Sounds to me like they have the networked locked down to only allow certain MAC addresses, and to require a password if you aren't "on the list".
What your friend did was to cause his ipod to have the same MAC address as one of the computers "on the list", so it let him in.
Not true, it's impossible to change the MAC address of a device. Unless you're taking about spoofing the address, in which case yes that is possible.
Also, as long as an address has been taken by another device, whether it's currently being used or not, it won't allow two devices with the same address to access anything outside the local network.
Bobbieeee, I'd suggest not attempting to mess around with your school's network unless you know exactly what you're doing. If there is monitoring software (Which there most likely will be considering school networks are heavily restricted and monitored), and they trace the attempted 'network break-ins' back to your device, you could be in a load of ****. What your friend did is not legal, it's actually highly
illegal
Nothing too severe as long as you never manage to break into the network, but it will look odd to them that you're trying to gain access to a network you know you're not supposed to be on, not to mention from a hacked device via a terminal client. As stupid as it sounds, unauthorized access to networking systems is a serious crime, and if you happened to 'stumble upon' some sensitive information whilst doing so, you could be facing serious jail time, buddy.
So, please, if you don't know what you're doing don't attempt to break into a network that has as much security and monitoring as a school, even if it is just for WiFi access. I almost got into some serious **** a few months back merely for deleting the route from my school's local network to the Regional Information Center. Luckily they just let me off for 'experimental and educational purposes' because I take an IT Systems course.
