A replay attack is when a third party intercepts data transmissions to use that data for unauthorized access. The attacker copies and alters login credentials to gain access to networks and steal data. Encryption can prevent this type of attack, which can be used for corporate espionage or to acquire private user information.
Sometimes known as a man in the middle attack, a replay attack is a type of security problem in which a third party intercepts data transmissions with the purpose of using that data in some way. Typically, this type of attack involves copying and possibly altering data in some way before releasing it for delivery to the intended recipient. This method can be used to collect login credentials or other information that is supposed to be proprietary and use that information to gain unauthorized access to additional data.
One of the most common examples of a replay attack involves taking and making copies of your login information. With this strategy, the hacker is able to intercept the data used to access a network and take a mirror image of that data. Later, the captured data can be used to gain access to that network, allowing the attacker to easily access, copy, and otherwise use files or other data that can be opened and viewed using those credentials.
It is important to note that the attacker launching a replay attack does not need to see the actual keystrokes or captured passcodes. In many cases, using the captured image of the data is enough to access the network. The only way to prevent the use of that image is to deactivate the captured login credentials and release new credentials to the legitimate user once the breach has been identified and closed.
The replay attack is known by a variety of other names, most of which have to do with the fact that captured credentials can be used to appear as if a legitimate user were using them. Sometimes, this type of malicious attack is known as a cloaked attack or even a network attack. By any name, the end result is up to a security breach and possible theft of proprietary data. Over time, various ways of encrypting data have been developed so that the capture of information during a transmission has been developed, including the use of scrambling technology which can only be decrypted by the users at each end of the legitimate transmission. A replay attack is not limited to use in corporate espionage; Hackers can also use this method to acquire information from private users, including email login credentials, credit card numbers, and other types of proprietary data that can be used for illegal purposes.
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