Do laptop computers send an ESN or MEID that identifies you?

[ringtail]

Do laptop computers send out an Electronic Serial Number, or a Mobile Equipment IDentifier, or other unique identification number in the internet internet traffic?

If so, then when you use a proxy like tor to disguise your IP address, wouldn't there still be an ESN or MEID that identifies you individually anyway?

Previously I had thought ESNs were just for cell phones, but now realize they are for "mobile devices" (MEIDs), which a laptop computer is.

 

[imagoon]

ESN and MEID is a cell phone tech. Your laptop is mobile but won't have an MEID unless it has a cell card. ESN / MEID only stays in the cell network the ESN and MEID never makes it to the Internet unless your device browser offers it.

 

[azazel1024]

ESN and MEID is a cell phone tech. Your laptop is mobile but won't have an MEID unless it has a cell card. ESN / MEID only stays in the cell network the ESN and MEID never makes it to the Internet unless your device browser offers it.

The only thing that would go out is your MAC (well, and the payload data).

 

[imagoon]

The only thing that would go out is your MAC (well, and the payload data).

MAC address is layer 2 so no they wouldn't get that either. I would actually need to look at cell phone transmissions since I don't know if "mac" even exists in that layer 1/2 space.

--edit--

LTE / GSM don't have MAC addresses on the cell radio. Likely the same on CDMA / TDM / analog.

 

[ringtail]

MAC address is layer 2 so no they wouldn't get that either. <cut>

So even if you use a disguised IP address (such as by using tor), the MAC of your computer (or is it the MAC of your router?) is still encapsulated within the frame at layer 2, then transmitted with the IP address at layer 3, and can be read to uniquely identify you?

Thank you to everybody, I really appreciate all the comments. Helpful!

 

[dave_the_nerd]

So even if you use a disguised IP address (such as by using tor), the MAC of your computer (or is it the MAC of your router?) is still encapsulated within the frame at layer 2, then transmitted with the IP address at layer 3, and can be read to uniquely identify you?

Thank you to everybody, I really appreciate all the comments. Helpful!

Nah, the frames gets rebuilt for each new network segment. MAC addresses get stripped out. Your router knows yours, your isp knows your routers external MAC but not the internal MAC, etc.

 

[imagoon]

So even if you use a disguised IP address (such as by using tor), the MAC of your computer (or is it the MAC of your router?) is still encapsulated within the frame at layer 2, then transmitted with the IP address at layer 3, and can be read to uniquely identify you?

Thank you to everybody, I really appreciate all the comments. Helpful!

No.... not at all. Layer 2 only exists from you to your routers inside interface.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

The only thing that would go out is your MAC (well, and the payload data).

MAC doesnt make it past the first layer 3 boundry, which is your router.

 

[azazel1024]

MAC doesnt make it past the first layer 3 boundry, which is your router.

My point is that it goes out, not that it traverses the internet. Whatever router, or switch or what not you are immediately connected to will know it. Anything you are connecting to for DHCP will know it.

 

[Mark R]

There is a unique identifier, MAC address, which is sent with any data but the MAC is not transmitted over the internet - it is deleted at the first router.

Some web sites do have facility for unique IDs (or temporary IDs) e.g. cookies. The first time you access a site, the site sends back an ID number, and every time you come back your computer sends back the same ID. (until you delete your cookies or the cookie expires).

There are a variety of other techniques for storing or making unique IDs. One that is in surprisingly wide use IDs computers/devices by the unique characteristics of their graphics hardware/driver/OS/screen resolution/font configuration. A script runs on the web page which draws a complex image with anti-aliasing, text (with in a default font, and multiple other fonts). The image is then used as a unique ID. Different systems have different fonts installed, different defautl font sizes/colours, differnt graphics driver versions, different GPUs, different OSs, different browser software versions, etc. This allows quite a reliable identification of individual devices and computers.

 

[imagoon]

My point is that it goes out, not that it traverses the internet. Whatever router, or switch or what not you are immediately connected to will know it. Anything you are connecting to for DHCP will know it.

I'm not quite sure why you would be concerned about that however. MAC is the layer 2 addressing, you won't be able to talk (on ethernet) without it or trying to hide it. MAC is normally tied to hardware but the OS can change it to what ever you want.

 

[azazel1024]

I'm not quite sure why you would be concerned about that however. MAC is the layer 2 addressing, you won't be able to talk (on ethernet) without it or trying to hide it. MAC is normally tied to hardware but the OS can change it to what ever you want.

I am not concerned about it. I was simply pointing out that your MAC goes out, even if it terminates before it gets to the wider internet and it does generally uniquely identify your computer (or at least the network adpater in your computer), though it is generally overwriteable.

 

[holden j caufield]

on thinkpads there is a unique identifier.

 

[imagoon]

on thinkpads there is a unique identifier.

Do you care to elaborate? I mean all machines have something unique on them. Serial number, mac address, cpu serial number, TPM chip, the part number label put on the system board by the manufacture.

You basically just said "The sky is blue."