In the digital world, security threats are becoming more sophisticated every day. In this article, we will discuss in detail the Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack and other related types of digital attacks.

What is a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attack?

A Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack is a situation where communication between two parties is secretly intercepted and redirected by an attacker. During data transfer between the user and the server, the "man in the middle" can monitor, modify, or steal this data.

Main Objectives of MITM Attack:

Stealing credentials (username, password)
Hijacking session information
Copying financial data
Committing identity theft with stolen data

Types of Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks

Wi-Fi Access Point MITM Attack
- The attacker intercepts users' data by setting up a fake Wi-Fi access point.
IP Spoofing
- Data traffic is infiltrated by impersonating a real user or server IP.
DNS Spoofing
- Domain name queries are manipulated, and the user is redirected to a fake site.
HTTPS Spoofing
- Users are drawn to sites that are thought to be secure by using fake SSL certificates.
SSL Stripping
- The HTTPS connection is forcibly downgraded to HTTP, and data is transmitted unencrypted.

What is a Baiting Attack?

A Baiting attack relies on luring the victim with an attractive reward or file. Usually, USB sticks infected with malware or fake download links are used. When the victim opens the file, the device becomes infected with malware.

Example:

Using a "Promotional USB" stick found in a parking lot.

How to Detect a MITM Attack?

Sudden slowdowns in the connection.
Certificate warnings on HTTPS sites.
Being unexpectedly logged out of sessions.
Inconsistencies in DNS queries.
Suspicious Wi-Fi access points (being asked to log in again after joining the network).

How to Protect Yourself from MITM Attacks?

Always use HTTPS connections.
Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
Avoid open Wi-Fi networks or connect with a VPN.
Pay attention to certificate warnings.
Choose DNS servers that use DNSSEC.
Keep your device's firewall and antivirus software up to date.

Which Security Attack Category Does the Man-in-the-Middle Attack Fall Into?

Network Attack
There may be cases supported by Social Engineering Techniques.
Can be combined with Phishing campaigns.

MITM attacks fundamentally occur at the network level.

How Does a Man-in-the-Browser Attack Occur?

A malicious browser extension or trojan software is injected into the browser.
Even if the user connects to the correct site, forms and data transmissions are manipulated by the attacker.
Banking and payment pages are particularly targeted.

Protection:

Not installing unknown extensions.
Tightening browser security settings.
Keeping the "web protection" module of antivirus software active.

What is a DoS (Denial of Service) Attack?

A DoS attack is an attempt to overload a network or server, rendering it unable to provide services.

Example:

Crashing a website by sending thousands of fake requests per second.

DoS types:

Ping of Death
SYN Flood
HTTP Flood

Protection:

Anti-DDoS services (Cloudflare, Akamai)
Traffic filtering
Firewall settings

What is a Network Attack?

Network attacks are attempts to damage or steal data from devices, servers, or the network structure within a network.

Network Attack Examples:

ARP Spoofing
IP Spoofing
DNS Hijacking
MITM (Man-in-the-Middle)

What is a Web Attack?

A web attack refers to attacks made on applications accessible over the internet.

Web Attack Types:

SQL Injection
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery)
Directory Traversal

Protection:

Web application firewalls (WAF)
Secure coding techniques
Using up-to-date software

What is a Digital Attack?

Digital attacks encompass all malicious activities targeting digital assets such as computers, servers, mobile devices, and networks.

Digital Attack Types:

Ransomware Attacks
Phishing
Social Engineering
Malware Infection
MITM and Web-Based Attacks

Basic Measures to Take Against Digital Attacks:

Using strong and unique passwords
Enabling MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication)
Keeping software up to date
Education and awareness

Conclusion

In the digital world, there is a very wide range of attacks, from so-called "invisible" attacks like Man-in-the-Middle to large-scale web and network-based threats. Being aware of these threats and taking the right security steps as conscious users strengthens defense at both the individual and corporate levels.