Re: [Detnet] Rtgdir last call review of draft-ietf-detnet-security-10

[Stewart Bryant <[e-mail]>]

> ---
> 
> It would be nice to avoid the term "man-in-the-middle" (and coresponding
> "MITM") in favour of the term "on-path attacker". It is less problematic
> as a term, and no less accurate.
> 
> Although "man-in-the-middle" is well established, I think you could
> easily avoid it and if you feel necessary you could use "An on-path
> attacker (formerly known as a man-in-the-middle) ..."

I sort of understand why you want to change MITM, although given that the man you have in mind is evil I am not sure whether it is that objectionable in this context. However I am not sure on-path is the right term. MITM normally implies an entity that can modify traffic in flight, whereas an on path attacker may simply be an observer.

Maybe AITM (attacker ....) would be a better gender neutral term.

Stewart