Which statement best describes a Man-in-the-Middle Attack (MitM)?

Which statement best describes a Man-in-the-Middle Attack (MitM)?

• A. An attack that floods networks with traffic.
• B. A type of cyber attack in which the attacker secretly intercepts and relays messages between two parties.
• C. A method for securely exchanging keys.
• D. A malware infection.

Answer: (B)

A Man-in-the-Middle Attack happens when an attacker secretly sits between two parties who think they are communicating directly. The attacker can listen to the messages, copy them, and forward them to the intended recipient, possibly altering the content along the way, all while the endpoints remain unaware that their connection isn’t private. This setup often arises on insecure networks, through spoofed or forged credentials, or via methods like ARP spoofing or compromised devices, which lets the attacker control the flow of information without the parties realizing it. That hidden interception and relaying of messages is the essence of the attack, which is why the statement describing someone who secretly intercepts and relays messages between two parties is the best description. Other choices describe different threats: flooding networks with traffic is a denial-of-service tactic, not about intercepting and relaying communications. A method for securely exchanging keys describes protocols designed to protect key exchange, not an attacker. A malware infection involves malicious software, which is a different vector from the middleman scenario.

A Man-in-the-Middle Attack happens when an attacker secretly sits between two parties who think they are communicating directly. The attacker can listen to the messages, copy them, and forward them to the intended recipient, possibly altering the content along the way, all while the endpoints remain unaware that their connection isn’t private. This setup often arises on insecure networks, through spoofed or forged credentials, or via methods like ARP spoofing or compromised devices, which lets the attacker control the flow of information without the parties realizing it. That hidden interception and relaying of messages is the essence of the attack, which is why the statement describing someone who secretly intercepts and relays messages between two parties is the best description.

Other choices describe different threats: flooding networks with traffic is a denial-of-service tactic, not about intercepting and relaying communications. A method for securely exchanging keys describes protocols designed to protect key exchange, not an attacker. A malware infection involves malicious software, which is a different vector from the middleman scenario.