Digital Forensic Certification Practice Exam

What is the term for intercepting and altering communication between two parties without their knowledge?

1. Eavesdropping

2. Man-in-the-Middle Attack

3. Packet Sniffing

4. Replay Attack

The correct answer is: Man-in-the-Middle Attack

The term for intercepting and altering communication between two parties without their knowledge is known as a Man-in-the-Middle Attack. This type of attack occurs when an unauthorized third party secretly relays and possibly alters the communication between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other. During this process, the attacker can capture sensitive information, inject malicious content, or impersonate one of the parties involved in the conversation, all while remaining undetected. This concept is particularly significant in the context of cybersecurity, as it highlights vulnerabilities in communication protocols where encrypted channels may be compromised if proper security measures are not in place. Understanding this attack helps forensic analysts identify potential weaknesses in digital communication systems and emphasizes the importance of secure channels for data transmission. In comparison, eavesdropping refers to the act of listening in on communications without alteration, while packet sniffing is the act of monitoring data packets on a network. These actions may involve interception but do not include the capability of modification that a Man-in-the-Middle Attack does. Additionally, a replay attack is a form of network attack where valid data transmissions are maliciously or fraudulently repeated, rather than altering ongoing communications.