arpchat
About arpchat
arpchat is an experimental chat application that repurposes the ARP protocol, typically used for network address resolution, to enable text communication between users on the same local network.
It was developed as a proof-of-concept to demonstrate unconventional network communication methods, particularly for isolated network environments where traditional chat services might not be available.
The tool includes basic chat functionality along with presence detection, implementing a custom transport layer over ARP to handle message transmission and user discovery.
Key features
- Sends messages using ARP protocol hijacking
- Supports long messages with custom transport protocol
- Includes message compression
- Provides presence discovery and heartbeat system
- Displays join/leave notifications for users
Download v1.0.0
Mar 23, 2022WindowsWindows
Frequently asked questions
- Is arpchat free?
- Yes. arpchat is free and open-source software, distributed under the NOASSERTION license.
- Which platforms does arpchat support?
- arpchat provides downloads for Windows.
- What is the latest version of arpchat?
- The latest version is v1.0.0, released on Mar 23, 2022.
- What platforms does arpchat support?
- arpchat runs on Windows and Linux systems. Windows requires Npcap installed in WinPcap API-compatible mode, while Linux may need additional network privileges.
- How do I run arpchat?
- Pre-built binaries are available from the releases page. On Windows, Npcap must be installed first. Linux users may need to set network capabilities for the binary.
- Why would someone use this?
- The developer mentions potential use in isolated network environments where traditional communication methods are unavailable, though primarily created as an experimental project.
- How does the messaging work technically?
- arpchat implements a custom transport protocol on top of ARP, including message fragmentation and compression, documented in the developer's technical article.
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