What is a Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack?

A Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack involves an attacker secretly intercepting and relaying communications between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other. This type of attack allows the malicious actor to eavesdrop, manipulate, or even alter the exchanged messages without the knowledge of either party.

This can occur, for example, over unsecured networks, such as public Wi-Fi, where the attacker might intercept communications to capture sensitive data like login credentials or credit card information. MitM attacks exploit vulnerabilities in the communication channel, making it essential for organizations and individuals to use encryption protocols, such as HTTPS, to safeguard against such threats.

The other options do not accurately describe what a MitM attack is. Hacking into a database typically focuses on unauthorized access rather than interception of communication. Enhancing data security does not align with the malicious intent of a MitM attack. Lastly, a denial-of-service attack aims to overwhelm a system, rather than intercept communications, which is the hallmark of a MitM attack.