows information to be sent between devices on a network: they contain location information and make devices accessible for communication.

What is a MAC address in simple terms?

A MAC address is a hardware identification number that uniquely identifies each device on a network. The MAC address is manufactured into every network card, such as an Ethernet card or Wi-Fi card, and therefore cannot be changed.

What can happen if someone knows your IP address?

However, if a hacker knows your IP address, they can use it to seize very valuable information, including your location and online identity. Using this information as a starting point, they could potentially hack your device, steal your identity, and more.

What are the functions of MAC?

Functions performed in the MAC sublayer

• Frame delimiting and recognition.
• Addressing of destination stations (both as individual stations and as groups of stations)
• Conveyance of source-station addressing information.
• Transparent data transfer of LLC PDUs, or of equivalent information in the Ethernet sublayer.

Why do you need a MAC address?

The MAC address is an important element of computer networking. MAC addresses uniquely identify a computer on the LAN. MAC is an essential component required for network protocols like TCP/IP to function. Computer operating systems and broadband routers support viewing and sometimes changing MAC addresses.

What is the function of MAC?

The basic function of MAC is to provide an addressing mechanism and channel access so that each node available on a network can communicate with other nodes available on the same or other networks. Sometimes people refer to this as the MAC layer.

What is my MAC’s IP?

To find your IP address on a Mac, go to System Preferences > Network and select your connection in the left sidebar. Then click Advanced > TCP/IP and you will see your computer’s IP address next to IPv4 Address and your router’s IP address next to Router. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen.

Is IP address linked to WiFi?

IP addresses are permanently associated with the network, not the computer. When your computer connects to a network (e.g. via wifi), the network that you connect to assigns you an IP address for the duration of your connection.

Is WiFi address same as IP address?

No. WiFi is a physical layer network entity much like ethernet except without the ethernet cable. IP addresses are used with WiFi to establish a physical connection to your device in order to connect to the Internet. There are two IP address assigned to each device on a Wi-Fi network.

How do IP addresses and MAC addresses work together?

Something called the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) translates an IP address into a MAC address. The ARP is like a passport that takes data from an IP address through an actual piece of computer hardware. Once again, that’s hardware and software working together, IP addresses and MAC addresses working together.

What happens if you give a computer a MAC address?

This way, computers whose MAC addresses are approved will be able to communicate through the network—even if they were given a new IP address by DHCP. Meanwhile, a hacker who’s hijacked a network IP address will be blocked because their MAC address will not be on the approved list and will be filtered out.

Is the MAC address of a computer hardwired?

It is hardwired or hard-coded onto your computer’s network interface card (NIC) and is unique to it. Something called the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) translates an IP address into a MAC address. The ARP is like a passport that takes data from an IP address through an actual piece of computer hardware.

What are the characteristics of a MAC address?

Here, are some important characteristic of mac address: 1 TCP/IP networks can use MAC addresses in the communication 2 It helps you to Identify a specific NIC in a computer on a network 3 Network devices cannot efficiently route traffic using MAC addresses 4 Not provide information about physical or logical network configuration. More