Eavesdropping is the act of secretly or stealthily listening to the private conversation or communications of others without their consent in order to gather information.
In an eavesdropping attack, the cybercriminal installs special software (the “sniffer“) on a computer or a server which can intercept data as it is transmitted.
Any device in the network between the transmitting device and the receiving device is a point of weakness, as are the initial and terminal devices themselves.
Eavesdropping attacks can be prevented by:
- Using a firewall, keeping antivirus software updated,
- Using a virtual private network (VPN) to ensure that communications
- Avoiding public WiFi networks – such as those that are freely available in coffee shops and public places – to carry out sensitive transactions.
Security in the Digital Economy
As part of the Cyber Security Malta, Tech.mt collaborates with the Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA) and the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) to deliver educational video episodes about Security in the Digital Economy towards a safer future.
