Ethical hackers use a variety of tools to test and secure systems. These tools fall into different categories based on their functionality:
Reconnaissance Tools:
Maltego: For OSINT and mapping relationships between entities.
Shodan: A search engine for discovering exposed devices on the internet.
Vulnerability Scanners:
Nessus: For identifying system vulnerabilities.
Nikto: A web server scanner to detect vulnerabilities in HTTP servers.
Exploitation Frameworks:
Metasploit Framework: Automates exploitation tasks.
BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework): Focuses on browser-based vulnerabilities.
Password Cracking Tools:
John the Ripper: For password strength testing.
Hashcat: A high-performance password recovery tool.
Network Analysis Tools:
Wireshark: Captures and analyzes network traffic.
Aircrack-ng: For wireless network security testing.
These tools, when used responsibly, enable ethical hackers to assess and improve security.