A network abstraction and isolation layer (NAIL) for masquerading the machine identity of a computer in a network to enable the computer to communicate in the network with a different machine identity including an isolated network interface for communicating with the computer, an abstraction network interface for communicating with a network device coupled to the network, and control instructions or device. The control instructions or device performs machine identity translation to masquerade machine identity of the computer relative to the network. Machine identity masquerading includes selectively translating any one or more of an IP address, a MAC address, a machine name, a system identifier, and a DNS Name in the header or payload of communication packets.