1. A method of responding to an overload condition at a network element (“victim”) in a set of one or more potential victims on a network, the method comprising the steps of A. with a first set of one or more network elements external to the set of one or more potential victims, diverting to a second set of one or more network elements external to the set of one or more potential victims traffic otherwise destined for the victim, B. the element(s) of the second set filtering traffic diverted in step A (“diverted traffic”) and selectively passing a portion thereof to the victim.