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2.3 KiB
MITM
A Man-In-The-Middle (MITM) attack occurs when a malicious actor intercepts the communication between two parties without their consent, with the objective of eavesdropping or manipulating the exchanged data. By this method, attackers may steal sensitive information, tamper with the transmitted data, or impersonate the involved parties to gain unauthorized control or access.
4.1 Types of MITM Attacks
Some common types of MITM attacks include:
- IP Spoofing: The attacker impersonates another device's IP address to establish a connection with the victim.
- DNS Spoofing: The attacker modifies the DNS records to redirect the victim to a malicious website instead of the intended one.
- ARP Spoofing: The attacker alters the target's ARP cache to associate their MAC (Media Access Control) address with the victim's IP address, redirecting network traffic through the attacker's device.
- SSL and TLS Interception: The attacker intercepts and decrypts encrypted SSL/TLS communication between the victim and the web server, gaining access to sensitive data.
4.2 Prevention and Mitigation Strategies
To reduce the risk of MITM attacks, developers, administrators, and users should follow these best practices:
- Use HTTPS and encryption: Make sure to encrypt all sensitive data using secure communication protocols like HTTPS, SSL, or TLS.
- Validate certificates: Use a Certificate Authority (CA) to verify digital certificates for secure connections.
- Implement HSTS: Deploy HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS), a security policy that enforces browsers to use HTTPS connections only.
- Secure DNS: Use DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) to ensure the integrity and authenticity of DNS records.
- Enable network segregation: Segment networks and restrict access between them to prevent malicious actors from gaining access to sensitive data or systems.
- Regularly update software and firmware: Keep all systems, applications, and devices up-to-date to minimize known vulnerabilities.
- Educate users: Provide awareness training and support resources to help users recognize and avoid potential MITM attacks.
By understanding MITM attacks and implementing the appropriate preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to these types of cyber threats.