A communication device includes a transceiver unit for receiving from a central installation a broadcast message containing information for initiating communication between the communication device and the central installation, and a control unit for selecting a hardware address for the communication device in response to the information contained in the broadcast message. The selected hardware address can be used for addressing the communication device for messages from the central installation. The transceiver unit is designed to communicate with the central installation using the selected hardware address for the duration of a session. The control unit is designed to delete the selected hardware address after the duration of the session has expired. Selecting a hardware address randomly and deleting the hardware address after the session has expired allows communication between the communication device and the central installation, while maintaining the identity of the communication device anonymous.