18 Jun What is a Honeypot Used For in Cyber Security?
A honeypot isn’t just a jar that Winnie the Pooh gets his paws stuck in.
It’s a cyber security term for a trap set to detect, deflect or in some way counteract attempts at unauthorized use of information systems.
In the below post we’ll cover what honeypots are typically used for and the main benefits they offer.
What is a Honeypot Used for in Security?
Honeypots are used to lure in would-be attackers so that they can be monitored, and their activities recorded. This information can then be used to improve the security of systems.
Some honeypots are used to distract attackers, while others are used to gather intelligence about new attacks and techniques.
There are three different types of honeypots based on their interaction and level of involvement with an attacker:
- Low-interaction honeypots: These are easy to deploy and offer a basic level of security. They are typically used to distract attackers and give them a false sense of success.
- Medium-interaction honeypots: These are more complex and realistic, offering a greater level of security. They are used to gather intelligence about new attacks and techniques.
- High-interaction honeypots: These are the most complex and realistic, offering the highest level of security. They are used to gather intelligence about new attacks and techniques, as well as to track and monitor attackers.
Many honeypots are purpose built to identify specific attack tools and methods used by attackers. For example, there are honeypots designed to track SQL injection attacks, denial of service attacks, and phishing attacks. Additionally, honeypots can be designed to track and monitor known attacker groups.
What is the Main Advantage of a Honeypot?
The main advantage of a honeypot is that it can be used to collect information about an adversary’s methods, which can then be used to improve the security of the systems they were targeting.
Other Honeypot Benefits
Beyond being useful for gathering intelligence, honeypots can provide a number of other benefits including:
- Alerting you to attacks: By luring in attackers, honeypots can serve as an early warning system for attacks on your systems.
- Deterring attacks: The presence of a honeypot can deter some attackers, who may move on to softer targets.
- Creating distractions: By providing a false target, honeypots can distract attackers and buy time to allow for countermeasures to be put in place.
- Slowing down attackers: If an attacker does manage to get past the honeypot, the process of investigation and data collection can slow them down, giving you more time to detect and respond to the attack.
- Protecting production systems: By providing a sacrificial target, honeypots can protect your production systems from attack.
Honeypots can be an effective addition to any cybersecurity strategy, and the benefits they offer make them well worth considering for any organization.
While honeypots can be beneficial, it’s important to remember that they are not a silver bullet. They need to be properly configured and monitored, and they should be just one part of a comprehensive security strategy.