I. What is ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)?
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is a communication protocol used to map an IP address to a physical machine address, such as a MAC address. It is essential for communication between devices on a local area network (LAN) as it allows devices to determine each other’s MAC addresses.
II. How does ARP work?
When a device on a network needs to communicate with another device, it first checks its ARP cache to see if it already has the MAC address of the destination device. If the MAC address is not in the cache, the device sends out an ARP request broadcast packet to all devices on the network. The device with the matching IP address then responds with its MAC address, and the requesting device updates its ARP cache with this information.
III. What is the purpose of ARP in computer networks?
The primary purpose of ARP is to facilitate communication between devices on a network by resolving IP addresses to MAC addresses. Without ARP, devices would not be able to send data packets to each other on a LAN.
IV. What are the different types of ARP messages?
There are two main types of ARP messages: ARP request and ARP reply. An ARP request is broadcast by a device to all devices on the network to request the MAC address of a specific IP address. An ARP reply is sent by the device with the matching IP address in response to the ARP request, providing its MAC address.
V. How does ARP cache poisoning work?
ARP cache poisoning, also known as ARP spoofing, is a type of cyber attack where an attacker sends false ARP messages to a network to associate their MAC address with the IP address of another device. This allows the attacker to intercept and manipulate data packets between the two devices, potentially leading to data theft or network disruption.
VI. How can ARP be secured against attacks?
To protect against ARP cache poisoning attacks, network administrators can implement measures such as ARP spoofing detection tools, static ARP entries, and network segmentation. Additionally, using encryption protocols like HTTPS can help secure data transmissions against interception by malicious actors. Regularly monitoring network traffic and keeping software and firmware up to date can also help prevent ARP attacks.
