Re: MAC addresses embedded on crypto?

zoraya <dream@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in
news:op.s9maqkmaji4mjx@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 

> 
> I have recently learned that the MAC address of a computer is embedded
>  into the metadata of.doc
> file and also Openoffice, probably more software affected. This
> obvioulsy  identifies the computer
> that wrote the do***ent, which in my view could also identify the
> author  if manufacturers keep a list
> of what MAC adresses belong to the serial number of the computer which
> was  sold in X country, Y shop and
> registered to Z author.


You can use Microsoft's "remove hidden data" tool (if you trust MS) to 
purge such ****. Tony Blair wishes he had used it :-)

Office 2003/XP Add-in: Remove Hidden Data
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=144e54ed-d43e-
42ca-bc7b-5446d34e5360&displaylang=en


> Does anybody know of any crypto software attaching the MAC address of
> the  computer to the metadata?
> How likely could it be this is happenning?
> 
> Fortunatetly this can be defeated by faking the computers MAC address
> but  this needs some knowhow.


The most convenient tool for doing this on your computer is SMAC:

http://www.klcconsulting.net/smac/

There are also hardware-programmable-MAC ethernet cards, such as the 
SpeedDemon line:

http://www.sd330.com/products.htm
 
Almost all routers allow you to change their MAC.  If you're a fanatic 
you will look up the valid manufacturer codes, etc. which form part of 
the MAC to ensure your crafted one is plausibly correct.

Regards,

PS  Proxomitron does a good job stripping headers etc. from your surfing 
and can be programmed (requires some geekiness) for specialized stripping 
actions.