What is Man-in-the-Middle
A Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) type of cyberattack intercepts communications between two parties, often to steal login credentials or personal information, spy on the victim, sabotage communications, or corrupt data.
The MitM type of attack is apparently the oldest form of cyberattack. Computer scientists have been trying to prevent threat actors from tampering with or eavesdropping on communications since the early 1980s.
Man-in-the-Middle attack types
Spoofing
Spoofing is a type of cybercriminal strategy to divert user traffic and capture their login credentials. Cybercriminals can perform IP spoofing, DNS spoofing, or HTTP spoofing.
Hijacking
Hijacking can mean hijacking SSL, email, and browsing sessions. Cybercriminals hijack SSL to intercept all information traveling between the server and the end user’s computer.
Meanwhile, when criminals hijack emails, they can gain control of the email accounts of banks and other financial institutions to monitor every transaction made by users. Criminals can also spoof bank email addresses and send instructions to customers, making them unknowingly transfer money to cybercriminals.
Session hijacking is also known as browser cookie theft. Criminals steal personal data and passwords stored in users’ browsing session cookies.
Cache poisoning
Cache poisoning is also known as Address Resolution Protocol, or ARP cache poisoning. This type of attack allows cybercriminals who are on the same subnet as the victim to eavesdrop on all traffic directed to them.
Wi-Fi eavesdropping
This type of MitM attack is one of the many risks of using public Wi-Fi. During this attack, public Wi-Fi users are tricked into connecting to malicious Wi-Fi networks and hotspots. Cybercriminals set up Wi-Fi connections that resemble the Wi-Fi names of companies in the vicinity.
How to prevent Man-in-the-Middle attacks
Ensure that the connection is secure
The first line of defense against MitM attacks is to make sure users connect securely. Your site should be HTTPS not HTTP, which is signaled by a padlock before the URL in the user’s browser.
Also make sure the site has thoroughly implemented multifactor authentications (MFA) to add an additional layer of security to online communications.
Avoid using unsecured public Wi-Fi connections as they are vulnerable to attacks and eavesdropping by cybercriminals.
Avoid phishing emails
These fake emails intentionally trick users into opening them. Therefore, do not open emails that come from unknown or unverified sources. Phishing emails may look like they come from a legitimate source, such as a bank account or financial institution. The email may ask users to click on a link to enter login credentials or update passwords. Do not click on these links as they may redirect you to fake websites or download malicious software on your device.
Virtual private network encryption
VPNs encrypt internet connections and online data transfers, such as passwords and credit card information. Use a VPN to connect to unsecured public Wi-Fi networks and hotspots. VPNs can intercept potential MitM attacks. In fact, if cybercriminals manage to access the network, they will not be able to decipher messages or access resources due to the encryption provided by the VPN. Also, make sure your employees log in through a secure corporate VPN, especially if they are working remotely.
Secure endpoints
To prevent malware attacks and other cyberattacks, implement comprehensive endpoint security. MitM attacks use malware for execution so it is important that you install anti-malware and cybersecurity applications.
Educate users about the dangers of Man-in-the-Middle attacks
Most cyberattacks are unknowingly initiated by human behavior. Therefore, educate users and employees about the dangers of MitM attacks. Create a proactive security awareness training that is mandatory for all employees. The training should include how to spot malicious emails and security best practice information. With education, companies can protect sensitive user and employee data.
So that’s a little explanation of what Man-in-the-Middle is, how it works, and how to prevent it. Hypernet can help your company prevent MitM attacks. Contact CS for more information.
