MitM
Man-in-the-Middle (MitM)
As a significant cybersecurity threat in digital environments, MitM can put corporate data and employee and customer information at risk. So, what does Man in the Middle mean? A Man-in-the-Middle attack refers to the unauthorized interception, monitoring, or alteration of communications between two parties by a third party. Using this method, an attacker can monitor, intercept, or modify data traffic between a client and a server. While you believe you are communicating directly with the server, the attacker may obtain your session information, username, password, credit card details, and other sensitive data.
How to Protect Against MitM Attacks
Having answered the question what does a Man-in-the-Middle attack mean, it is also important to address the security measures that can be taken against such attacks. Using HTTPS connections protected by current TLS versions, paying attention to certificate warnings, enabling multi-factor authentication, connecting to trusted networks, and using a corporate VPN when necessary are among the primary security measures that can help reduce the risk of Man-in-the-Middle attacks. Common security measures against MitM attacks are listed below.
- Use HTTPS connections protected by current TLS versions and do not ignore certificate warnings.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), preferably using phishing-resistant authentication methods.
- Use a corporate VPN when connecting to untrusted networks.
- Connect to trusted networks instead of unsecured or untrusted public Wi-Fi networks.
- Do not connect to rogue or unauthorized access points without verifying the network name.
- Use a strong and unique password for each account, and change your password if you suspect that your credentials have been compromised.
