A Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attack is a type of cyberattack where a malicious actor intercepts and potentially alters communications between two parties, typically without their knowledge. This attacker sits "in the middle" of the communication, making it seem like the two parties are directly communicating with each other, while the attacker can read, inject, or modify messages.
In a MitM attack, the attacker can intercept data transmitted between users and services, such as login credentials, credit card details, or sensitive communications. This is typically carried out by exploiting weak security protocols, unencrypted connections, or using techniques like session hijacking, DNS spoofing, or SSL stripping to insert themselves into the communication flow.
Common Types of MitM Attacks:
- Session Hijacking: The attacker takes control of a valid session between a user and a service to gain unauthorized access.
- SSL Stripping: The attacker downgrades a secure HTTPS connection to an unencrypted HTTP connection to steal data.
- DNS Spoofing: The attacker redirects traffic by providing false DNS responses, making users unknowingly connect to a malicious site.
- Eavesdropping: Simply listening to and capturing unencrypted traffic to gather sensitive information.
How to Protect Against MitM Attacks:
To defend against MitM attacks, it's essential to use strong encryption methods (such as TLS/SSL) for all communications, particularly in sensitive areas like online banking or login forms. Regular software updates, the use of VPNs, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) can also mitigate the risk by adding layers of security and reducing the attack surface.