Automate MAC Address Change on Arch Linux at Boot 🚀

Are you looking to enhance your network security or anonymity on Arch Linux by automatically changing your MAC address at boot? 🌐 This guide will walk you through the steps to set up an automated solution using macchanger and systemd. Let’s dive in! 🔒

Why Change Your MAC Address?

Your MAC address is a unique identifier for your network interface card. Changing it can:

• Enhance privacy and anonymity.
• Bypass certain network restrictions.
• Prevent tracking on public networks.

Step 1: Install macchanger

First, ensure you have macchanger installed on your Arch Linux system:

sudo pacman -S macchanger

Step 2: Disable NetworkManager MAC Randomization

If you’re using NetworkManager, disable its default MAC randomization to avoid conflicts:

sudo nano /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf

Add or modify the following lines:

[device]
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=no

Restart NetworkManager:

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

Step 3: Create a Script to Change the MAC Address

Now, create a script to automate the MAC address change process.

Script: /usr/local/bin/change-mac.sh

#!/bin/bash

# Interface to modify (e.g., wlan0 or eth0)
INTERFACE="wlan0"
# Bring the interface down
ip link set $INTERFACE down
# Change the MAC address (use -r for a random MAC)
macchanger -r $INTERFACE
# Bring the interface back up
ip link set $INTERFACE up

Make the script executable:

sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/change-mac.sh

Step 4: Create a Systemd Service

To execute the script at boot, create a systemd service.

Service File: /etc/systemd/system/change-mac.service

[Unit]
Description=Change MAC Address at Boot
After=network-pre.target
Wants=network-pre.target

[Service]
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/change-mac.sh
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Step 5: Enable the Systemd Service

Enable the service to run at boot:

sudo systemctl enable change-mac.service

Step 6: Verify the Configuration

Reboot your system and check if the MAC address changes automatically:

ip link show wlan0

Replace wlan0 with your network interface name. You can find it using:

ip link

That’s It! 🎉

Now your Arch Linux system will automatically change its MAC address at every boot, enhancing your privacy and security! If you find this guide helpful, don’t forget to connect with me on social media. I regularly share tips and tricks about cybersecurity and Linux. 🛡️

• 🌟 GitHub
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• 💬 Telegram

Stay secure and happy hacking! 💻