Man-in-the-middle
Man-in-the-middle (MITM) is a type of cyber attack in which an attacker secretly accesses the communication between two parties and possibly modifies it without these parties knowing that their communication was disturbed.
The attacker stands between two communicating parties and gains access to sensitive information such as passwords and financial or personal data.
•How do I know if I am a victim of an MITM attack?
•How do you defend against an MITM attack?
Man-in-the-middle attacks are dangerous because victims often have no idea that their communications have been compromised. A proactive approach to communication security and regular education about new types of attacks can significantly reduce their risk.
If you suspect you have become a victim of an MITM attack, immediately change your credentials and contact a cybersecurity professional.
How does MITM work?
Technically, MITM attacks involve several phases and methods. Below is a description of the ones most commonly used by attackers:
Interception of communications
•ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) Spoofing is a technique attackers use in local area networks (LANs). An attacker sends fake ARP messages to the network to redirect network traffic to their computer. This will gain control over communication between victims.
•DNS Spoofing, or DNS Cache Poisoning, is a technique in which an attacker spoofs responses to DNS queries. This redirects the victim to fake websites that look like genuine websites.
•Attackers can set up fake Wi-Fi access points (Evil Twins) that mimic legitimate networks. When users join these fake networks, attackers can monitor and intercept their communications.
Manipulation of communications
Once an attacker has access to a communication, they can manipulate it in several ways:
•An attacker can decrypt and encrypt communications between victims using their keys. This allows him to read and modify the content of the messages without the victims knowing that their communications have been intercepted.
•An attacker can insert malicious scripts or links into legitimate communications. For example, it can add a phishing link to an email or insert malicious code into a website.
•Attackers can redirect traffic to fake websites that look legitimate to obtain credentials, financial information, or other sensitive data.
Obtaining sensitive information
After successfully manipulating the communication, the attacker gains access to sensitive information such as passwords, payment card numbers, bank details or personal information. The attacker can then use this information for further attacks or sell it on the black market.
How do I know if I am a victim of an MITM attack?
Recognizing that you have fallen victim to a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack can be challenging because these attacks are often very sophisticated. However, there are some signs you should watch out for:
•Unusual security alert—If you receive a certificate or encryption warning when accessing a secure website, this may be a sign that someone has intercepted your communications.
•Slow connection—If you experience a significant slowdown in your internet connection, it may be because your data is being routed through the attacker's server.
•Abruptly Logged Out of Accounts—If you suddenly log out of your online accounts for no apparent reason, it may mean that someone has gained access to your login information.
•Unknown devices on your network—By regularly checking connected devices on your home or business network, you should be aware of any unknown devices that may be an attacker's tool.
•Changes in browser settings—If you notice changes in your web browser settings, such as new or unknown extensions, home page or search engine, this could be a sign of an attack.
•Redirects to fake websites—If you notice that you are being redirected to websites that look different than usual or have a suspicious link, it may mean that you are a victim of an MITM attack.
How do you defend against an MITM attack?
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from MITM attacks:
•Use of encryption—Keep your communications encrypted, such as using https protocols and VPNs.
•Verifying servers—Before entering sensitive information on a website, ensure that the site's certificate is valid and that it is an official site.
•Software updates—Regularly update your operating system, browser, and other applications to protect against known vulnerabilities.
•Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)—Turn it on for all accounts to increase login security.
•Secure Wi-Fi connection—Use secure Wi-Fi networks and avoid performing sensitive operations on public Wi-Fi networks unless necessary.
