What it is
A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack occurs when an attacker positions themselves between two systems—such as a user and a website—and silently intercepts the data passing between them. This can stem from insecure Wi-Fi networks, compromised routers, outdated TLS/SSL configurations, spoofed DNS Hijacking events, or malicious access points. Once in place, the adversary can read, modify, or inject information into supposedly secure communications, putting passwords, financial data, API tokens, and session cookies at risk.
Why it matters
MITM attacks erode the confidentiality and integrity of online interactions. They can expose credentials, reroute payments, install additional malware, or downgrade encrypted sessions. SMBs are especially vulnerable when employees rely on public Wi-Fi, remote work setups, or misconfigured TLS certificates, and search engines penalize sites with weak HTTPS—turning strong encryption into both a security and SEO imperative.
How to reduce risk
- Enforce HTTPS everywhere using modern TLS versions, HSTS, and secure cipher suites.
- Monitor for certificate expiration, mismatches, and weak algorithms to avoid accidental downgrades.
- Provide secure VPN access for remote workers using untrusted networks.
- Implement DNSSEC and vigilant certificate management to prevent spoofed destinations.
- Scan for TLS misconfigurations, exposed legacy protocols, and open management ports.
- Educate staff to avoid untrusted Wi-Fi and to verify certificate warnings before proceeding.