A common tool in a cracker’s toolbox, the ARP Redirect literally redirects Internet traffic from a local computer through the cracker’s computer, allowing him or her to “sniff” it (a kind of wiretap that eavesdrops on computer networks). The drawback of this form of attack is that the cracker’s computer has to be in the same local area network as the computer being attacked. ARP redirects are frequently used by crackers as a means of gathering further intelligence from a previously compromised host on the local network.

See Also: Computer; Crackers; Internet; Network; Sniffer Program or Packet Sniffer.