What is a honeypot?

A honeypot is a computer security mechanism that is used to prevent unauthorized attacks on computer systems. It mainly consists of a computer, some data, and a network site that appears to be part of the network but is isolated and monitored. It seems to contain useful information to the attackers, but actually, it is used as bait.

Different Types of Honeypots

There are different types of honeypots:

Production Honeypots – Production honeypots are placed inside a production network along with other production servers. They capture limited information for the attackers. Production honeypots are low-interaction honeypots, and they are easier to deploy. They are usually used by an organization to improve the overall state of security.

Research Honeypots – This type of honeypot is used primarily by research, military, or government organizations. They run to gather information about the motives and tactics of the attackers. Most of the time, they capture extensive information and are complex to deploy.

High-Interaction Honeypots – Sometimes, honeypots imitate the activities of a production system so that the attacker wastes lots of time in the system. They are even deployed as virtual machines so that even if the honeypot is compromised, it can be restored easily. They are called high-interaction honeypots.

Low-Interaction Honeypots – On the other hand, low-interaction honeypots are easy to maintain and contain limited information.

Sometimes, two or more honeypots are connected together and form a honeynet. Honeynets are used to monitor larger networks where a single honeypot is not sufficient.

So, it was an introductory article on the honeypot. Interested readers who want to know more about how various malware and cyberattacks work may want to refer to the book “A Guide To Cyber Security.”

Security Fundamentals Practice Tests

The Security Fundamentals Practice Tests test one’s fundamental knowledge of cyber security. The practice tests are good for those who are preparing for various certification exams like the CCNA, CCNP, or CompTIA. They are also good for students and IT/security professionals who want to improve their understanding of cybersecurity.