A honeypot is a cybersecurity mechanism that uses a manufactured attack target to lure cybercriminals away from legitimate targets. It is a decoy system that is intended to attract cyberattacks, like a trap. Honeypots are designed to look like attractive targets for hackers, and they use security vulnerabilities to lure in attackers. They can be modeled after any digital asset, including software applications, servers, or the network itself. Honeypots are intentionally created with security vulnerabilities that will lure in cyber attackers. For example, a honeypot might have ports that respond to a port scan or weak passwords.
Honeypots are used for several purposes, including:
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Gathering intelligence: Honeypots can be used to collect information and intelligence about cyberattacks within the production network. They can help organizations learn more about the identity, methods, and motivations of adversaries.
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Exposing vulnerabilities: Honeypots can be used to expose vulnerabilities in major systems. They can show the high level of threat posed by attacks on IoT devices and suggest ways in which security could be improved.
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Training: Honeypots are great training tools for technical security staff. They provide a controlled and safe environment for showing how attackers work and examining different types of threats.
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Refining intrusion detection systems: Honeypots are used to refine an organization’s intrusion detection system (IDS) and threat response so it is in a better position to manage and prevent attacks.
Honeypots are resource-light and dont make great demands on hardware. They can be set up using old computers that are no longer in use, and a number of ready-written honeypots are available from online repositories, reducing the amount of in-house effort thats necessary to get a honeypot up and running.
