A honeypot is a smart anti-spam trap that tempts hackers into disclosing information in the context of cybersecurity. These pitfalls can catch malware that attempts to enter bogus contact details into a form for collecting emails. Both malevolent programs are created to behave on account of individuals acting and human operators themselves can be caught using honeypots.

These phishing emails are hidden within a webpage's source code. This email address is controlled by a trap setter who catches those who post emails to it. The actors responsible for these malicious apps might use the stolen email addresses to launch a virus assault or sell them to gullible email marketers.

How do valid email address senders are affected by honeypots?

You run the possibility of being in danger if you use unsafe email-gathering techniques. If a bot or real subscriber placed a false email address into your email collecting form, you have transferred lists with another business, or trying to create your mailing list, you crawl websites and harvest email addresses from them.

Do I Risk Being a Target Of Honeypot Attacks If I Buy a Mailing List?

Buying mailing lists in order to expand your subscriber base is a bad idea. The huge majority of the users did not give your business permission to contact them. Internet Service Providers could opt not to send your message to a valid recipient's inbox if you have a poor reputation for your IP address and domain.

It is not advised to purchase mailing lists since they can include email addresses from hackers. The trap maker will capture a visitor, an authorized email producer, rather than a hacker. Your email server may suffer as a result, and you could end yourself on a block list.

Is Building a Mailing List Via Crawling Webpages a Bad Idea?

Your business is no different than a spammer if it is collecting email addresses from websites. this is because the e-mail address owners have not given permission to communicate with them. Your email marketing efforts may suffer if you end yourself on an ISP's blocklist. So you are not advised to try this.

Can I Fall Into a Honeypot Trap Even If I Have Valid Subscribers?

If your website has a form for collecting email addresses, and someone inputs the wrong email address, then you might well find yourself in a honey trap.

You've added yourself to the blocklist and set up a honeypot with this fictitious email address. Your deliverability may be impacted, but if it just happens sometimes, it won't be too detrimental. The consequence is the same because an erroneous email has now been put into your email list.

Are Spam Traps And Honeypots The Same Thing?

Although honeypots are frequently employed to catch spam, they may also be used to gather email addresses. A spammer can send an email to a trap maker even if that person doesn't have an email account. These addresses are old, closed, or expired addresses that haven't been used in a while.

Benefits Of a Honeypot

Honeypot can be beneficial in some cases. To stop cyberattacks, honeypots are effective in catching hostile actors. By constructing alluring victims that are loaded with defects, they attract bad actors. To avoid falling victim to these traps, it is advisable to avoid acting maliciously. Using honeypots, trappers may learn what a hacker would do if they directly threatened their website.

Types Of Honeypots

  • Pure honeypots
  • High-interaction honeypots
  • Mid-interaction honeypots
  • Low-interaction honeypots
  • Spam honeypot
  • Malware honeypot
  • Client honeypot
  • Database honeypot

To Sum Up

The easiest approach to avoid succumbing to a honeypot scam is to make sure your methods for collecting email addresses are legal and compliant. By doing this you can save your website and server from any type of malicious attack.