16 essential penetration testing tools for your business
Penetration testing, often known as pen testing, is a technique used by computer security professionals to identify and exploit security vulnerabilities in a computer application. These professionals, also known as white-hat hackers or ethical hackers, make this possible by imitating real-world attacks by criminal hackers known as black-hat hackers.
In practice, penetration testing is comparable to employing security consultants to attempt a security attack on a protected facility in order to determine how actual criminals may conduct such an attack. Organizations utilize the results to make their applications more secure.
How Penetration Tests Work
First, penetration testers must gain an understanding of the computer systems they would attempt to compromise. Then, they often employ a collection of software tools to identify vulnerabilities. In addition to social engineering hacking threats, penetration testing may also include social engineering hacking threats.
Testers will attempt to get access to a system by convincing an organization member to provide access. The organization is responsible for implementing modifications that either resolve or mitigate the vulnerabilities after receiving the findings of the penetration testers’ testing.
16 essential Penetration Testing tools & software to use
1. Netsparker
Netsparker Security Scanner is a popular web-based penetration testing program. The software can detect cross-site scripting as well as SQL injection. Developers can use this tool on websites, web services, and web apps.
The technology is powerful enough to scan between 500 and 1,000 web apps simultaneously. With attack options, authentication, and URL rewrite rules, you will be able to tailor your security scan. Netsparker automatically exploits vulnerabilities in a read-only manner. There is proof of exploitation. The effect of vulnerabilities is immediately apparent.
2. Wireshark
Wireshark, formerly known as Ethereal 0.2.0, is a network analyzer with 600 authors and multiple awards. This software allows for the rapid capture and interpretation of network packets. The application is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, Solaris, FreeBSD, and Linux.
3. Metasploit
Metasploit is the world’s most popular penetration testing automation framework. Metasploit enables professional teams to verify and manage security assessments, raises awareness, and equips and enables defenders to stay ahead of the game.
It is useful for assessing security, identifying vulnerabilities, and preparing a defense. This program, which is open-source software, enables a network administrator to break into a system and identify fatal vulnerabilities. This tool is used by novice hackers to develop their skills. The technology provides social engineers with a means to mimic websites.
4. BeEF
This is a pen-testing tool ideally suited for web browser testing. BeEF is designed to fight web-borne attacks and could be advantageous for mobile clients. BeEF is an acronym for Browser Exploitation Framework, and it utilizes GitHub to identify problems. BeEF is intended to identify vulnerabilities outside the client system and network boundary. Instead, the framework will examine exploitability in the context of a single source, the web browser.
5. John The Ripper Password Cracker
Passwords are one of the most prevalent security weaknesses. Passwords may be used by attackers to obtain credentials and gain access to critical systems. John the Ripper is the indispensable tool for breaking passwords and offers a variety of systems for this purpose. This penetration testing tool is a free, open-source application.
6. Aircrack
Aircrack NG is meant to exploit vulnerabilities in wireless connections by collecting data packets and exporting them as text files for protocol analysis. Despite the software’s apparent abandonment in 2010, Aircrack was upgraded once again in 2019.
This program is compatible with multiple operating systems and platforms and supports WEP dictionary attacks. It offers faster tracking than the majority of other penetration tools and is compatible with numerous cards and drivers. The suite is capable of breaking WEP using a password dictionary and statistical techniques after capturing the WPA handshake.
Also Read: Guarding against common types of data breaches in Singapore
7. Acunetix Scanner
Acunetix is an automated testing tool for performing penetration tests. The application is capable of auditing complex management reports and compliance issues. The software is capable of managing a variety of network vulnerabilities. Acunetix is able to detect even out-of-band vulnerabilities.
The cutting-edge application interfaces with the most popular Issue Trackers and WAFs. With a high detection rate, Acunetix is one of the industry’s most comprehensive Cross-site scripting and SQL injection testing tools, which features highly advanced XSS detection.
8. Burp Suite Pen Tester
There are two versions of the Burp Suite available for developers. The free version includes the core tools required for scanning activities. Alternately, if you require advanced penetration testing, you can choose the second option. This instrument is perfect for testing web-based apps. There are tools available for mapping the attack surface and analyzing queries between a browser and destination servers. The framework employs Web Penetration Testing on the Java platform and is an industry-standard instrument utilized by the vast majority of information security professionals.
9. Ettercap
The Ettercap suite is designed to thwart attacks involving a man in the middle. Using this application, you will be able to construct packets and carry out certain activities. The software is able to transmit incorrect frames and execute procedures that are more difficult to achieve with other solutions.
10. W3af
W3af web application attack and audit frameworks are designed to locate and exploit vulnerabilities in all web applications. There are three sorts of plugins for attack, audit, and discovery. The software then forwards these to the auditing tool to check for security issues.
11. Nessus
Nessus has been used for twenty years as a tool for security penetration testing. Twenty-seven thousand businesses use the application globally. With over 45,000 CEs and 100,000 plugins, this software is one of the most potent testing tools on the market. Ideal for monitoring IP addresses and webpages and searching for sensitive data. This will allow you to identify “weak areas” in your systems.
The application is simple to use and provides accurate scanning and a summary of your network’s vulnerabilities at the touch of a mouse. The application for penetration testing searches for open ports, weak passwords, and setup issues.
12. Kali Linux
The penetration testing program Kali Linux is a Linux distribution used for penetration testing. According to several experts, this is the greatest tool for injecting and password snipping. However, you will require knowledge of both the TCP and IP protocols to obtain the maximum benefit. Kali Linux is an open-source project that offers tool listings, version tracking, and meta-packages.
13. SQLmap
SQLmap is a database SQL injection takeover tool. Database platforms that are supported include MySQL, SQLite, Sybase, DB2, Access, MSSQL, and PostgreSQL. SQLmap automates the process of exploiting database servers and SQL injection vulnerabilities and is open-source.
14. Zed Attack Proxy
OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) is a component of the open-source OWASP community. It is appropriate for developers and testers with limited penetration testing experience. The project began in 2010 and is constantly enhanced. ZAP operates in a cross-platform context, acting as an intermediary between the customer and your website.
15. Wapiti
Wapiti is a tool for application security that enables black-box testing. Black box testing identifies potential vulnerabilities in web applications. During black box testing, web pages are scanned, and testing data is injected to identify security vulnerabilities.
Wapiti identifies file disclosure, XSS Injection, Database injection, XXE injection, and Command Execution detection and easily circumvented compromised access setups as vulnerabilities.
16. Cain & Abel
Cain & Abel is perfect for network key and password acquisition via infiltration. The instrument use network sniffing to identify vulnerabilities. The Windows-based software can extract passwords using network sniffers, cryptanalysis assaults, and brute force. It is a fantastic tool for recovering forgotten passwords.
How regular VAPT can help
Conducting regular penetration testing helps secure organizations by trying to search for any vulnerabilities within the organization’s system or networks. It works by trying to circumvent the organization’s cybersecurity and see to it that it is hackproof, and if it is, it will be patched before bad actors can discover them first.
For instance, at Privacy Ninja, part of our scope of work is to ensure that regular penetration testing is conducted to ensure that our client’s networks, systems, and employees are safe from any bad actors. We make sure that all gray areas are covered and secure from any unauthorized access.
Also Read: The Singapore financial services and markets bill: Everything you need to know
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