Cyber Security

Data interception is the capturing of data as it travels across a network, so that the attacker can read or steal it.

An attacker can use packet-sniffing software to copy data packets passing over a wired network, or capture the radio signals of a wireless network within range. Once intercepted, unencrypted data can be read directly. Interception is the reason sensitive data is encrypted before transmission: the attacker may still capture the packets, but without the key they are meaningless.