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Production-style Linux MAC address manager written in Python. Safely lists, sets, randomizes, backs up, and restores MAC addresses using modern iproute2 commands. Enforces root access, validates formats, generates standards-compliant random MACs, and provides reversible, predictable behavior for labs and admin use.

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macchanger_pro 🛡️

A safe, production‑style MAC address manager for Linux

macchanger_pro is a professional, security‑focused Python utility that lets you view, change, randomize, back up, and restore MAC addresses on Linux systems — safely, predictably, and transparently.

This project is built for learning, privacy testing, wireless security labs, and authorized system administration. It follows modern Linux networking practices and avoids fragile or unsafe shortcuts.

Tested example:

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ chmod +x macchanger_pro.py

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py --list
Interfaces and MACs:
  eth0: 00:17:5d:39:2b:3b

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py --interface eth0 --show
eth0 current MAC: 00:17:5d:39:2b:3b

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py -i eth0 --set aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff
Apply MAC aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff to interface eth0? [y/N]: y
2026-01-28 13:18:34,425 [INFO] Setting MAC for eth0 -> aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff
MAC successfully changed for eth0. New MAC: aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff
2026-01-28 13:18:34,444 [INFO] Operation completed.

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py --interface eth0 --show
eth0 current MAC: aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py -i eth0 --random
Apply MAC 8a:12:2e:76:8a:36 to interface eth0? [y/N]: y
2026-01-28 13:19:00,269 [INFO] Setting MAC for eth0 -> 8a:12:2e:76:8a:36
MAC successfully changed for eth0. New MAC: 8a:12:2e:76:8a:36
2026-01-28 13:19:00,289 [INFO] Operation completed.

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py --interface eth0 --show
eth0 current MAC: 8a:12:2e:76:8a:36

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py -i eth0 --restore
Restore original MAC for eth0? [y/N]: y
2026-01-28 13:19:17,765 [INFO] Restoring MAC for eth0 -> 00:17:5d:39:2b:3b
Restored original MAC for eth0. Current: 00:17:5d:39:2b:3b

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py --interface eth0 --show
eth0 current MAC: 00:17:5d:39:2b:3b

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py -i eth0 -r -y
2026-01-28 13:19:46,170 [INFO] Setting MAC for eth0 -> 8a:7e:11:78:6c:a4
MAC successfully changed for eth0. New MAC: 8a:7e:11:78:6c:a4
2026-01-28 13:19:46,187 [INFO] Operation completed.

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py -i eth0
Selected interface: eth0 (current MAC: 8a:7e:11:78:6c:a4)
Enter new MAC (or 'random' to generate, 'restore' to restore original): --show
2026-01-28 13:21:04,283 [ERROR] Invalid MAC format: --show

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py -i eth0
Selected interface: eth0 (current MAC: 8a:7e:11:78:6c:a4)
Enter new MAC (or 'random' to generate, 'restore' to restore original): restore
2026-01-28 13:21:21,594 [INFO] Restoring MAC for eth0 -> 00:17:5d:39:2b:3b
Restored original MAC for eth0. Current: 00:17:5d:39:2b:3b

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ cat /var/lib/macchanger/eth0.orig
cat: /var/lib/macchanger/eth0.orig: Permission denied

┌──(BlackHAT㉿HP-SAGAR)-[/mnt/h/GitHub Clone/MAC-Address_Changer_Script]
└─$ sudo cat /var/lib/macchanger/eth0.orig
00:17:5d:39:2b:3b

🚀 Why This Project Exists

Many MAC‑changing scripts online are:

  • hardcoded to wlan0
  • dependent on deprecated tools only
  • unsafe (no backup, no validation)
  • unclear about what they actually do

macchanger_pro fixes all of that.

It behaves like a real system utility, not a throwaway script.

✨ Key Features (At a Glance)

  • ✅ Dynamic interface detection (no hardcoding)
  • ✅ Uses modern ip (iproute2) commands
  • ✅ Automatic backup of original MAC addresses
  • ✅ Safe restore mechanism
  • ✅ Locally‑administered & unicast random MAC generator
  • ✅ Strict MAC address validation
  • ✅ CLI + interactive fallback
  • ✅ Root‑only enforcement
  • ✅ Clear logging and error handling
  • ✅ Designed for learning & authorized testing

🧠 What You Can Do With It

  • Inspect MAC addresses of your network interfaces
  • Change an interface MAC to a specific value
  • Generate and apply a standards‑correct random MAC
  • Restore the original factory MAC
  • Learn how professional Linux networking tools are built
  • Use it safely in cybersecurity labs & coursework

📦 Requirements

System

  • Linux (tested on Kali/Ubuntu/Debian‑based systems)
  • Root privileges (sudo)

Software

  • Python 3.8+
  • ip command (from iproute2) — typically installed by default

Optional fallback (legacy systems only):

  • ifconfig

🛠 Installation

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/SagarBiswas-MultiHAT/MAC-Changer.git
cd macchanger_pro

Make the script executable (optional but convenient):

chmod +x macchanger_pro.py

📖 Usage Guide

The main script is macchanger_pro.py. You can run it directly with python3.

