MAC (redirected from mack)

Mac, Mc, or M' [Irish,=son], element in names derived from Irish and Scottish Gaelic patronymics. In most of these names the second element was a forename (e.g., Macdonald, in various spellings). Other names included titles or epithets (e.g., McIntosh [son of the chief]). Notions that some forms of the prefix are more typically Scottish or Irish are fallacious. Some of the names, however, have typical local distribution; thus, McLeod is Hebridean, McSweeney is especially Irish. See O; name.

---

MAC

(1) (Mac) See Macintosh.

(2) (MAC) See MAC layer, MAC address, moves-adds-changes and mandatory access control.

(3) (Message Authentication Code) A number computed from the contents of a text message that is used to prove the integrity of a message. The MAC is a checksum that is computed using an algorithm based on the DES or AES ciphers, which use a secret key. The MAC is then sent with the message. The recipient recomputes the MAC at the other end using the same algorithm and secret key and compares it to the one that is sent. If they are the same, it is assumed that the message has not been tampered with.

A MAC is like a digital signature, except that a secret key is used rather than a private key. Also known as the U.S. Government Standard Data Authentication Code (FIPS PUB 113). See digital signature, cryptography and DES.

(4) (Mission Assurance Category) See DOD cyberspace glossary.

(5) (Medicare Administrative Contractor) See healthcare IT.

---

MAC

(computer science)

message authentication code

---

1.		MAC - Media Access Control.
2.		MAC - Early system on Ferranti Mercury. Listed in CACM 2(5):16 (May 1959).
3.		Mac - Macintosh