Force your IP address to change. (Why I never need proxies)

This is for those of you who need multiple addresses, and who need to return (for whatever reason) to previously used addresses.

Depending on your ISP (I am with the 4th largest provider in the US), this may be a good method for you. I have cable broadband. Although my IP is dynamic, it hasn't changed for years (even powercycling my modem won't work).

There is a very simple way to get around this. Spoof your MAC address.

Your MAC address is a unique ID assigned to your network card or router. MY ISP for instance, sees the MAC address of my network card, and always assigns me the same address, even if my router or modem are off for extended periods of time.

With a freeware program http://www.technitium.com/tmac/index.html

You can, with ease, change this MAC address unlimited number of times.

Say your ISP assigns you 1.1.1.1 with MAC address A
You spoof your MAC address to Mac address B. If you reconnect, you will now see your IP address has changed to 1.1.1.2
Need a new address? Change your MAC address to C, and now your IP address is 1.1.1.3

But wait? Need to use the address 1.1.1.2 for some reason? Simply change the MAC address back again to MAC address B and viola!

I know this is really elementary for most of you, but for those with little network experience I'm hoping it will be helpful.

Note: SOME ISPS may contact you via phone for security reasons if they see your MAC address changing. I've done this hundred of times though, and it always works like a charm.
If doing this raising questions with your ISP, simply tell them that you repair computers for a living, and that you connect these computers directly to the modem for updates, patches, installs etc. Most ISP's will not give a shit about this though.

I never use proxies anymore. I keep a spreadsheet that keeps track of what accounts are tied to what IP address, and what MAC address I need to use to get back to that IP.

You don't even need the freeware program to spoof your MAC address, but I recommend it, it always provides a VALID MAC address that way.
If you decide to do it manually in windows it becomes a much larger pain in the ass because you have to enter each MAC address manually.

I always power off my modem before changing the MAC address as well, just for good measure.

Hope this helps!

Centurylink is even easier. Log in your router - release ip - renew ip. Bam. New ip every time.

Thenayr said:

Centurylink is even easier. Log in your router - release ip - renew ip. Bam. New ip every time.

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yeah, i wish my ISP was like that, but many are like mine, so it requires the extra effort.

The only good thing is that I have always been able to go back to previously used IP addresses, which helps in some instances, just by reverting back to a previously used MAC address

Those of us with dsl can get a new ip address by shutting the modem off for a minute and then restarting it.

The problem with this method and that listed above is that you've always got the same company, and often the same block of adresses sharing Class C.

There are times you want to appear to come from Freedonia or Elbonia or even Ruthania; then you need some form of proxy.

Kid Shaleen said:

Those of us with dsl can get a new ip address by shutting the modem off for a minute and then restarting it.

The problem with this method and that listed above is that you've always got the same company, and often the same block of adresses sharing Class C.

There are times you want to appear to come from Freedonia or Elbonia or even Ruthania; then you need some form of proxy.

Click to expand...

This is true, but for things that simply require uniques, or things like mail, youtube, other site accounts, being in the same block is fine.

I don't do anything with CL or MFA sites, so maybe I will need proxies in the future, but for right now this method is working good for me

i'm in the same boat you are so this solution would be great.

however i'll push change mac, it'll say i have a new mac address but my ip address stays the same?

jaredakelly said:

i'm in the same boat you are so this solution would be great.

however i'll push change mac, it'll say i have a new mac address but my ip address stays the same?

Click to expand...

sorry, should have told you. When I do this I run the network cable from my modem DIRECTLY to the PC.

Changing your MAC address on your computer won't do anything if you are behind a router. (You can keep spoofing your router mac address, but this is more of a pain)

My ipaddress is always x.x.x.144 when my home network is setup behind my router.

When I feel like creating, or modding my accounts, I shut off my modem, run network cable directly to my computer, then spoof my MAC address.

Whenever I'm done with everything for the evening, I reconnect my router, and i'm back to x.x.x.144

I hope this makes sense, or this is why you are asking this question. You have to spoof the mac address of the FIRST device behind your modem (Which for most of us, is a router). It's easier just to bypass the router and run your network cable directly to your PC, then handle your business, then turn off the modem and reconnect your router.

Win32 said:

simply restart your modem / router lol

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This doesn't work for some ISPs. Either they tie the address to the mac address of the first device behind the modem, and they assign an infinitely long DHCP lease.

AFAIK powercycling your modem to change your IP works for Comcast, and as someone else posted, Century Link. However it doesn't work for my ISP

I know others have this same issue, so it is for people where a simple power cycle will not assign them a new address.

Thanks for the suggestion. My comcast does not change IP's when I recycle power even though I'm on a "dynamic". Your tip will help.

pwntribe said:

This is true, but for things that simply require uniques, or things like mail, youtube, other site accounts, being in the same block is fine.

I don't do anything with CL or MFA sites, so maybe I will need proxies in the future, but for right now this method is working good for me

Click to expand...

That's also true, but as I read more about Google's advancing technology and their in-house math PhD's I become either more paranoid or sophisticated (or both!) about the future and backtracking.

Better safe than sandboxed.

Of course for pure throwaway posts one needs little if any IP security.

tks.. great stuff.

Good post, I am lucky enough to have an ADSL connection with a dynamic ip, with the click of a button I can reboot it and get a new one

Thanks for sharing the method. I appreciate it.

Ah you mentioned something I never thought of!

I do have an IP from a wireless connection. Can I apply this?

Sorry Amnut but EVERYONE on the internet has an ip address..they have too and you have one as well this is just too advanced for you.

Thanks for this. I have a "dynamic ip" but I found it never changed. I mentioned it to support and they said you need to get a different router and the ip will change when they detect the new mac address.

I didn't want to buy a router just for that but this spoofing method did the same thing.

BTW, I had to log in to the netgear router and change the settings to "use computer mac address" before it would change tho

Sometimes (most of the time its inevitable) people want foreign IP's... you can't get that by switching your MAC.

So all you people who might try scam adsense.... take note.

i have DSL... and i was wondering if there is some tool that changes your IP address in your dsl router automatically... ???

ToastyToker said:

Sorry Amnut but EVERYONE on the internet has an ip address..they have too and you have one as well this is just too advanced for you.

Click to expand...

I ain't no dummy.. I think you just didn't get me my friend....

What I mean is that I do have a Dynamic IP address..