What is a “man-in-the-middle” attack?

A “man-in-the-middle” attack is defined as an attack where the attacker secretly relays and possibly alters communications between two parties. This type of attack exploits the normal communication process between two entities. The attacker positions themselves between the sender and receiver, intercepting and possibly modifying the information being transmitted without either party being aware of the interference. By doing this, the attacker can not only eavesdrop on the conversation but can also manipulate the data being exchanged, leading to various forms of compromise, such as data theft or unauthorized access.

Understanding this concept is crucial for recognizing security vulnerabilities in networks and communication protocols. It highlights the importance of using encryption and secure connections, as these measures can help safeguard against unauthorized interception and modification of data. Each of the other options describes different types of security threats but does not encapsulate the unique characteristics of a man-in-the-middle attack as accurately.