1️⃣ List Available Network Interfaces

sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py --list

Example output:

Interfaces and MACs:
	wlan0: 00:11:22:33:44:55
	eth0: 3c:52:82:aa:bb:cc

2️⃣ Show Current MAC Address

sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py --interface eth0 --show

3️⃣ Set a Custom MAC Address

sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py -i eth0 --set aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff

✔ Format is strictly validated ✔ Original MAC is backed up automatically

4️⃣ Apply a Random MAC Address (Recommended)

sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py -i eth0 --random

The generated MAC is:

  • Locally‑administered
  • Unicast
  • Standards‑compliant

This avoids vendor conflicts and network issues.

5️⃣ Restore the Original MAC Address

sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py -i eth0 --restore

✔ Restores the backed‑up hardware MAC ✔ No guessing or hardcoding

6️⃣ Non‑Interactive Mode (Automation)

sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py -i eth0 -r -y

Perfect for:

  • scripts
  • labs
  • CI environments

7️⃣ Interactive Mode (If You Skip Flags)

If you run the tool without --set, --random, or --restore, it will guide you:

sudo python3 macchanger_pro.py -i eth0

You’ll be prompted to enter a MAC, type random, or type restore.

💾 How Backup & Restore Works

Original MAC addresses are saved once, on first change.

Location:

/var/lib/macchanger/<interface>.orig

Example:

/var/lib/macchanger/eth0.orig

Security:

  • Owner: root
  • File permissions: 600
  • Directory permissions: 700

This ensures:

  • ✔ Safety
  • ✔ Reversibility
  • ✔ No accidental overwrites

🧪 How Random MACs Are Generated

This tool does not generate unsafe MACs.

It enforces:

  • Locally‑Administered Address (LAA) bit set
  • Unicast bit set correctly

This is the same standard used by:

  • NetworkManager
  • Professional pentesting tools
  • Privacy‑focused systems

⚠️ Important Notes (Read This)

  • Network managers (NetworkManager, systemd‑networkd) may override MAC changes
  • If the MAC reverts:
    • disconnect/reconnect the interface
    • or temporarily stop the network manager
  • MAC changes are temporary by design
  • Persistence across reboots is intentionally not automatic

🔍 How It Works (Internals in Plain English)

  1. Root check: exits if not run with sudo
  2. Interface detection: reads /sys/class/net (fallback: ip -o link show)
  3. Backup: saves original MAC on first change
  4. Change: uses ip link set (fallback: ifconfig if needed)
  5. Restore: reads the stored backup and re‑applies it

Every step is logged with clear messages so you can see exactly what happened.

⚖️ Legal & Ethical Disclaimer

This tool is provided for educational and authorized use only.

You must:

  • own the device or
  • have explicit permission to modify the network interface

Unauthorized MAC spoofing may violate:

  • local laws
  • network policies
  • institutional rules

You are responsible for how you use this tool.

🎓 Learning Value

This project demonstrates:

  • real Linux networking workflows
  • secure system scripting
  • defensive programming
  • proper CLI tool design
  • cybersecurity‑oriented thinking

It is portfolio‑ready and interview‑safe when explained correctly.

🧾 Project Status

  • ✅ Stable
  • ✅ Actively usable
  • ✅ Designed for extension

Possible future enhancements:

  • NetworkManager persistence support
  • systemd service integration
  • Unit tests
  • Packaging as a pip module

📂 Project Structure

👤 Author

Sagar Biswas Cybersecurity & Computer Science Enthusiast

Built to learn how real security tools should behave — not just how to make them work.

⭐ Final Note

If you understand this README, you understand the entire project.

That’s intentional.

Explaining this project in 60 seconds”

This project is a production-grade MAC address management tool for Linux written in Python.

It allows users to safely view, change, randomize, and restore MAC addresses on any network interface without hardcoding values or relying on deprecated tools.

The script uses modern iproute2 commands, enforces root privileges, validates MAC formats, and automatically backs up the original hardware MAC so changes are fully reversible.

Random MACs are generated correctly as locally-administered unicast addresses, which avoids network conflicts and follows industry standards.

I built this project to learn how real system-level security tools should behave — with safety, clarity, and predictable outcomes — not just how to make something work.

About

Production-style Linux MAC address manager written in Python. Safely lists, sets, randomizes, backs up, and restores MAC addresses using modern iproute2 commands. Enforces root access, validates formats, generates standards-compliant random MACs, and provides reversible, predictable behavior for labs and admin use.

Topics

python-cli mac-address iproute2 system-administration network-interfaces educational-project privacy-tools linux-networking cybersecurity-tools mac-spoofing

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