What distinguishes session hijacking from other attacks like Man in the Middle?

Session hijacking is primarily distinguished by the method in which the attacker gains control over a user's session without directly compromising the user's credentials or the original session. In session hijacking, the attacker takes over an active session after it has been established between the user and the server. This often involves capturing session tokens or identifiers that are exchanged during the interaction between the user and the service.

The option that states the attacker impersonates the intended recipient accurately describes a crucial aspect of session hijacking. Once the attacker successfully hijacks a session, they can act as if they are the legitimate user, sending and receiving data within the ongoing session without the need for any credentials. This impersonation can lead to significant consequences, such as unauthorized access to sensitive information or taking malicious actions on behalf of the user.

Understanding this distinction is important, as it highlights how the attack focuses on leveraging an already established trust relationship between the user and a system, rather than directly intercepting or modifying the data being sent. This characteristic sets session hijacking apart from other attacks that involve real-time insertion or alteration of messages, which is more characteristic of Man in the Middle attacks.