What is "session hijacking" in the context of cybersecurity?

Session hijacking refers to the exploitation of a valid computer session to gain unauthorized access to information or services. In cybersecurity, a session is established when a user logs into a service, and it often involves the use of session tokens or cookies that identify the user throughout their interaction with the service.

When an attacker successfully hijacks a session, they can impersonate the user without needing to know the user's credentials. This can lead to unauthorized actions, access to sensitive data, or the manipulation of the user’s account. The technique often involves intercepting session tokens through methods such as man-in-the-middle attacks or leveraging vulnerabilities in the network or application.

This understanding highlights the importance of securing session tokens and using additional security measures, such as encryption and secure protocols, to protect user sessions from being hijacked.