Types of Honeypots

🧩 What Are Honeypots?

A honeypot is a decoy system or resource designed to appear vulnerable to attackers. It simulates a real target (e.g., servers, databases, applications) but is isolated and monitored.

When attackers interact with a honeypot, they reveal information about their tactics — without actually damaging your real systems.

🔍 Types of Honeypots

Honeypots can be classified in several ways depending on their purpose and complexity:

1. Based on Interaction Level:

• Low-Interaction Honeypots

  • Simulate limited services or applications.

  • Easier to deploy and manage.

  • Used to detect automated attacks like port scans or basic malware.

  • Example: Emulated login pages or fake SSH services.

• High-Interaction Honeypots

  • Simulate full operating systems and applications.

  • Allow attackers to interact deeply, providing rich data.

  • Riskier to manage but excellent for understanding advanced threats.

  • Example: A real server configured with vulnerabilities in a controlled environment.

2. Based on Purpose:

• Production Honeypots

  • Deployed within a company’s network to divert and detect threats in real time.

  • Help protect critical infrastructure by acting as early warning systems.

• Research Honeypots

  • Used by cybersecurity researchers to study attacker behaviors, malware trends, and threat intelligence.

  • Often placed in open environments with fewer restrictions.

3. Based on Threat Focus:

• Malware Honeypots

  • Attract and analyze malware, helping teams understand infection methods and payloads.

• Spam Honeypots

  • Used to capture and analyze spam traffic, often through fake email addresses or open relays.

• Database Honeypots

  • Simulate database services like MySQL or MongoDB to detect data breach attempts.

🚀 Final Thought

Integrating honeypots into your security strategy adds a proactive layer of defense. By deceiving attackers and collecting intelligence, you gain the upper hand in an ever-evolving cyber battlefield.

Knowledge is power. Let your attackers teach you how to stop them.