HoneyMonkey

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A HoneyMonkey is a system created by Microsoft Research that uses a network of computers or virtual machines to browse different sites on the Web to determine if they’ve been infected with malware. This malware is then installed on HoneyMonkey computers by virtue of browser exploits. The snapshot of the registry, executables, and memory prior to visiting the site is compared with a snapshot after the honeypot computer has been exposed to malware. The idea behind this tool is to find security loopholes that attackers will target.

The concept of HoneyMonkey evolved from honeypots, which are systems set up for hackers to find so that their attacks can be analyzed. In the case of HoneyMonkey, the system itself browses different websites so that hackers and their attack vectors can be found. Most of the websites are hacked by third-party attackers who run and install malware on unsuspecting client computers. The HoneyMonkey system uses a virtual machine to run the detection software.

What does this mean for an SMB or MSP?

SMBs and MSPs don’t need to know much about HoneyMonkeys. Their IT staff should be aware of that systems like these have been created by Microsoft and others to provide advanced warning of emerging hacker threats. Microsoft doesn’t publish any of its findings from this system, but the exploited websites they find are likely notified by Microsoft to be fixed or cleansed. It’s important to have a Vulnerability Alert Management Process (VAMP) in place to properly identify and remediate security gaps in a timely manner within your own websites, services, and applications. If you’re wondering what else you can do to improve the cybersecurity of your company and its employees, continue reading to find out the minimum essential actions that you can take.

CyberHoot’s Minimum Essential Cybersecurity Recommendations

The following recommendations will help you and your business stay secure with the various threats you may face on a day-to-day basis. All of the suggestions listed below can be gained by hiring CyberHoot’s vCISO Program development services.

Govern employees with policies and procedures. You need a password policy, an acceptable use policy, an information handling policy, and a written information security program (WISP) at a minimum.

Train employees on how to spot and avoid phishing attacks. Adopt a Learning Management system like CyberHoot to teach employees the skills they need to be more confident, productive, and secure.

Test employees with Phishing attacks to practice. CyberHoot’s Phish testing allows businesses to test employees with believable phishing attacks and put those that fail into remedial phish training.

Deploy critical cybersecurity technology including two-factor authentication on all critical accounts. Enable email SPAM filtering, validate backups, and deploy DNS protection, antivirus, and anti-malware on all your endpoints.

In the modern Work-from-Home era, make sure you’re managing personal devices connecting to your network by validating their security (patching, antivirus, DNS protections) or prohibiting their use entirely.

If you haven’t had a risk assessment by a 3rd party in the last 2 years, you should have one now. Establishing a risk management framework in your organization is critical to addressing your most egregious risks with your finite time and money.

Buy Cyber-Insurance to protect you in a catastrophic failure situation. Cyber-Insurance is no different than Car, Fire, Flood, or Life insurance. It’s there when you need it most.

Each of these recommendations, except cyber-insurance, is built into CyberHoot’s product and virtual Chief Information Security Officer services. With CyberHoot you can govern, train, assess, and test your employees. Visit CyberHoot.com and sign up for our services today. At the very least continue to learn by enrolling in our monthly Cybersecurity newsletters to stay on top of current cybersecurity updates.

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