What is a Man in the Middle attack?

A Man in the Middle attack involves a malicious actor intercepting and potentially altering the communications between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other. This type of attack can occur in various forms, such as wiretapping or spoofing, where the attacker secretly relays and possibly modifies the messages between two parties without their knowledge.

In this context, the attacker can capture sensitive data, such as login credentials or financial information, making it a significant threat to cybersecurity. The essence of this attack lies in the deceptive positioning of the attacker within the communication stream, allowing them to not only observe but also manipulate the data being exchanged. This contrasts with other types of attacks listed, which focus on introducing disruptions rather than stealthy information interception.