Top 10 favorite tools of top ethical hackers in 2022

Ethical hackers are not the kind of destructive hackers you think they are. Ethical hackers, or “ethical hackers,” are a group of cybersecurity experts who specialize in simulating hacking attacks, helping clients understand the weaknesses of their networks, and recommending improvements for their clients.

What tools and software do top ethical hackers typically use in their work? Today we’re going to take a look at the 10 most common software tools used by ethical hackers.

1. Nmap (Network Mapper)

Nmap is used for port scanning, one of the stages of ethical hacking, and is the best hacking tool ever. It is primarily a command line tool, later developed for Linux or Unix-based operating systems, and now a Windows version of Nmap is available.

Nmap is a network security mapper capable of discovering services and hosts on the network and creating network maps. The software provides a variety of features to help probe computer networks, host discovery, and detect operating systems. It also provides advanced vulnerability detection that adapts to network conditions such as congestion and latency while scanning.

2. Nessus

Nessus is the world’s most famous vulnerability scanner, designed by Tenable Network Security, it’s free, and it’s great for start-up cash-strapped businesses.

Nessus can detect the following vulnerabilities:

• Unpatched Services and Misconfigurations
• Weak passwords – default and common
• Various system vulnerabilities

3. Nikto

Nikto is a network scanner that scans and tests multiple network servers to identify outdated software, dangerous CGI or files, and other problems. It runs the specified server by capturing the received cookie and performing general checking and printing, and it is open source.

Here are some key features of Nikto:

• open source tools
• Examine web servers and identify over 6400 potentially dangerous CGIs or files
• Check the server for outdated versions and version-specific issues
• Check for plugins and misconfigured files
• Identify unsafe programs and files

4. Kismet

This is the best tool for testing wireless networks and WLAN or driving attacks. It passively identifies networks with the help of data traffic, collects packets, and detects non-beacon and hidden networks.

Kismet is a sniffer and wireless network detector that works with other wireless cards and supports raw monitor mode.

Basic features of Kismet include:

• Runs on the Linux operating system

• Sometimes for Windows

5. NetStumbler

It’s also an ethical hacking tool that works on Windows-based operating systems. It can detect IEEE 902.11g, 802, and 802.11b networks.

NetStumbler has the following uses:

• Identifying AP (Access Point) network configuration
• Find the cause of the disturbance
• access to received signals
• Detect unauthorized access points

6. Acunetix

This is a fully automated ethical tool that detects and reports over 4500 web vulnerabilities, including every variant of XSS and SQL injection. Acunetix fully supports JavaScript, HTML5, and Single Page Applications so you can audit complex authenticated applications.

Basic features include:

• Comprehensive view

• Integrate scanner results into other platforms and tools

• Prioritize risks based on data

7. Netsparkerv

If you want a tool that mimics the way hackers work, look no further than Netsparker. The tool identifies vulnerabilities in web APIs and web applications, such as cross-site scripting and SQL injection.

Features include:

• Available as an online service or Windows software

• Unique validation of identified vulnerabilities, confirming that the vulnerabilities are real and not false positives

• No need for manual verification, saving time

8. Intruder

The intruder is a fully automated scanner that searches for network security vulnerabilities, interprets the risks found, and helps resolve them. The intruder does most of the heavy lifting in vulnerability management and provides over 9,000 security checks.

Features include:

• Identify missing patches, misconfiguration, and common web application issues

• Integration with Slack, Jira, and major cloud providers

• Prioritize results based on context

• Proactively scan systems for the latest vulnerabilities

9. Nmap

Nmap is an open-source security and port scanner as well as a network exploration tool. It is suitable for a single host and large network. Network security experts use Nmap for network inventory, monitoring host and service uptime, and managing service upgrade plans.

Features include:

• Provides binary packages for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X

• Contains data transfer, redirection, and debugging tools

• Results and GUI viewer

10. Metasploit

Metasploit itself is open source, but the professional version of Metasploit Pro requires a paid purchase with a 14-day free trial period. Metasploit is geared towards penetration testing, where ethical hackers develop and execute exploits against remote targets.

Features include:

• Cross-platform support

• Ideal for finding security holes

• Ideal for creating evasion and anti-forensics tools

How to use ethical hacking software?

1. Download and install your favorite hacking software

2. Launch the software after installation

3. Select and set the startup options of the hacking tool

4. Explore the interface and functionality of the tool

5. Test the software with a preconfigured external browser

6. Use hacking software to scan websites or conduct penetration tests