Top 5 Hacking Tools
In this article we will present you top 5 hacking tools used by hackers and cyber security professionals. We recommend to use below mentioned hacking tools only for testing your internal networks and systems!
1. Metasploit
Metasploit is probably the best platform for developing and executing exploits. The main advantage of using Metasploit is its architecture which allows exploitation using no-op generators, payloads and encoders. This penetration toolkit comes with hundreds of exploits and dozens of modules updated on weekly basis. And in case if there are no native exploits available at the moment of discovery of new vulnerabilities you can always write your own or search web for them.
Metasploit has two download choices pro and free. Those versions vary by following functionalities:
| PRO | FREE |
|---|---|
| Complete engagements 45% faster through higher productivity | Conduct basic penetration tests on small networks |
| Leverage the Metasploit open source project and its leading exploit library | Run spot checks on the exploitability of vulnerabilities |
| Manage data in large assessments | Discover the network or import scan data |
| Evade leading defensive solutions | Browse exploit modules and run individual exploits on hosts |
| Control compromised machines and take over the network | Enjoy great usability through a Web UI |
| Automatically generate reports containing key findings | |
| Create prioritized remediation reports based on validated vulnerabilities by integrating with Rapid7 Nexpose | |
| Improve security by prioritizing exploitable vulnerabilities | |
| Prove effectiveness of remediation or compensating controls to auditors | |
| Get comprehensive visibility of user risks by integrating with Rapid7 UserInsight | |
| Assess overall user awareness and deliver targeted training | |
| Test the effectiveness of security controls | |
| Simulate phishing campaigns for thousands of user |
OS availability: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X
2. NESSUS
Nessus is the most popular vulnerability scanners used in many advanced corporate environments and also by individual pentesters. Nessus updates its plugins next day of the discovery of new vulnerability. We have tested it on Logjam and Tenable, company behind Nessus, updated their vulnerability scanner with the ability to discover logjam in 15-20 hours. Key features include remote and local (authenticated) security checks, a client/server architecture with a web-based interface, and an embedded scripting language for writing your own plugins or understanding the existing ones.Tenable has more than 70,000 plugins which gives Nessus the ability to interface with basically any networked device. In addition, Nessus can be easily integrated with most major patch management systems, which gives administrators the ability to verify that updates are installing as they should be. Nessus can also be deployed with endpoint agents, which allow vulnerability scanning to occur offline and scan results can be collected after.
| FREE | PROFESSIONAL | MANAGER |
|---|---|---|
| Scan 16 IPs | Scans Unlimited IPs | Scans IPs and Hosts with Nessus Agents |
| High-speed, accurate assessment with thousands of checks | Accurate, high-speed asset discovery and broad coverage and profiling | Enables the sharing of multiple Nessus scanners, schedules, policies and results |
| Agentless scanning of home networks | World’s largest continuously-updated library of vulnerability and configuration checks | Integrates with patch management, mobile device management and other systems |
OS availability: Microsoft Windows, Windows Server, Linux
3. Cain & Able
Cain & Abel, as a free hacking and password recovery tool with multiple functionalities and possibly our favourite tool for initiating Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks. It permits simple recovery of most types of passwords by sniffing the network, cracking encrypted passwords via dictionary attack, Brute-Force and crypto attacks, VoIP recording, weak wireless network keys, revealing cached passwords and analyzing routing protocols, ARP poisoning and MITM. Can & Abel is not exploiting any vulnerabilities or bugs but it simply using weaknesses in core TCP/IP protocols. It is very simple to use and manage.
OS availability: Microsoft Windows
4. Kali Linux
Kali Linux is the new generation of the industry-leading BackTrack Linux penetration testing and security auditing Linux distribution. Kali Linux is a complete re-build of BackTrack from the ground up, adhering completely to Debian development standards. Kali Linux was released on the 13th March, 2013 as a complete, top-to-bottom rebuild of BackTrack Linux, adhering completely to Debian development standards.
A new version dubbed Kali 2 will be released in August 2015
Kali comes with following features:
- More than 600 hacking and security tools.
- Absolutely FREE
- Open source
- Compliance to FHS (Filesystem Hierarchy Standard)
- Wide range wifi device support
- Customization
- ARM support
OS availability: You were not expecting anything here right? It is an OS it self, a Linux OS!
5. Hydra
Do you want to brute force a remote authentication service, than you better choose THC Hydra. It is fast, reliable and customizable hacking tool able to crack more then thirty protocols.
When you fire up hydra you just need to provide username or username list from txt + password list an IP address and service. Similar to this:
./hydra -l john -P C:\passwordlist.txt 192.168.0.10 ftp
That’s it. After that you will have to wait a while until the remote service password is cracked.