Man-in-the-Middle: How This Kind of Cyber Attack Works and How to Prevent It | IPSYSTEMS, Inc.
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Man-in-the-Middle: How This Kind of Cyber Attack Works and How to Prevent It

Data is of more value today than at any other time in history. Whether it’s your credit card details, your bank login credentials, your email password, or medical information, there is a lot at stake that you cannot afford to leave in the wrong hands. There are various forms of cybercrime; and one of them is the Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack.

So, what’s a Man-in-the-Middle attack? It’s when a cybercriminal intercepts communication between two unknowing parties to secretly eavesdrop or modify traffic traveling between them. Attackers might use MitM attacks to steal login credentials or personal information, spy on the victim, or sabotage communications or corrupt data.

The Mechanics of a Man-in-the-Middle Attack

What really goes on in a man-in-the-middle attack? A fitting illustration is that of an email supposedly coming from your bank. The email asks you to update your contact information and login details. Sadly, you agree to click on the link in the email to a website that mimics your bank's real website, complete with banking functions. It's here that you might unsuspectingly log in and perform what the email requests.

Let’s trace the sequence of events. The man in the middle (MitM) sent the victim (you) the seemingly original email. Part of the intent is phishing since you believe the email is coming from your bank. The website looks just like your bank's, so you're happy to supply your login credentials.

But that’s where the similarity ends. This website is nothing like your bank’s under-the-hood. When you “log in,” you’ll be gifting your credentials to the attacker.

Who’s involved in a man-in-the-middle attack?

A man-in-the-middle attack recognizes three participants:

  1. The Victim establishing communication with a third party
  2. The Recipient of the victim’s communications
  3. The “Man in the Middle” whose sole purpose is to intercept the victim’s communications

How to Prevent Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

It's best to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks before they happen. Attempting to do damage control after an attack will always prove to be too little and too late for your data security. The way to prevent all cyberattacks is to have comprehensive countermeasures in place at your organization. While none of them is 100 percent fool-proof, combining several best practices in your data security arsenal can protect individuals and networks from MitM attacks.

Critical Measures to Prevent MitM Attacks

Threat prevention by a man-in-the-middle is like maintaining excellent physical hygiene. Here are some vital steps you can take to effect data loss prevention:

Conclusion

In ensuring data security against man-in-the-middle attacks, consider using robust solutions like Bitdefender, which is also excellent for ransomware protection. Cyber attacks are the new normal, but it’s totally possible to ensure that your data security measures are equal to the task.

Cybercriminals today use incredible sophisticated and convincing methods to fool those who are not aware of their schemes and attack vulnerable systems. But by staying educated and up to date about the latest cyber attack trends, you can keep your employees and business safe.

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