What is the primary purpose of email honeypots?

The primary purpose of email honeypots is to attract fake and malicious emails. These honeypots are intentionally created email addresses or accounts that are not used for legitimate communication. Instead, they are designed to lure spammers, phishing attempts, and other forms of malicious email traffic. By doing so, they allow organizations to study the tactics and techniques used by cybercriminals, improving their ability to defend against such threats.

Email honeypots serve as a research tool that helps in understanding malware distribution practices and spam behaviors. They gather data on the types of attacks being launched, which can then be used to strengthen security measures and develop more effective responses to genuine threats. The information harvested can also aid in improving spam filters and enhancing overall email security protocols. This proactive approach enables organizations to stay ahead of potential threats and safeguard their legitimate email users from malicious activities.