Active Response to Computer Intrusions

35 Pages Posted: 31 Aug 2005

See all articles by Kenneth Einar Himma

Kenneth Einar Himma

University of Washington - School of Law

David Dittrich

University of Washington

Date Written: June 10, 2005

Abstract

Victims of hacker attacks are increasingly adopting an "active defense" against Internet-based attacks. Instead of adopting purely defensive measures, many victims are opting for active countermeasures that are no less aggressive than the attacks themselves. For example, victims of denial of service (DoS) attacks sometimes respond by redirecting incoming packets back to their sources instead of by dropping the packets at the router; such a measure is intended to induce the cessation of the attack by overloading the network from which it is staged. This essay examines some of the technical, ethical, and legal issues associated with active intrusion response.

Keywords: active defense, counterhacking, hacking back, self-defense, hacking

Suggested Citation

Himma, Kenneth Einar and Dittrich, David, Active Response to Computer Intrusions (June 10, 2005). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=790585 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.790585

Kenneth Einar Himma (Contact Author)

University of Washington - School of Law ( email )

William Gates Hall
Seattle, WA 98195-3020
United States

David Dittrich

University of Washington ( email )

TLB 307C Box 358426
1900 Commerce Street
Tacoma, WA 98402
United States

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