Decoy network technology with automatic signature generation for intrusion detection and intrusion prevention systems

A system for a protecting a primary computer network with automatic signature generation for intrusion detection and intrusion prevention systems, comprising:

• a decoy hosted on a primary computer network, wherein said decoy is configured to provide a decoy operating system over a decoy network connection and wherein said decoy operating system comprises a functional operating system hosted on a monitoring/intercept module;
• a kernel driver coupled with said functional operating system and hidden from an attacker by removing one or more pointers to the kernel driver, wherein the monitoring/intercept module including said kernel driver is configured to intercept a network attack on said primary computer network, and said network attack comprises attack-identifying information that is based on all activities associated with the decoy operating system, where all activities associated with the decoy operating system are assumed to be unauthorized, wherein the kernel driver is hidden from the attacker by preventing the kernel driver from registering with the decoy operating system;
• a processing module comprising a processor device wherein said processing module is connected to the decoy through a second secure computer network, and wherein said processing module is configured to identify said network attack and generate an attack signature from said attack-identifying information, wherein the second secure computer network is distinct from the primary computer network;
• and
• said processing module further configured to apply said attack signature to a library of signatures contained in an intrusion detection system or intrusion prevention system to control access to said primary computer network.

A system for protecting a primary computer network having a library of signatures comprising:

• means for providing a decoy network connection on a primary computer network to a decoy that includes a decoy operating system comprising a functional operating system hosted on a monitoring/intercept module that includes a kernel driver coupled with said functional operating system and hidden from an attacker by removing one or more pointers to the kernel driver, wherein the kernel driver is hidden from the attacker by preventing the kernel driver from registering with the decoy operating system;
• means for intercepting a network attack on said primary computer network using the monitoring/intercept module of the decoy, wherein said network attack comprises attack-identifying information that is based on all activities associated with the decoy operating system, where all activities associated with the decoy operating system are assumed to be unauthorized;
• means for processing said attack-identifying information using a processing module connected to the decoy through a second secure computer network to identify said network attack and generate an attack signature, wherein the second secure computer network is distinct from the primary computer network;
• and
• means for applying said attack signature to a library of signatures contained in an intrusion detection system or intrusion prevention system to control access to said primary computer network.