Lecture Notes: Message Integrity Threats What is Message Integrity? Message integrity refers to the assurance that a message has not been altered or modified during transmission. It ensures that the message received is the same as the message that was originally sent. Threats to Message Integrity ● Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: An attacker intercepts the communication between two parties and modifies the message before forwarding it. ● Replay Attacks: An attacker captures a message and replays it later, potentially causing unintended consequences. ● Data Modification: An attacker intentionally alters the content of a message to change its meaning or functionality. ● Data Deletion: An attacker may delete or destroy a message to prevent it from being received. Impact of Message Integrity Threats ● Data Corruption: Modified or deleted messages can lead to data corruption and errors. ● Unauthorized Access: Attackers can use modified messages to gain unauthorized access to systems or data. ● Financial Loss: Message integrity threats can result in financial losses, especially in transactions or contracts. ● Reputation Damage: Security breaches can damage an organization's reputation and erode customer trust. Prevention and Mitigation Techniques ● Encryption: Encrypting messages using strong cryptographic algorithms can protect against unauthorized modification. ● Message Authentication Codes (MACs): MACs are used to verify the integrity of a message by appending a cryptographic hash to the message. ● Digital Signatures: Digital signatures provide both authentication and integrity, ensuring that the message was sent by the claimed sender and has not been modified. ● Network Security: Implementing robust network security measures, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems, can help prevent unauthorized access and modification of messages. ● User Education: Educating users about the risks of message integrity threats and how to identify and avoid them. Conclusion Message integrity is a critical aspect of network security. By understanding the common threats to message integrity and implementing effective prevention and mitigation techniques, organizations can protect their data and ensure the reliability of their communications.