Cookie theft is a kind of cyberattack in which the attacker gets their hands on the victim’s cookie data. Through cookie theft, the attacker acquires sensitive information about the user including their names, addresses and other private information.
Examples of cookie theft
- Cross-site scripting (XSS): This is a cyberattack where the attacker introduces malicious code into a website susceptible to breaches. Once a user visits this website and a cookie is created, the attacker can now use the cookie to impersonate the user and carry out activities in the victim’s stead.
- A man-in-the-middle attack: A MiTM attack is a cyberattack involving the interception of the link between the user and the website. If a hacker gets access to this kind of communication, they can collect the victim’s cookie data to pose as the user while interacting on the associated website.
How to protect against cookie theft
- Cultivate correct internet hygiene and regularly clear your cookies. You can set up your browser to automatically do this.
- Conduct regular software updates, ensuring your system has the latest bug fixes and patches to close off any vulnerabilities.
- Only use encrypted networks. If you are unsure whether a website or network is encrypted, you can use a VPN.
