It is notoriously difficult to detect a man-in-the-middle attack. However, these attacks do have some subtle signs, including landing on obviously fake websites and your internet connection mysteriously becoming unreliable. Additionally, man-in-the-middle attacks often happen on open, unencrypted public networks, so it’s very important to be aware of your online environment at all times.
Continue reading to learn more about what man-in-the-middle attacks are, how they work, what signs to look out for and how to protect yourself from them.
What Are Man-in-the-Middle Attacks?
Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks are a type of cyber attack in which a cybercriminal intercepts data being transferred between two devices, often a computer or mobile device running a web browser and a host server. Cybercriminals frequently use MITM attacks to steal login credentials and banking or payment card information. Cybercriminals may also try to alter the data being exchanged to install malware and compromise your device.
MITM attacks take advantage of vulnerabilities on networks with weak security, especially free public WiFi networks. To the end-user on their mobile device or computer, everything may appear completely normal even while a MITM attack is taking place.
How Do Man-in-the-Middle Attacks Work?
“Man-in-the-middle attack” is an umbrella term used to describe several different types of cyber attacks that involve intercepting data. One of the most frequent MITM attack types, known as an “evil twin” attack, targets people who use free public WiFi networks, such as those found in hotels, restaurants, airports, stores and other public venues. These networks are often unencrypted and require either no password at all or only a weak password.
In this type of MITM attack, the threat actor sets up a phony “lookalike” WiFi network with a name that’s very similar to the real one. For example, if the real network is called YourHotel, the phony network might be called YourHote1. Because the cybercriminal controls this network, they can eavesdrop on anyone who connects to it, looking at all of their web and app activity – including not only the sites they visit but also the login credentials the individual uses to log in to accounts. In some cases, the threat actor may alter the data being transmitted and/or redirect users to malicious sites that harvest login credentials or deliver malware.
Other Types of Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
Now that we’ve looked at phony WiFi hotspots, let’s examine some other common man-in-the-middle attacks.
HTTPS spoofing
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) ensures that all data sent between a browser and a website is encrypted. However, just because a website has HTTPS enabled doesn’t mean the site itself is legitimate.
HTTPS spoofing is a MITM technique where a cybercriminal registers a domain that is very similar to a popular legitimate domain. For example, instead of www.example.com, the threat actor will register www.examp1e.com, then build a malicious website and secure it with HTTPS. Users who inadvertently visit the phony site may not notice that the URL is one character off, especially since their browser will display a green lock indicating that the site uses HTTPS.
IP spoofing
An Internet Protocol (IP) address is the unique identifier for a device or local network. IP spoofing creates fake IP addresses to hide the identity of the cybercriminal, impersonate a legitimate address or both. IP spoofing often tricks users into believing they are communicating with a legitimate source, so users feel comfortable sharing sensitive information with the spoofed IP address. Additionally, IP spoofing is used in DDoS attacks so that the system under attack doesn’t know where the traffic is really coming from, which makes it difficult to stop the attack.
DNS spoofing
The Domain Name System (DNS) is the online directory of numerical IP addresses that connects a user’s device to a website. DNS spoofing, often used in pharming, alters DNS records and reroutes users to fraudulent websites that steal login credentials, automatically download malware onto the visitor’s machine or both.
SSL manipulation
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a security protocol that provides an encrypted connection between a website and a user. SSL manipulation, also known as SSL hijacking, is a type of MITM attack where a threat actor generates counterfeit SSL certificates for the domains of HTTPS sites. When a user tries to visit the site, they’re redirected to a malicious site that’s designed to look just like the real one.
Session hijacking
Session hijacking, also called cookie hijacking, is a type of MITM attack that occurs when a cybercriminal takes over your internet session by stealing your browser cookies. Cookies are bits of information that websites use to keep track of their visitors, which includes authenticating user login sessions to secured websites, such as banking, shopping, gaming or subscription websites. Once a cybercriminal steals a session cookie, they can use it to impersonate the original user and log in to their account.
Signs of Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
Man-in-the-middle attacks can be very difficult to detect since they’re designed to happen in the background without your knowledge. However, there are subtle signs to look out for.
SSL certificate errors
If your browser displays an error message about an invalid or expired SSL certificate when you try to visit a website, it’s a sign of possible SSL manipulation. The SSL certificate may have been fabricated to redirect you to a malicious website that looks like a legitimate one. The fake website will ask for your login credentials and MFA, which the cybercriminal then uses to log in to the legitimate website.
Unreliable internet connection
Unexplained latency and frequent disconnections are symptoms of many different problems, including misconfigured network settings or trouble on the part of your internet provider. However, they can also be a sign of a MITM attack, especially if you’ve ruled out all other possible causes.
Fake website
Cybercriminals take great pains to make phony websites used in MITM attacks look legitimate, but there are often subtle differences in font, color or logos. If something doesn’t look quite right, carefully check the website’s URL to ensure that it’s correct. For example, you could see http:// instead of https:// or go0gle.com instead of google.com. Also be on the lookout for any other discrepancies on the website, such as random pop-up ads or suspicious requests.
How To Protect Yourself From Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
Because man-in-the-middle attacks are very difficult to detect, the best protection is to prevent them from happening in the first place. The following are the best ways to protect yourself from MITM attacks.
Avoid public WiFi
Because MITM attacks frequently target users of public WiFi hotspots, the best way to avoid MITM attacks is to avoid using unsecured public WiFi. If you need an internet connection while you’re traveling or out and about, tether to your mobile phone’s data connection or use a VPN. Additionally, make sure your laptop and mobile devices are configured not to automatically connect to public WiFi.
Use a VPN
A virtual private network (VPN) is a service that protects your online activity by hiding your IP address and encrypting your data. If you have to use public WiFi, use a VPN to create a secure connection and encrypt your transmitted data. A VPN prevents cybercriminals from eavesdropping on you and enables you to safely use public WiFi hotspots.
Use a password manager
A password manager is a tool that securely stores all of your login credentials and sensitive information in an encrypted vault. Make sure that your password manager uses zero-knowledge encryption to protect anything you store in your vault, meaning no one has access to your vault except for you.
One of the biggest ways that a password manager protects against MITM attacks is that the password manager won’t autofill your credentials on a fake website. You may not be able to tell the difference between example.com and examp1e.com – especially on a mobile device – but your password manager can. A password manager will warn you if you are on an unsecured website if you try to fill in your login credentials manually.
Enable MFA
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to provide an additional form of identification before you’re allowed to access an online account. For example, in addition to your username and password, you must provide a one-time code or insert a security key. With MFA enabled, even if your login credentials are compromised in a MITM attack, they’re useless to cybercriminals without the additional authentication factor.
Educate yourself
Cybercriminals are always developing new ways to steal your personal information. You should educate yourself about cyber threats to recognize and avoid them in the future. You should also exercise cybersecurity best practices such as using strong passwords and only sharing sensitive information when absolutely necessary.
Avoid Man-in-the-Middle Attacks With Keeper
Man-in-the-middle attacks pose a serious threat because they can happen without your knowledge, especially when you are traveling. These attacks often happen on public WiFi networks and suspicious websites. The best way to handle these types of attacks is to protect yourself from them. Keeper Password Manager offers zero-knowledge encryption to safely secure and share your sensitive information. Start your free trial to protect yourself from MITM attacks.