The MAC address is the "Media Access Control" number of your network adapter. Each network adapter has a unique MAC address. It consists of a 12 digit hex code in the following format: XX-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX where each digit is 0-9 or A-F. The MAC address of the wireless adapters on your network can be put into the wireless router so that the router will only send and receive your own equipment and block all others.

   Pure Networks "Network Magic" has a details panel that will display the MAC address of all adapters connected to your network, wireless as well as ethernet. However, without a network application like Network Magic you can still find the MAC addresses manually. Windows Vista had a different way of getting this data than previous operating systems. To find the MAC address in Windows Vista:
   1. Click on the Windows icon (lower left hand corner).
   2. In the "Start Search" box, type cmd and then the Enter key.

   3. The Command box opens (a black window with a cursor).
   4. After the prompt, type "getmac" (without the quote marks).
   5. It will display:

   Physical Address                Transport Name

   =======================================

    XX-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX         \Device\Tcpip..................

   The Mac address is shown where the "X's" are above. For Windows XP and earlier operating systems, open an MS DOS window and after the prompt type "ipconfig /all" (without the quote marks) and press Enter. The MAC address will be shown after "Physical Address".