What is a man-in-the-middle attack?

A man-in-the-middle attack refers specifically to a scenario where an attacker intercepts and possibly alters the communication between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other. In this attack, the malicious actor essentially positions themselves in the communication channel, allowing them to capture, read, and even modify the messages being exchanged. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, manipulation of the data being shared, or even the injection of false information without the knowledge of the communicating parties.

Understanding this concept is crucial in the field of network security, as it highlights the importance of securing communications and ensuring the authenticity of the channels being used, particularly in environments where sensitive data is transmitted.