Guide to Honeypots and Honeynets
A Honeypot is a security system used to attract and trap hackers and malware to prevent them from causing harm to an actual network or system. It is essentially a decoy system, populated with fake data, which alerts the security teams when hackers interact with it. These systems are designed to appear real and valuable to hackers, keeping them engaged for longer periods and reducing the risk to the actual system.
A Honeynet is a network of such honeypots, used to divert and trap multiple attacks.
Importance: They allow organizations to learn about hacker behaviors, study their techniques, and develop proactive defenses before a real attack can occur.
Working: Honeypots and honeynets do not contain valuable data but are made to appear enticing. When a hacker interacts, they record the actions, alert security, and isolate the attacker.
Exam Tips: When answering exam questions on Honeypots and Honeynets, remember:
- They are decoy systems, serving no real purpose in normal network operations
- Their main role to capture, divert, and study attacks
- The traps are designed to be attractive
- They do not contain real data