Will eBay track your MAC address?

[catcat]

Many guys said ip address will be tracked by eBay. But how about the MAC of the computer? If the MAC is also tracked by eBay, that means if you want to register a new account on eBay, you need to buy a new computer. Is it right?

[BiN4RY]

It's always good to take precaution.

[ShadyOne]

If you must you can spoof your MAC address.

Which one are you worried ebay may be able to see though? Computer, NIC, router, mobile phone, modem etc? :D

But anyway, your MAC address cannot be seen by ebay.

[jeffweico]

eBay is not currently looking at MAC addresses. Amazon, however, does.

MAC addresses can be easily spoofed.

There seems to be a debate as to whether or not this is technologically possible. It is. Some insist that it is not routinely transmitted, that they would have to use a javascript to do it. I don't know the exact methods used, but Amazon does indeed use them.

Best advice? Spoof your MAC addresses, using something like SMAC. Just because eBay is not doing this TODAY, does not mean they will never do it. Better safe than sorry.

The most successful people on these forums are the ones who take every precaution. You show me a forum member who is absolutely PARANOID, and I'll show you someone who is making money.

[cmado]

They can see your MAC address. try this..
Find MAC Address: Check My MAC Address Lookup | Get MAC Address Finder

[ShadyOne]

^^^ That requires a java plugin. So that does not change anything. :D

Jeff makes a good point though.

[Imakemoney]

eBay do not track your mac address.

And with regards amazon, I'm not now sure whether they do or not as their are differing views on how it is actually possible that amazon does this; due to the fact there would need to be a programme on your computer that sends the information to eBay, they cant just get it from your computer.

[jbluntz]

I've made at least 300 accounts on the same machine so if they could see my mac I'd be finished.

[GrannyT]

Originally Posted by jeffweico

The most successful people on these forums are the ones who take every precaution. You show me a forum member who is absolutely PARANOID, and I'll show you someone who is making money.

I'm totally paranoid in all my dealings with the auction site and PP - and you're absolutely right. I went far further than even the stealth guide advocates and it cost me a lot of money but because of my paranoia I feel quite secure (and even smug) - I assume that if it can go wrong it will go wrong.

Works for me.

[rsot]

Safer is always better as long as you don't get stressed out.

[unkown5454]

Originally Posted by rsot

Safer is always better as long as you don't get stressed out.

Wayyyyy too late for all that.

[jman33]

Javascript and HTML coding cannot get MAC addresses. There would need to be another web app running in the background (like Java or an ActiveX control), and more than likely your browser disables these default.

That's the only way they can get your MAC address, unless you install software on your PC from Ebay or Paypal then that software would have access to what the MAC address is since it's saved on your PC.

Also, I've never used Amazon, but if they do get MAC addresses then it is by either of those two ways. So just browsing a site isn't likely going to reveal your MAC address to anyone without your consent since you still have to enable these controls.

[oompaloompa]

I need javascript for a couple of programs I run, but I could delete it from ebay PCs if necessary, though inconvenient, what do you think?

[jman33]

Originally Posted by oompaloompa

I need javascript for a couple of programs I run, but I could delete it from ebay PCs if necessary, though inconvenient, what do you think?

You can't delete javascript from your PC since it's only a scripting language in a web page's code that browsers understand. You can disable javascript with whatever browser you are using, but websites like Ebay will then not work since they use javascript.

I really do not recommend you do anything. The chances of them finding out your MAC address from just browsing their site are slim to none, and I highly doubt they will ever put ActiveX controls on their website to find users' MAC addresses since your browser will automatically block it and tell you that it's been blocked for your safety, and that would look really unprofessional for ebay.

If you're not using any downloaded programs from ebay, I'd say you have nothing to worry about here.

[heyprodj]

I'm going to hook up wireshark than sign up for a new amazon account. I want to actually see my mac address being transfered!

[ShadyOne]

Originally Posted by oompaloompa

I need javascript for a couple of programs I run, but I could delete it from ebay PCs if necessary, though inconvenient, what do you think?

eBay requires javascript to use many of its features.

Though if you are using Firefox then you should install this and see what you can do, it is a great addon for controlling scripts that websites attempt to run.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...ddon/noscript/

[cmado]

Originally Posted by jman33

Javascript and HTML coding cannot get MAC addresses. There would need to be another web app running in the background (like Java or an ActiveX control), and more than likely your browser disables these default.

That's the only way they can get your MAC address, unless you install software on your PC from Ebay or Paypal then that software would have access to what the MAC address is since it's saved on your PC.

Also, I've never used Amazon, but if they do get MAC addresses then it is by either of those two ways. So just browsing a site isn't likely going to reveal your MAC address to anyone without your consent since you still have to enable these controls.

That's true if using IPv4.
IPv6 is substantially different, IPv6 is generated and it will generate it out of your MAC.
the 64 bit "host" part of the full 128 bit address is often automatically generated from the MAC address, and hence often is visible to the server one connects to.

privacy - How to avoid exposing my MAC address when using IPv6? - Super User

[ShadyOne]

^^^ Yeah but I would think that not many people on here are using IPv6.

[GrannyT]

I accept that I am very ignorant on many computer issues (at my age I have to be) but what is IPv6? .

[ShadyOne]

^^^ If your IP address is say XX.XXX.XXX.XXX then that is IPv4, which is what the majority of members on here will be using. Think of your IP address being split into 4 parts :D

And I think that IPv6 is in hex so it would be something like xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx.

This allows for more IP addresses as IPv4 are "running out" :D

[cmado]

^^^ Yeah .. we’re running out of IPv4 addresses.
With IANA's exhaustion on January 31, 2011,and the RIR ( regional Internet registries ) APNIC's exhaustion on April 15, 2011.
IPv4 Address Report - IPv4 address exhaustion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
D-Day is coming for the IPv6 Transition.

[cmado]

eBay can't track your mac address this year..:D