Man in the Middle

What is a Man in the Middle Attack?

A Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack is a type of cyberattack in which an attacker secretly intercepts communication between two parties without their knowledge. The victim may believe they are communicating directly with a website, application or another person, while the attacker is quietly monitoring the connection in between.

These attacks can happen when using unsecured or compromised networks, especially public Wi-Fi in places such as cafés, airports, hotels and shopping centres. An attacker may create a malicious network or exploit weaknesses in an existing connection to observe the data passing through it. Depending on the circumstances, this may include login information, personal data, messages or other sensitive information.

The good news is that simple precautions can significantly reduce the risk. Avoid connecting to unknown or suspicious Wi-Fi networks, use trusted and secure connections, keep your devices and applications updated, and pay attention to browser security warnings. When possible, using mobile data or a trusted VPN on public networks can provide an additional layer of protection.