Device Identification in the Presence of MAC Randomization

Ihab Zhaika; David Hay

doi:10.1109/GLOBECOM48099.2022.10001085

Device Identification in the Presence of MAC Randomization

Ihab Zhaika, David Hay

The Rachel and Selim Benin School of Engineering and Computer Science

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) is the most-used protocol for wireless internet access on customer premises. The MAC address of each connected device, which used to be static, is being recently randomized (by the device's operating system) as frequently as daily to prevent tracking and fingerprinting of devices and users. While this feature might be useful in public areas, it disturbs some day-to-day functionalities, such as firewalls, parental control, and similar applications that require a static identifier per device. In this work, we present methods to ensure the functionalities of these applications, even when the MAC address is changed every time the device connects to the network. Our methods work even if the latest MAC randomization techniques are applied and provide these device identifications only to the gateway router. (Potentially malicious) devices that are connected to the same LAN, still see the randomized MAC address, and therefore, cannot identify or track the device.

Original language	American English
Title of host publication	2022 IEEE Global Communications Conference, GLOBECOM 2022 - Proceedings
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	2086-2091
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	9781665435406
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/GLOBECOM48099.2022.10001085
State	Published - 2022
Event	2022 IEEE Global Communications Conference, GLOBECOM 2022 - Virtual, Online, Brazil Duration: 4 Dec 2022 → 8 Dec 2022

Publication series

Name	2022 IEEE Global Communications Conference, GLOBECOM 2022 - Proceedings

Conference

Conference	2022 IEEE Global Communications Conference, GLOBECOM 2022
Country/Territory	Brazil
City	Virtual, Online
Period	4/12/22 → 8/12/22

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to thank Shaul Levi, Ray Oei, and Muhammad Ali from Gamgee B.V for the useful discussions on the problem. This research was supported in part by a research grant from Cisco Systems and by the Federmann Cyber Security Research Center in conjunction with the Israel National Cyber Directorate.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 IEEE.

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1109/GLOBECOM48099.2022.10001085

Cite this

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abstract = "Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) is the most-used protocol for wireless internet access on customer premises. The MAC address of each connected device, which used to be static, is being recently randomized (by the device's operating system) as frequently as daily to prevent tracking and fingerprinting of devices and users. While this feature might be useful in public areas, it disturbs some day-to-day functionalities, such as firewalls, parental control, and similar applications that require a static identifier per device. In this work, we present methods to ensure the functionalities of these applications, even when the MAC address is changed every time the device connects to the network. Our methods work even if the latest MAC randomization techniques are applied and provide these device identifications only to the gateway router. (Potentially malicious) devices that are connected to the same LAN, still see the randomized MAC address, and therefore, cannot identify or track the device.",

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Zhaika, I & Hay, D 2022, Device Identification in the Presence of MAC Randomization. in 2022 IEEE Global Communications Conference, GLOBECOM 2022 - Proceedings. 2022 IEEE Global Communications Conference, GLOBECOM 2022 - Proceedings, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 2086-2091, 2022 IEEE Global Communications Conference, GLOBECOM 2022, Virtual, Online, Brazil, 4/12/22. https://doi.org/10.1109/GLOBECOM48099.2022.10001085

Device Identification in the Presence of MAC Randomization. / Zhaika, Ihab; Hay, David.
2022 IEEE Global Communications Conference, GLOBECOM 2022 - Proceedings. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2022. p. 2086-2091 (2022 IEEE Global Communications Conference, GLOBECOM 2022 - Proceedings).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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Device Identification in the Presence of MAC Randomization

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Bibliographical note

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