What characterizes a "man-in-the-middle" attack?

A "man-in-the-middle" attack is characterized by an adversary intercepting and potentially altering communications between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other. In this scenario, the attacker positions themselves in the communication channel, allowing them to eavesdrop, manipulate, or relay messages without the knowledge of either party.

This type of attack exploits vulnerabilities in the communication process, often relying on techniques such as session hijacking, SSL stripping, or DNS spoofing. The primary threat in a man-in-the-middle attack is that the attacker can not only listen to the communication but also modify the messages being exchanged, which can lead to data theft or the manipulation of sensitive information.

While other scenarios describe forms of cybersecurity threats, they do not encompass the nuanced interaction and deception integral to a man-in-the-middle attack. The emphasis on interception and alteration in option B highlights the fundamental mechanism by which this type of attack operates.