What are honeypots, and how are they used in network security?

Honeypots are intentionally deployed decoy systems or resources designed to attract and deceive potential attackers. They appear as legitimate targets to malicious actors, enticing them to interact with the decoy while the actual network remains protected.

Honeypots can attract threats by appearing vulnerable or containing enticing data or services that are typically sought after by attackers. Once an attacker engages with the honeypot, its activities, methods, and techniques are recorded and analyzed by security professionals. This helps in understanding the attack strategies, tools, and potential vulnerabilities being targeted.

By analyzing the activities of attackers within the honeypot, security teams can gain valuable insights into potential threats, such as new attack vectors, malware samples, or emerging trends in cyber threats. This information can then be used to enhance and strengthen overall network defenses by proactively implementing measures to mitigate similar threats and vulnerabilities across the network.