Think Like an Attacker: Why Breadcrumbs, Baits, and Decoys Are the Future of Cyber Defence
In the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, traditional defence mechanisms often fall short against sophisticated attackers. To stay ahead, organisations must adopt a mindset akin to their adversaries, anticipating moves and countering them proactively. Prevention is ideal, but detection is a must. One of the most promising strategies in this regard is the deployment of breadcrumbs, baits, and decoys—an approach that not only confounds attackers but also provides invaluable insights into their methodologies.
Deception technology involves the strategic placement of baits and decoys—such as fake servers, applications, and data—within a network. These decoys are designed to mimic legitimate assets, making it challenging for attackers to distinguish between real and fake targets. The clever use of baits, such as fake files or dummy credentials helps lure attackers towards decoys to ensure that they entrap attackers at the earliest opportunity. When an attacker interacts with a decoy, security teams are alerted in real-time, allowing for swift response and mitigation.
By deploying baits and decoys, organisations can observe attackers in a controlled environment in real time, gaining insights into their tactics, techniques, and procedures. As attack patterns are analysed, Indicators of Attack (IOAs) and Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) can be generated, which can be used to hunt the attacker’s presence across the network. This intelligence is crucial for understanding emerging threats and tailoring defence strategies accordingly. A study highlighted that deception strategies significantly alter attacker behaviour, leading to faster detection and better overall defence.
In addition to baits and decoys, breadcrumbs play a crucial role in deception strategies. Unlike baits, which guide attackers towards decoys, breadcrumbs masquerade as valuable information that attackers would be interested in and act as tripwires. Examples of breadcrumbs include beaconing documents, API access tokens and credentials that trigger immediate alerts upon attempted usage or interaction. These breadcrumbs identify attackers early, allowing security teams to halt their progress before they can infiltrate deeper into the network.
The efficacy of decoy-based strategies is reflected in the growing adoption of deception technology. Fortune Business Insights reported that the global deception technology market was valued at approximately USD 1.95 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.1% from 2024 to 2032.
Breadcrumbs, baits and decoys do more than just detect intrusions; they inform and enhance overall defence strategies. By analysing interactions with baits and decoys, security teams can identify vulnerabilities within their networks and implement targeted improvements. Attackers’ interactions with breadcrumbs shed light on what they believe are critical assets, which can be a timely reminder for security teams to examine the controls that are implemented for those forms of data. These behavioural analytics can also be fed back into the deception strategy to increase the likelihood of the deception environment successfully enticing and entrapping attackers in the future. This proactive approach transforms the security posture from reactive to anticipatory, effectively staying one step ahead of potential threats.
As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, the adoption of advanced deception techniques will be paramount. Organisations that think like attackers and employ a combination of breadcrumbs, baits, and decoy strategies will not only detect threats more efficiently but also gain a deeper understanding of the threat landscape.
The integration of breadcrumbs, baits, and decoys into cybersecurity strategies represents a forward-thinking approach to defence. By anticipating attacker moves and gathering actionable intelligence through deception, organisations can transform their security posture from reactive to proactive, effectively mitigating risks in today’s dynamic threat environment.
Turn the tables on attackers with Ensign’s Deception-as-a-Service. We help you craft tailored deception strategies that lure, detect, and outmanoeuvre cyber threats. Let’s chat about how we can outwit attackers together.
