Man-in-the-Middle (MitL)

Man-in-the-Middle attacks occur when an attacker intercepts communication between two parties to eavesdrop or alter the data being sent. Neither party realizes that a third entity is monitoring or manipulating their connection. These attacks target unencrypted communications, compromised networks, or flaws in authentication protocols.

Wi-Fi eavesdropping is a common form of MITM attack. Attackers set up fake wireless access points that appear legitimate, often called "evil twin" hotspots, in public places like coffee shops, airports, or hotels. When users connect to these malicious networks, the attacker can capture all traffic passing through, including login credentials, email content, and payment information. Since many people automatically connect to familiar network names, these fake hotspots succeed by mimicking the names of legitimate networks in the area.

Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks can occur anywhere data travels between two points. However, they are most common in environments where security protocols are weak or where an attacker can easily insert themselves into the physical or logical network path. Certain regions may be more susceptible to these attacks; WatchGuard's Q3 2024 data shows that EMEA accounted for 53% of all malware attacks by volume, doubling from the previous quarter, while Asia Pacific accounted for 59% of network attack detections.