Help Can I spoof MAC on nougat?

[Jimbob_1]

I'd like to purchase the axon 7 however I want to first be sure I will be able to change the MAC address. I find myself often relying on public WiFi for business and I'm a bit paranoid when it comes to security. I've read that Android 6 marshmallow does not allow applications to change the mac (something about returning a constant of 20:00:00:00:00). My question is: if I were to upgrade to nougat and root the phone, will I be able to successfully change the mac with a 3rd party app?

 

[Bg260]

Or you could buy a Nexus or Pixel device, which comes with free VPN. There are a lot of ways to maintain privacy. Reassigning a MAC address seems a bit risky.

 

[psionandy]

If I was worried about security when connecting to public wifi for business... my mac address would be way down at the bottom of the list (even if it made it onto the list at all)

 

[mikedt]

I'd like to purchase the axon 7 however I want to first be sure I will be able to change the MAC address. I find myself often relying on public WiFi for business and I'm a bit paranoid when it comes to security. I've read that Android 6 marshmallow does not allow applications to change the mac (something about returning a constant of 20:00:00:00:00). My question is: if I were to upgrade to nougat and root the phone, will I be able to successfully change the mac with a 3rd party app?

If you're using open public WiFi, changing a phone's MAC address will NOT keep your data private. And usually you can't anyway, unless the device is rooted and you start hacking around with the baseband at a low-level, and good luck with that on a ZTE Axon.

Or you could buy a Nexus or Pixel device, which comes with free VPN. There are a lot of ways to maintain privacy. Reassigning a MAC address seems a bit risky.

Google provides one free with their Nexus and Pixel devices. But any phone will work with a VPN service. I use ExpressVPN myself which is paid subscription, mainly because I'm in China and want to watch YouTube, etc, but it certainly keeps my stuff private on open WiFi as well.
https://www.expressvpn.com/

 

[Bg260]

Google provides one free with their Nexus and Pixel devices. But any phone will work with a VPN service. I use ExpressVPN myself which is paid subscription, mainly because I'm in China and want to watch YouTube, etc, but it certainly keeps my stuff private on open WiFi as well.
https://www.expressvpn.com/

Not sure how paid VPNs work but Google's activates automatically when it connects to a public network.

 

[Davdi]

There are several VPNs in he Play Store, I use Opera VPN, as I use Opera browser on both Linux & Win10 desktops (Which have the VPN baked right in). Or, depending on your need for privacy/paranoia, use TOR (Orbot/Orfox, fireonion and others in the Play store - just search for TOR).

 

[mikedt]

There are several VPNs in he Play Store, I use Opera VPN, as I use Opera browser on both Linux & Win10 desktops (Which have the VPN baked right in). Or, depending on your need for privacy/paranoia, use TOR (Orbot/Orfox, fireonion and others in the Play store - just search for TOR).

Thing with Opera it's now Chinese, part of the same group that's Qihoo 360. And so I wonder how it might be monetized, like through data mining to servers in China and what happens to that data? Qihoo is like Cheetah Mobile, basically "free" adware/spyware stuff.

I use ExpressVPN, which is a paid service, and they state it's completely private and have no reason to doubt it. It certainly works in China without having to use servers here.

EDIT:

A little test I just did, trying to look at YouTube.

OperaVPN...

ExpressVPN...

 

[Davdi]

Opera is recommended in the UK mainly for the VPN, which appears to do what it says. I may move to one of the TOR browsers.

 

[psionandy]

As mike says... a VPN is only as secure as the people who operate it want it to be........

 

[Jimbob_1]

Thank you all for your replies, they've been very helpful.