Navigating the Deception Stack: In-Depth Analysis and Application of Comprehensive Cyber Defense Solutions

Abstract

Deception techniques play a crucial role in enhancing cybersecurity by misleading attackers and safeguarding critical systems. The strategic placement of decoys constructs an elaborate defense architecture that can effectively thwart unauthorized access. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of deception techniques from a research perspective, highlighting their classification, modeling methodologies, and deployment strategies. Additionally, it explores the major research issues associated with these techniques, including the challenge of maintaining the believability of decoys and the ethical implications of their use. Moreover, the paper investigates the role of Moving Target Defense (MTD) in cyber deception, emphasizing its dynamic nature and specifically the network environments. This paper goes beyond theoretical discussions and digs into the implementation details of real frameworks operating at four layers of the deception stack composed of the network, system, software, and data layers. The seamless integration between these layers is essential for creating a convincing deceptive environment. It categorizes these implementations into four main approaches and highlights the corresponding systems that have been developed, thus offering a roadmap for future research and development in this critical field of cybersecurity.