When you start learning networking or cybersecurity, two terms appear everywhere: MAC Address and IP Address.
At first, they sound confusing, technical, and similar — but in reality, they serve very different purposes.
Understanding the difference between MAC and IP addresses is crucial if you want to:
- Learn networking fundamentals
- Understand how devices communicate
- Study ethical hacking and penetration testing
- Detect and prevent network-based attacks
In this guide on Attack And Defend, we’ll break everything down in simple words, with real-world examples, and a security perspective.
What Is an Address in Networking? (Simple Idea)
Think of the internet like a global city 🌍:
- Every house has an address → so deliveries reach the right place
- Every person inside the house has an identity
In networking:
- IP Address = house address (location-based)
- MAC Address = person’s identity (device-based)
Both are required for communication, but at different levels.
What Is a MAC Address?
MAC = Media Access Control
A MAC address is a unique hardware identifier assigned to a network interface card (NIC) by the manufacturer.
📌 Key point:
MAC address identifies a physical device, not its location.
How a MAC Address Looks
Example:
00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E
- 48 bits long (6 bytes)
- Written in hexadecimal
- Usually fixed to hardware
How a MAC Address Is Made (Divided into Parts)
A MAC address has two main parts:
1️⃣ OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier) – First 24 bits
Example:
00:1A:2B
- Assigned by IEEE
- Identifies the manufacturer
- Example:
- Apple
- Intel
- Dell
- Samsung
👉 From OUI alone, you can often tell which company made the device.
2️⃣ Device Identifier – Last 24 bits
Example:
3C:4D:5E
- Unique number assigned by the manufacturer
- Differentiates one device from another
In Simple Words
- First half → Who made the device
- Second half → Which exact device it is
Is MAC Address Fixed or Can It Be Changed?
Originally:
✅ MAC addresses are hardcoded into hardware
But today:
⚠️ MAC addresses can be spoofed (changed) using software
Examples:
- Linux:
ifconfig,macchanger - Windows: Registry / Adapter settings
👉 This is important in ethical hacking, privacy, and WiFi attacks.
Where MAC Address Is Used
- Local networks (LAN)
- Routers & switches
- ARP protocol
- WiFi authentication
- Network access control
📌 MAC addresses do not travel across the internet.
What Is an IP Address?
IP = Internet Protocol
An IP address is a logical address assigned to a device so it can communicate over a network or the internet.
📌 Key point:
IP address identifies a device’s location on a network.
Example of IP Address
IPv4
192.168.1.10
IPv6
2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334
Types of IP Addresses
1️⃣ Public IP
- Assigned by ISP
- Visible on the internet
- Identifies your network globally
2️⃣ Private IP
- Used inside local networks
- Examples:
- 192.168.x.x
- 10.x.x.x
Is IP Address Fixed?
❌ No, IP addresses are not permanent
They can change because:
- DHCP assigns them dynamically
- You reconnect to a network
- ISP changes routing
- You use VPN or proxy
Where IP Address Is Used
- Internet communication
- Websites and servers
- Routing packets globally
- Geolocation (approximate)
- Firewalls and access control
MAC vs IP Address: Key Differences
| Feature | MAC Address | IP Address |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Media Access Control | Internet Protocol |
| Assigned By | Manufacturer | Network / ISP |
| Type | Hardware (Physical) | Logical (Software) |
| Permanence | Mostly fixed | Changes often |
| Scope | Local network only | Global (Internet) |
| Layer | Data Link Layer (Layer 2) | Network Layer (Layer 3) |
| Example | 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E | 192.168.1.10 |
How MAC and IP Work Together (Step-by-Step)
Let’s say you visit a website 🌐:
- You enter a URL in browser
- DNS converts domain → IP address
- Your device sends data to router
- Router uses IP address to route traffic
- Inside the local network:
- ARP maps IP → MAC
- Data is delivered to the correct physical device
👉 IP finds the network
👉 MAC finds the device
Security Perspective (Attack And Defend View 🔐)
Understanding MAC and IP is critical in cybersecurity.
MAC Address–Related Attacks
- MAC spoofing
- WiFi bypass using trusted MACs
- Tracking devices on local network
- Evil Twin attacks
IP Address–Related Attacks
- IP spoofing
- DDoS attacks
- Geo-block bypass
- Server enumeration
- Brute-force protection evasion
Important Insight
- MAC attacks → mostly local network
- IP attacks → mostly internet-scale
Can MAC or IP Identify You?
- MAC address
- Cannot cross routers
- Not visible to websites
- Used locally
- IP address
- Visible to websites
- Can reveal country/ISP
- Changes with VPN
👉 Privacy tools mainly hide IP, not MAC.
Why Beginners Must Learn This Topic
For anyone learning:
- Networking
- Ethical hacking
- Bug bounty
- SOC analysis
- Blue team defense
This topic is foundational.
Without it:
❌ ARP won’t make sense
❌ MITM attacks will confuse you
❌ Network logs will look alien