Top 15 Security/Hacking Tools & Utilities
1. Nmap
I think everyone has heard of this one, recently evolved into the 4.x series.
Nmap (Network Mapper) is a free open source utility for network exploration
or security auditing. It was designed to rapidly scan large networks, although
it works fine against single hosts. Nmap uses raw IP packets in novel ways to
determine what hosts are available on the network, what services (application
name and version) those hosts are offering, what operating systems (and OS
versions) they are running, what type of packet filters/firewalls are in use,
and dozens of other characteristics. Nmap runs on most types of computers and
both console and graphical versions are available. Nmap is free and open source.
Can be used by beginners (-sT) or by pros alike (packet_trace). A very
versatile tool, once you fully understand the results.
Get Nmap Here – http://www.insecure.org/nmap/download.html
2. Nessus Remote Security Scanner
Recently went closed source, but is still essentially free. Works with a client-
server framework.
Nessus is the worlds most popular vulnerability scanner used in over 75,000
organizations world-wide. Many of the worlds largest organizations are
realizing significant cost savings by using Nessus to audit business-critical
enterprise devices and applications.
Get Nessus Here – http://www.nessus.org/download/
3. John the Ripper
Yes, JTR 1.7 was recently released!
John the Ripper is a fast password cracker, currently available for many
flavors of Unix (11 are officially supported, not counting different
architectures), DOS, Win32, BeOS, and OpenVMS. Its primary purpose is to detect
weak Unix passwords. Besides several crypt(3) password hash types most commonly
found on various Unix flavors, supported out of the box are Kerberos AFS and
Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 LM hashes, plus several more with contributed patches.
You can get JTR Here – http://www.openwall.com/john/
4. Nikto
Nikto is an Open Source (GPL) web server scanner which performs comprehensive
tests against web servers for multiple items, including over 3200 potentially
dangerous files/CGIs, versions on over 625 servers, and version specific
problems on over 230 servers. Scan items and plugins are frequently updated and
can be automatically updated (if desired).
Nikto is a good CGI scanner, there are some other tools that go well with Nikto
(focus on http fingerprinting or Google hacking/info gathering etc, another
article for just those).
Get Nikto Here – http://www.cirt.net/code/nikto.shtml
5. SuperScan
Powerful TCP port scanner, pinger, resolver. SuperScan 4 is an update of the
highly popular Windows port scanning tool, SuperScan.
If you need an alternative for nmap on Windows with a decent interface, I
suggest you check this out, it’s pretty nice.
Get SuperScan Here – http://www.foundstone.com/index.htm
subnav=resources/navigation.htm&subcontent=/resources/proddesc/superscan4.htm
6. p0f
P0f v2 is a versatile passive OS fingerprinting tool. P0f can identify the
operating system on:
- machines that connect to your box (SYN mode),
- machines you connect to (SYN+ACK mode),
- machine you cannot connect to (RST+ mode),
- machines whose communications you can observe.
Basically it can fingerprint anything, just by listening, it doesn’t make ANY
active connections to the target machine.
Get p0f Here – http://lcamtuf.coredump.cx/p0f/p0f.shtml
7. Wireshark (Formely Ethereal)
Wireshark is a GTK+-based network protocol analyzer, or sniffer, that lets you
capture and interactively browse the contents of network frames. The goal of
the project is to create a commercial-quality analyzer for Unix and to give
Wireshark features that are missing from closed-source sniffers.
Works great on both Linux and Windows (with a GUI), easy to use and can
reconstruct TCP/IP Streams! Will do a tutorial on Wireshark later.
Get Wireshark Here – http://www.wireshark.org/
8. Yersinia
Yersinia is a network tool designed to take advantage of some weakeness in
different Layer 2 protocols. It pretends to be a solid framework for analyzing
and testing the deployed networks and systems. Currently, the following network
protocols are implemented: Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), Cisco Discovery
Protocol (CDP), Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP), Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol (DHCP), Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP), IEEE 802.1q, Inter-Switch
Link Protocol (ISL), VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP).
The best Layer 2 kit there is.
Get Yersinia Here – http://yersinia.sourceforge.net/
9. Eraser
Eraser is an advanced security tool (for Windows), which allows you to
completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several
times with carefully selected patterns. Works with Windows 95, 98, ME, NT,
2000, XP and DOS. Eraser is Free software and its source code is released under
GNU General Public License.
An excellent tool for keeping your data really safe, if you’ve deleted it..make
sure it’s really gone, you don’t want it hanging around to bite you in the ass.
Get Eraser Here – http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/download.php
10. PuTTY
PuTTY is a free implementation of Telnet and SSH for Win32 and Unix platforms,
along with an xterm terminal emulator. A must have for any h4. 0r wanting to
telnet or SSH from Windows without having to use the crappy default MS command
line clients.
Get PuTTY Here. – http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/
11. LCP
Main purpose of LCP program is user account passwords auditing and recovery in
Windows NT/2000/XP/2003. Accounts information import, Passwords recovery, Brute
force session distribution, Hashes computing.
A good free alternative to L0phtcrack.
LCP was briefly mentioned in our well read Rainbow Tables and RainbowCrack
article.
Get LCP Here – http://www.lcpsoft.com/english/download.htm
12. Cain and Abel
My personal favourite for password cracking of any kind.
Cain & Abel is a password recovery tool for Microsoft Operating Systems. It
allows easy recovery of various kind of passwords by sniffing the network,
cracking encrypted passwords using Dictionary, Brute-Force and Cryptanalysis
attacks, recording VoIP conversations, decoding scrambled passwords, revealing
password boxes, uncovering cached passwords and analyzing routing protocols.
The program does not exploit any software vulnerabilities or bugs that could
not be fixed with little effort.
Get Cain and Abel Here – http://www.oxid.it/cain.html
13. Kismet
Kismet is an 802.11 layer2 wireless network detector, sniffer, and intrusion
detection system. Kismet will work with any wireless card which supports raw
monitoring (rfmon) mode, and can sniff 802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11g traffic.
A good wireless tool as long as your card supports rfmon (look for an orinocco
gold).
Get Kismet Here – http://www.kismetwireless.net/download.shtml
14. NetStumbler
Yes a decent wireless tool for Windows! Sadly not as powerful as it’s Linux
counterparts, but it’s easy to use and has a nice interface, good for the
basics of war-driving.
NetStumbler is a tool for Windows that allows you to detect Wireless Local Area
Networks (WLANs) using 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g. It has many uses:
Verify that your network is set up the way you intended.
Find locations with poor coverage in your WLAN.
Detect other networks that may be causing interference on your network.
Detect unauthorized rogue access points in your workplace.
Help aim directional antennas for long-haul WLAN links.
Use it recreationally for WarDriving.
Get NetStumbler Here – http://www.stumbler.net/
15. hping
To finish off, something a little more advanced if you want to test your TCP/IP
packet monkey skills.
hping is a command-line oriented TCP/IP packet assembler/analyzer. The
interface is inspired to the ping unix command, but hping isn’t only able to
send ICMP echo requests. It supports TCP, UDP, ICMP and RAW-IP protocols, has a
traceroute mode, the ability to send files between a covered channel, and many
other features.
Get hping Here – http://www.hping.org/
