For the average Internet user, this means that your personal data and information, such as security numbers, credit card information, etc., can be stolen by cybercriminals.

In this quick guide, we show you what a man-in-the-middle attack is and how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim. How to prevent man in the middle attack?

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

To protect yourself from a man-in-the-middle attack, it’s important to first understand what type of cyberattack this is.

A man-in-the-middle attack is when a cybercriminal intercepts communications between two parties and pretends to be one of the parties to gain access to sensitive information. 

For example, let’s say you’re trying to log into your online banking account. The attacker can intercept the communication between you and the bank’s server. The attacker would then pretend to be a bank and send you a fake login page. If you enter your username and password on this fake login page, the attacker gets your credentials and can access your account.

How do you detect a person in the middle of an attack?

There are a few signs you can look out for:

• An unexpected email or text message from a service you use. You receive an unexpected email or text message from a company you work with. The message contains a link to what appears to be the company’s website. However, the link actually leads to a fake website created by an attacker. For example, you may receive an unexpected email saying that your password or your login is about to expire. 
• You are redirected to another website. You are trying to log in to your online account, but you are redirected to another website. This is usually a sign that your DNS records have been spoofed and you are the target of a DNS spoofing attack.
• You get a warning message on your screen – you see a warning message from your browser or antivirus software. This warning message means that the SSL/TLS certificate on the website you are trying to visit is invalid. This is usually a sign that you are the target of an SSL/TLS spoofing attack.

How to prevent a man-in-the-middle attack on public Wi-Fi

This does not mean that you should absolutely not use public Wi-Fi. These networks can be very useful, especially when you are away from home.

However, it is important to take steps to protect yourself when using these networks. One of the best ways is to start encrypting your internet traffic so that even if someone manages to intercept it, they won’t be able to read it.

You can do this with a good premium VPN (a virtual private network) such as ClearVPN . A VPN encrypts your Internet traffic and routes it through a secure server. This makes it much harder for attackers to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks.

Most premium VPNs are extremely easy to use and require no technical knowledge. All you have to do is install the VPN software on your device and then connect to one of the servers. In the case of ClearVPN, they have quick shortcuts that make it easy to do whatever you’re trying to do online.

For example, if you want to browse the Internet securely, you can simply click the “Activate” button next to the “Secure and Private Browsing” shortcut.

It may seem like a hassle to use a VPN all the time. However, it’s a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with knowing your data is safe.

How does a VPN help protect against man-in-the-middle attacks?

A VPN can help protect against man-in-the-middle attacks by creating a secure, encrypted connection between your device and a VPN server. This means that even if someone can intercept your data, they won’t be able to read it or make any changes.

How common are man-in-the-middle attacks?

Man-in-the-middle attacks are quite common, especially in public Wi-Fi networks. However, they can also be used to target individuals or businesses.  

According to a 2021 report by Kaspersky Lab (a leading cybersecurity firm), they detected 4.8 million man-in-the-middle attacks in 2020 alone.

What are the dangers of a man-in-the-middle attack on Wi-Fi?

A man-in-the-middle attack can be very dangerous because it allows attackers to intercept and read your data. They can also inject malicious code into websites that can be used to infect your computer with malware.