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0 pointsjtanderson13y ago0 comments

I agree with ajross' reply. The changing of MAC address wasn't the "capital offense" so to speak. You don't get pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt, but if they _do_ pull you over and you _happen_ to not be wearing a seatbelt, they can hit you with extra fines, etc.

Besides, arguing against a comment for it's attitude isn't an argument at all. The original comment was essentially a (valid) "so what?" to the article; it wasn't a refutation of fact, but expressing a frustration at the non sequitur implied by this, and allegedly, many other articles on HN.

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2 comments · 1 top-level

SoftwareMaven13y ago· 1 in thread

I've heard from several police officers that if they follow you for 60 seconds, they can find a reason to pull you over. If the seatbelt instigated that following, isn't it exactly the same thing the OP is saying?

The issue the OP has is that changing your MAC address is synonymous with walking around in the dark, something law abiding citizens do regularly, but police better frown upon because that's when the bad guys sneak around. Personally, I played lots of tag after dark and had more than one negative interaction with the police as a result. Kids after dark can't be up to good, and hackers spoofing MACs can't be either!

snowwrestler13y ago

It's not illegal to sit in a parked car without a buckled seat belt, it's only illegal to drive a car on a public street without a buckled seat belt.

Likewise, it's not illegal to change your MAC address, it's only illegal to change your MAC address in the course of bypassing a security mechanism.

Context matters.

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