# SSH Honeypot

SSH Honeypot is a Honeypots & Deception product. It runs on-premises. Pricing is free.

A low-interaction SSH honeypot that logs connection attempts, usernames, and passwords without allowing actual login access.

Checked October 2026.

## What is SSH Honeypot?

SSH Honeypot is a low-interaction honeypot designed to monitor and log SSH connection attempts. The tool listens for incoming SSH connections and captures the IP address, username, and password credentials used by connecting clients.

The honeypot operates as a deceptive service that mimics an SSH server but does not allow actual login access, preventing attackers or malware from gaining system access. It functions purely as a logging mechanism to gather intelligence on brute force attacks and unauthorized access attempts.

The tool requires several development libraries including libssh, openssl, libjson-c, and libpcap for compilation. It generates RSA keys for SSH simulation and can be configured to run on specified ports. The honeypot outputs collected data in a structured format for analysis.

Originally developed for gathering basic intelligence on SSH-based attacks, the tool is commonly deployed in capture-the-flag (CTF) competitions and educational environments. It can be paired with complementary tools like sshunt for enhanced functionality.

The software supports Linux environments with full functionality and provides experimental support for macOS systems. Installation involves installing required dependencies, compiling the source code, generating SSH keys, and running the honeypot service.

Tags: CTF, SSH, Attack Detection, Brute Force, OSINT

## Where it fits in your security program (NIST CSF 2.0)

- [Detect](https://cybersectools.com/guides/building-detect-program-small-team): helps you spot attacks and unusual activity.

## Quick facts

- Category: [Security Operations](https://cybersectools.com/categories/security-operations) · [Honeypots & Deception](https://cybersectools.com/categories/honeypots)
- Deployment: On-Premises
- Company size fit: Startup, SMB, Mid-Market
- Pricing model: Free
- GitHub stars: 671
- Website: github.com

## Where it ranks

No shortlist covers this product's category yet. The closest is [Best MDR Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-mdr-solutions).

## SSH Honeypot FAQ

### What is SSH Honeypot?

SSH Honeypot is a product in the Honeypots & Deception category. It covers CTF, SSH and Attack Detection.

### What is the pricing for SSH Honeypot?

SSH Honeypot is free. Download and setup instructions are at https://github.com/droberson/ssh-honeypot/.

### What are alternatives to SSH Honeypot?

Alternatives to SSH Honeypot listed on CybersecTools:

1. [Trapster](https://cybersectools.com/tools/trapster) - Honeypot platform deploying network decoys to detect intrusions with zero false positives (Commercial)
2. [Deception Check Fleet Status](https://cybersectools.com/tools/deception-check-fleet-status) - Public honeypot fleet dashboard showing global attack telemetry and threat intel. (Commercial)
3. [Acalvio ShadowPlex](https://cybersectools.com/tools/acalvio-shadowplex) - Deception platform using external-facing decoys for threat intel & recon detection (Commercial)
4. [Anantis TrapEye](https://cybersectools.com/tools/anantis-trapeye) - Detects intruders the moment they interact with your network. (Commercial)
5. [Tropico Security - AI Powered Deception](https://cybersectools.com/tools/tropico-security-ai-powered-deception) - AI-powered deception platform that predicts, traps, and neutralizes attackers. (Commercial)

Compare all SSH Honeypot alternatives at [https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/ssh-honeypot](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/ssh-honeypot)

### What deployment and organization size does SSH Honeypot fit?

SSH Honeypot is available as on-premises software. It is listed for startups, small businesses and mid-market companies. It is free.

## Compare SSH Honeypot with similar solutions

- [SSH Honeypot vs Trapster](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ssh-honeypot-vs-trapster)
- [SSH Honeypot vs Deception Check Fleet Status](https://cybersectools.com/compare/deception-check-fleet-status-vs-ssh-honeypot)
- [SSH Honeypot vs Acalvio ShadowPlex](https://cybersectools.com/compare/acalvio-shadowplex-vs-ssh-honeypot)

All alternatives to SSH Honeypot: [/alternatives/ssh-honeypot](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/ssh-honeypot)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/tools/ssh-honeypot

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