Which of the following statements is true regarding MAC addresses?

MAC (Media Access Control) addresses are unique identifiers assigned to network interfaces for communications on the physical network segment. Typically, they are embedded into the hardware of the network card (or other networking devices) by the manufacturer, which makes them permanent in the sense that they are hardwired into the device.

While it is true that MAC addresses are generally fixed, some network devices allow changes to their MAC addresses through software configurations. This ability introduces flexibility for specific use cases, such as privacy or network management. However, the original MAC address, which is assigned during the manufacturing process, is permanent and cannot be changed in the sense that it is the default identifier for the hardware.

The notion that MAC addresses have no relevance to network security is misleading; they play an essential role in network security protocols and can be manipulated or spoofed, which could lead to security vulnerabilities. Conversely, stating that they are randomly assigned is inaccurate, as manufacturers usually allocate MAC addresses in a systematic manner that maintains uniqueness among devices.

Thus, stating that MAC addresses are permanent and cannot be changed reflects a fundamental characteristic of how they function within networking hardware, aligning with the distinction of their identity on a network.