What is the main characteristic of a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack?

A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack primarily involves a threat actor positioning themselves between two communicating parties, effectively intercepting and potentially altering the communication. This characteristic is central to the attack's nature, as it allows the attacker to eavesdrop on the communication or manipulate the data being exchanged without either party being aware of the intrusion.

In this type of attack, the threat actor can capture sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card numbers, which could lead to further unauthorized actions. The focus on positioning highlights the covert manner in which MITM attacks operate, relying on the attacker’s ability to facilitate or disrupt the communication streams between the two parties.

Understanding this concept is essential as it illustrates the importance of secure communication protocols, such as HTTPS, that help to mitigate the risks associated with MITM attacks by ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.