What type of attack is characterized by intercepting communications to steal information?

The type of attack characterized by intercepting communications to steal information is known as a man-in-the-middle attack. In this scenario, an attacker positions themselves between two parties communicating over a network, allowing them to listen in on the conversation, alter the messages being exchanged, or relay false information.

This is distinct from other attack types. A brute-force attack focuses on systematically trying numerous combinations of passwords or encryption keys to gain unauthorized access, rather than intercepting communications. Connection hijacking involves taking control of an active session without the user's knowledge, but does not necessarily involve the interception of information as it occurs during ongoing communications. Lastly, spoofing involves disguising as a legitimate entity to trick users, which may lead to information theft but does not directly involve the interception of communications between two established parties.

The hallmark of a man-in-the-middle attack is this interception, which is critical for understanding how sensitive data can be compromised during transmission.