When you browse the web, you may have a sense of privacy. It seems your activities are between you and the devices you use. But that’s not always the case, since cybercriminals can position themselves in between. This is what an on-path attacker does. They eavesdrop on your communication and compromise your supposedIy private data.
How do on-path attackers impact your online experience, and how can you prevent them?
Who Is an On-Path Attacker?
An on-path attacker is an intruder that sits between two connected devices and copies their communications for malicious purposes. They may alter the data or redirect it to their own channels. Both parties are usually unaware of the intrusion because the attacker is non-invasive.
An on-path attacker is a silent operator. They quietly position themselves in between two active devices to intercept their interactions. You can liken them to a dubious post office worker who collects letters from a sender and delivers them to the receiver.
But instead of delivering the letter, the postman opens it to see its content. They can use the information in the letter for malicious purposes, alter it or even swap it with another letter. The only difference is that they are invisible in the case of on-path attacks. The actor normally targets emails, unsecured public networks, DNS lookups, etc.
An on-path attacker also works in the following ways.
Intercepting HTTP Connections
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is an internet connection protocol thattransfers information from one point to another. But unlike its improved version Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), it lacks encryption. This means that it’s unsecured and intruders can easily intercept it.
If you browse on an HTTP connection, an on-path attacker can position themselves between your device and the website you want to visit. As you enter your login credentials, they can access it. They also have access to other interactions you perform on the website due to your weak connectivity.
The intruder may decide to exploit your cookies, little pieces of data the websites you visit send to your browser to help you track your activities on them. An overzealous threat actor can use the cookies on your browser tohijack your browsing sessionon an HTTP network.
Creating Malicious Wi-Fi Networks
One of the easiest ways on-path attackers get victims is through creating malicious Wi-Fi networks. Many people are accustomed to using free internet, especially in public areas. They enable Wi-Fi on their mobile devices, in order to connect to unlimited data connections. Or they need the public Wi-Fi to get online using a laptop.
Threat actors provide Wi-Fi in strategic areas for people to use. Since they are the owners of the network, they can easily intercept users' online interactions.
Everyone isn’t quick to connect to public Wi-Fi, especially strange ones. On-path actors beat this consciousness by cloning legitimate or popular Wi-Fi networks in specific areas. The difference between theirs and the legitimate one could be a letter or character. You may not notice the difference.
Hijacking Email
Email hijacking is a common type of on-path attack where the threat actor takes control of your account and tracks your interactions. They can use phishing attempts to manipulate you into revealing your login credentials. Or they may infect your system with malware to get what they’re after. In other instances, they can compromise your email server. Whatever route they take, they become privy to all your email correspondence.
For example, say you communicate with someone about receiving a payment from them. Having seen this communication, the threat actor sends the person a message from your account, directing them to pay the money into their account instead. The person does as they were told since the instruction came from your account.
3 Ways to Prevent an On-Path Attack
The invisible nature of on-path attacks makes them more dangerous. They could be running in the background while you transmit highly sensitive information. Nonetheless, there are still ways to prevent them.
1. Shield Sensitive Data From Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi networks aren’t always what they seem. There are no parameters to determine their credibility on the spot, so connecting to them is risky. For all you know, an on-path attacker could have already taken a position to intercept connected devices.
Be wary of public internet connections whose source you can’t vouch for. Turn off your Wi-Fi, so it doesn’t automatically connect to any open network. But if you must use one, don’t share sensitive information in your browsing sessions.
Even when you are in an area with legitimate Wi-Fi, double-check that the name is spelled correctly before connecting to it. Hackers can pull an evil twin attack bycreating a lookalike fraudulent Wi-Fi to deceive you.
2. Prioritize Using Secured Connections
Browsing on platforms with an HTTP connection exposes you to threats like on-path attacks. Limit that exposure by prioritizing websites with an HTTPS connection. It encrypts your browsing sessions such that third parties can’t access or view your activities.
All online platforms that deal with sensitive data are expected to use the HTTPS protocol to secure data transfer. If they do otherwise, it shows they don’t take cybersecurity seriously. Do yourself a favor by steering clear of them.
you may confirm a website’s security status by checking your browser’s address bar. You’ll see a padlock on the left, next to the URL, if a website is using HTTPS.
3. Use Up-to-Date Antivirus Against Malware
An on-path attacker can gain access to your system by infecting it with malware. This malware won’t miraculously appear. They add it to an email as an attachment or a clickable link. If you download the attachment or click the link, your system will be compromised.
Malicious actors don’t always send malware to victims. They could incorporate it in pop-up ads on websites that belong to them or third parties. Once you pick an interest in their offerings and click on the ads, the malware takes control of your application.
Installing antivirus helps protect your account by regularly scanning for viruses in different areas. It checks incoming emails along with their attachments and scans files before you open them. An antivirus running on your device also protects you from malware on websites. If you click or open any malware-infected content, it prevents them from taking control of your system.
Manage On-Path Attackers With Full Network Visibility
On-path attackers can operate for a long time without raising any suspicion. For all you know, they may be intercepting your data already. Gaining full network visibility helps you detect and eradicate them.
You can’t afford to go to sleep even after implementing strong cybersecurity defenses. Monitor your activities to identify strange behaviors as they may be malicious and detrimental to you.
