HonTel alternatives

Looking for an alternative tool to replace HonTel? During the review of HonTel we looked at other open source tools. Based on their category, tags, and text, these are the ones that have the best match.

Top 3

  1. mehrai (telnet honeypot)
  2. Conpot (ICS/SCADA honeypot)
  3. Cowrie (SSH/telnet honeypot)

These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to HonTel.

Alternatives (by score)

64

mehrai

Introduction

Honeypots like mehrai can be used to learn more about incoming attacks. It might be useful to determine threats to your network or about the steps that attackers perform.

Project details

mehrai is written in Python.

Strengths and weaknesses

  • + The source code of this software is available

    Typical usage

    • Learning
    • Network security monitoring
    • Security monitoring

    mehrai review

    70

    Conpot

    Introduction

    Conpot is an ICS honeypot to collect intelligence and information about attacks against industrial control systems. It is written in Python.

    Project details

    Conpot is written in Python.

    Strengths and weaknesses

    • + More than 25 contributors
    • + The source code of this software is available

      Typical usage

      • Information gathering
      • Intrusion detection
      • Learning

      Conpot review

      70

      Cowrie

      Introduction

      Cowrie is a honeypot to emulate SSH and telnet services. It can be used to learn attack methods and as an additional layer for security monitoring.

      Project details

      Cowrie is written in Python.

      Strengths and weaknesses

      • + More than 50 contributors
      • + More than 1000 GitHub stars

        Typical usage

        • Information gathering
        • Learning
        • Security monitoring
        • Threat discovery

        Cowrie review

        60

        Dionaea

        Introduction

        Dionaea is a honeypot that can emulate a range of services like FTP, HTTP, MySQL, and SMB. It can be used to see and learn how attackers work.

        Project details

        Dionaea is written in C.

        Strengths and weaknesses

        • + The source code of this software is available
        • - Full name of author is unknown

        Typical usage

        • Learning
        • Threat discovery

        Dionaea review

        56

        Dockpot

        Introduction

        Using an SSH honeypot is a good way to learn about common attacks on the SSH service. It can provide insights on the number of scans and probes on the network.

        Project details

        Dockpot is written in Python.

        Strengths and weaknesses

        • + The source code of this software is available
        • - No releases on GitHub available

        Typical usage

        • Learning
        • Threat discovery

        Dockpot review

        60

        Heralding

        Introduction

        Heralding is a simple honeypot to collect credentials. It supports common protocols like FTP, SSH, HTTP, etc.

        Project details

        Heralding is written in Python.

        Strengths and weaknesses

        • + Many releases available
        • + The source code of this software is available

          Heralding review

          64

          HonSSH

          Introduction

          HonSSH is a high-interaction SSH honeypot to collect information about attackers that target the SSH service.

          Project details

          HonSSH is written in Python.

          Strengths and weaknesses

          • + The source code of this software is available
          • - Unknown project license

          Typical usage

          • Learning
          • Threat discovery

          HonSSH review

          60

          HoneyPi

          Introduction

          A honeypot is useful to learn more about the network probes that are happening. As this project uses a Raspberry Pi, the investments for a deployment are low.

          Project details

          HoneyPi is written in Python.

          Strengths and weaknesses

          • + The source code of this software is available

            Typical usage

            • Learning
            • Network analysis

            HoneyPi review

            60

            HoneyPy

            Introduction

            The honeypot can be extended by plugins and customization is possible as well. This may increase the interaction level that the honeypot can support. All activity is logged to a file, with the option to post activity to Twitter or a web server.

            Project details

            HoneyPy is written in Python.

            Strengths and weaknesses

            • + The source code of this software is available

              Typical usage

              • Security monitoring

              HoneyPy review

              52

              Honeyprint

              Introduction

              There is not much information available about this project, as it is a proof-of-concept on GitHub. It is written by Lukas Rist in 2013, and placed on GitHub early 2016.

              Project details

              63

              Kojoney

              Introduction

              Kojoney is a mix of the Spanish word cojon (s/c/k/) and honey.

              Project details

              56

              Kojoney2

              Introduction

              Kojoney2 is an SSH honeypot based on Kojoney by Jose Antonio Coret. It can be used to learn about threats by mimicking an SSH service.

              Project details

              Kojoney2 is written in Python.

              Strengths and weaknesses

              • + The source code of this software is available
              • - No updates for a while

              Typical usage

              • Learning
              • Threat discovery

              Kojoney2 review

              64

              MTPot

              Introduction

              MTPot is a so-called telnet honeypot that allows to bind and listen on a specific port. It can be configured to allow specific commands and the related responses to return. The tool also performs fingerprinting to discover what type of attack is occuring and send these details via syslog.

              Project details

              MTPot is written in Python.

              Strengths and weaknesses

              • + Very low number of dependencies
              • + The source code of this software is available

                Typical usage

                • Learning
                • Threat discovery

                MTPot review

                70

                SNARE

                Introduction

                SNARE is an abbreviation for Super Next generation Advanced Reactive honEypot.

                Project details

                SNARE is written in Python.

                Strengths and weaknesses

                • + The source code of this software is available

                  Typical usage

                  • Security monitoring

                  SNARE review

                  60

                  SSH Honeypot

                  Introduction

                  SSH Honeypot is as the name implies a honeypot to emulate the SSH service. It can be used to learn about threats and commands used by attackers.

                  Project details

                  SSH Honeypot is written in C.

                  Strengths and weaknesses

                  • + The source code of this software is available

                    Typical usage

                    • Learning
                    • Threat discovery

                    SSH Honeypot review

                    64

                    SSHHiPot

                    Introduction

                    SSHHiPot is a high-interaction SSH honeypot. It captures connections and commands that are to be performed, for the purpose of learning about possible threats.

                    Project details

                    SSHHiPot is written in Golang.

                    Strengths and weaknesses

                    • + The source code of this software is available

                      Typical usage

                      • Learning
                      • Threat discovery

                      SSHHiPot review

                      60

                      TANNER

                      Introduction

                      TANNER and SNARE are used together to form one solution.

                      Project details

                      97

                      Thug

                      Introduction

                      The honeypot concept is a well-known technique to collect attack patterns on servers and systems. Tools like Thug are considered to be a honeyclient, or client honeypot. These tools collect attacks against client applications. For example by mimicking a web application and visit a malicious page to see if any code is attacking the application.

                      Project details

                      Thug is written in Python.

                      Strengths and weaknesses

                      • + The source code of this software is available

                        Typical usage

                        • Learning
                        • Malware analysis
                        • Threat discovery

                        Thug review

                        64

                        sshesame

                        Introduction

                        A honeypot can provide valuable insights on commands that automated scripts perform or attackers. By running a honeypot like sshesame, connection details and commands are stored for later analysis. The system itself won't execute the actual commands, to prevent any damage to it.

                        Project details

                        sshesame is written in Golang.

                        Strengths and weaknesses

                        • + The source code of this software is available
                        • - No releases on GitHub available

                        Typical usage

                        • Learning
                        • Threat discovery

                        sshesame review

                        Some relevant tool missing as an alternative to HonTel? Please contact us with your suggestion.