What does active defense refer to?

Active defense is a proactive cybersecurity approach that involves using tactics designed to mislead and confuse potential attackers. By intentionally disseminating misinformation, organizations can divert attackers' attention away from valuable targets, making it more difficult for them to succeed in their malicious activities. This strategy not only helps protect sensitive information but also enables organizations to collect intelligence about the attackers' methods and techniques, which can be useful for strengthening overall security.

In contrast, simply creating multiple backups of files is a reactive strategy that helps in recovery post-incident but does not actively engage with threats. Analyzing traffic logs after an attack is a critical part of incident response and helps organizations understand breaches after they occur, but it does not prevent attacks from happening in the first place. Blocking all incoming network traffic is an extreme measure that effectively prevents access but can also cut off legitimate users and severely disrupt normal operations without providing an active response to threats.