Defensive technique

Moving target defense

Deliberate environment changes that can hinder reconnaissance. Treated as a related area when no explicit deception is involved.

Research question

Does the change create a false perception or merely alter the attack surface?

Context and method

Definitions and technical considerations should be checked against the primary source. Atlas records are a selection tagged with this topic; a matching tag does not demonstrate operational outcomes.

Cross-reference

This topic across source types

These counts describe tagged Atlas records, not the worldwide number of studies or offerings.

Linked library

Associated records

34 tagged records
Paper2026

Enhancing Strategic Decision-Making via Semantic Inference: An Antifragile Framework for Deception-Based Threat Profiling

Material reviewed: Abstract

The authors propose an antifragile framework that uses cyber deception with adaptive decoys and dynamic network movements to generate adversarial signals, infer threat actor profiles and support proactive decisions. A cyber threat intelligence ontology and a knowledge graph with semantic attributes represent tactical and strategic relationships between attackers and targets.

NetworkDecoyAdversary engagement
Paper2026

Network and Device Level Cyber Deception for Contested Environments Using RL and LLMs

Material reviewed: Abstract

This paper, according to its authors, reviews AI-based solutions for building network- and device-level cyber deception methods in contested environments. It focuses on combining large language models (LLMs) and reinforcement learning (RL) to optimize deception strategies such as honeypots and honeynets, and examines their validation against stealthy attacks on operational technology (OT) systems reported in the literature.

NetworkOT/ICSHoneypotDecoy
Paper2026

SecuPi: An Intelligent Raspberry Pi-Based Network Security and Monitoring System

Material reviewed: Public page

The authors propose SecuPi, a compact Raspberry Pi-based system that combines real-time traffic monitoring, hybrid intrusion detection (signature-based and machine learning) and automated threat response. As deception and proactive defense mechanisms, they propose the use of honeypots together with automatic firewall updates and Moving Target Defense (MTD).

NetworkIoTHoneypotMoving target defense
Paper2026

Self-adaptive cyber deception and resilient network defense via adversarial environment simulation

Material reviewed: Abstract

The authors propose a proactive cyber-defense system that combines cyber deception, adversarial environment simulation and deep reinforcement learning, with GAN-generated attack vectors emulating zero-day and polymorphic threats. The aim is to train context-aware defense policies that detect malicious behavior, re-route detection vectors and trigger deceptive traps, evaluated with benign and adversarial traffic on a synthetic smart-grid network.

NetworkOT/ICSDecoyAdversary engagement
Paper2026

ShellGames: Speculative LLM-Driven SSH Deception

Material reviewed: Abstract

This paper presents ShellGames, an SSH shell simulator based on large language models (LLMs) designed to sustain credible interactive deception sessions with adversaries. According to the authors, the system combines techniques such as chain-of-thought reasoning, memory management, speculative command execution, sandbox routing, and subversion detection to address common LLM limitations. The authors report improvements in accuracy, consistency, and state tracking over baselines, along with a user study indicating perceived realism comparable to a real shell.

NetworkEndpointHoneypotMoving target defense