What is SPECTER?
SPECTER is a smart honeypot or deception system. It simulates a complete
machine, providing an interesting target to lure hackers away from the
production machines.
SPECTER offers common Internet services such as SMTP, FTP, POP3, HTTP and
TELNET which appear perfectly normal to the attackers but in fact are traps
for them to mess around and leave traces without even knowing that they are
connected to a decoy system which does none of the things it appears to do
but instead logs everything and notifies the appropriate people.
Furthermore, SPECTER automatically investigates the attackers while they
are still trying to break in. SPECTER provides massive amounts of decoy
content and it generates decoy programs that will leave hidden marks on the
attacker's computer. Automated weekly online updates of the honeypot's
content and vulnerability databases allow the honeypot to change constantly
without user interaction.
How does it work?
A SPECTER system consists of a dedicated PC and the SPECTER software. It is
connected to the network where attacks are expected. This usually means to
connect it close to the Internet access point, typically in the DMZ, but it
can also be connected directly to the Internet. SPECTER can also be installed
on internal networks to find out about suspicious activities originating from
within an organization, or to detect security breaches.
Another interesting possibility is to install SPECTER on a production machine
such as a mail server. In this scenario, the SMTP service is real while all
other network services on the machine are simulated by SPECTER. If an attacker
checks out the machine looking for vulnerabilities, he will very likely connect
to one of the simulated services and find what he is looking for.
But while he thinks he's breaking in, he has actually triggered an alert, he's
investigated, everything he does is logged and at the same time the mail server
is absolutely safe.
What are the main advantages?
Suspicious interest in your network and your computers can be detected immediately.
Administrators are notified of hostile activity right when it happens so they
can immediately look at the problem and take action.
By illegally downloading programs and other content from the honeypot machine,
attackers put hidden evidence against them on their own computers. This evidence
may be used in court.
Detailed logs of the activities provide information about character, skill level
and intentions of an attacker and can be valuable evidence for proving the hostile
nature of an attacker's activities.
Important information about the identity of an attacker can be collected automatically
while it is still possible.
The system is very easy to set up and configure while providing most sophisticated
features. Fully-automated online updates of the honeypot's content and vulnerability
databases allow the honeypot to change constantly without user interaction.
No false alerts as no legitimate user will ever connect to the honeypot.
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