A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack is a type of cyberattack that involves the interception of communication between two or more parties. The attacker is able to gain access to the data being sent or received by either or both of the parties. The attacker is then able to modify the data, or even steal it, before it is sent to its intended recipient.

Man-in-the-middle attacks are usually conducted by exploiting weaknesses in the communication protocol being used between the two parties. This could be due to an outdated or weak encryption method, or simply a lack of authentication between the parties. The attacker can then use this weakness to insert themselves into the communication, acting as a third party. The attacker can then view, modify, or delete the data being sent or received.

Man-in-the-middle attacks can be used to steal data, such as passwords or credit card information, or to impersonate another user. The attacker can even use the attack to inject malicious code into a website or application. These attacks can be difficult to detect, as they are typically hidden between legitimate communication. It is important to use strong encryption and authentication methods when communicating with other parties to help protect against MITM attacks.