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35 Best Hacking Tools For IT Professionals in 2024

Hacking tools are mainly used for ethical hacking by ethical hackers to perform hacking/penetration testing on a network or a server in a legal way. But some of the hackers do wrong use of these tools such as doing illegal activities and performing illegal hacking tasks without the knowledge of system administrators.

If you are an Ethical hacker then you must use the hacking tools to secure your system by finding vulnerabilities with the help of these tools.

We have created a list of 35 Best tools that are used by professionals for Ethical hacking. You can use these tools in, Linux and some tools in Windows, Mac, and Android Termux also.

So let's get started.
Best Hacking Tools

1. Metasploit

Metasploit is one of the best hacking tools. Metasploit is available for all major platforms, including Windows, Linux, and OS X. This free hacking tool is one of the most popular cybersecurity tools for identifying vulnerabilities on different platforms.

Metasploit comes with over more than 1000 exploits and auxiliaries. And also this tool updates regularly. Metasploit is best for performing any kind of penetration testing because of the vast variety of exploits present in it.

Metasploit updates regularly so no need to worry as a new vulnerability arrives after some days you can find the exploit for the particular vulnerability in Metasploit.

Metasploit is available for Windows, Linux, Mac, and on Termux android.

Metasploit comes preinstalled in Kali Linux.

2. Wireshark

This free and open-source tool was originally called Ethereal. Wireshark is also available in a command-line version called TShark. The GTK + network protocol analyzer works easily with Linux, Windows, and OS X. Wireshark is a GTK + Wireshark network protocol analyzer, which allows you to capture and browse the content of network frames interactively.

The objective of the project is to create a quality Unix analyzer and provide Wireshark with the missing functionality of a closed source hacker. Works very well under Linux and Windows (with a graphical interface), easy to use, and can reconstruct TCP / IP flows.

If you want to install the Wireshark GUI version on Android Termux. Then you can see our article on how to install Wireshark on Termux Android from below:

How to install Wireshark on Termux Android

3. Nmap

Nmap is available for all major platforms, including Windows, Linux, and OS X. I think everyone has heard of this, Network Mapper is a free open source tool for network exploration and in a security audit.

Nmap is designed for quick scanning of the large network although it works well against a single host. Nmap is a very useful tool for Network and system administrators for performing tasks such as host scanning, searching open ports, etc.

Nmap uses IP packets in new ways to determine which hosts are available on the network, which services provide these hosts, which operating systems they run, type of packet filters / and dozens of other features are available on Nmap.

4. oclHashcat

oclHashcat is mainly used to crack passwords. If you like to crack the password of any Login then you may be familiar with this hacking tool.

oclHashcat is able to crack the password very fast than any other password cracker. Because oclHashcat uses GPU in order to fast the cracking process.

OCLHashcat is named the world's fastest cracking tool with the world's first and only GPU engine. To use this tool, using NVIDIA ForceWare requires 346.59 or later, and AMD users require the 15.7 or higher accelerator.

Cracking speed is dependent upon the type of GPU you have in your pc.

Hashcat is available for Linux, Windows, and Mac. Hashcat comes preinstalled in Kali Linux.

5. Maltego

Maltego is an interactive data mining tool. Maltego is an open-source platform that provides a rigorous collection of information on mines and information in order to draw up a table of the computer threats which surround you.

Maltego excels in demonstrating the complexity and severity of failure points in infrastructure and the environment.

Maltego is an excellent hacking tool that analyzes the real links between people, companies, sites, domains, DNS names, IP addresses, documents, etc. Based on Java, this tool runs in a user-friendly graphical interface with personalization options lost during scanning.

Like the other tools, Maltego comes preinstalled in Kali Linux.

6. Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner

Acunetix is a web application security testing tool. Acunetix web vulnerability scanner scans your website for finding vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS, etc. It is the best web vulnerability scanner tool now.

Acunetix comes with a login sequence recorder that provides access to password-protected areas for websites. The new AcuSensor technology used in this tool allows you to reduce the rate of false positives. These features have made Acunetix WVS one of the favorite hacking tools on which to look for.

Acunetix support installation in Windows, Linux, etc

Acunetix user interface is delivered through the webserver. The supported browser is Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Chrome.

7. Nessus Vulnerability Scanner

Nessus supports various platforms, including Windows 7, 8, Mac OS X, and popular distributions such as Debian, Ubuntu, Kali Linux, etc. Nessus is a free tool and also the premium version for Nessus is available.

Using Nessus, you can search for several types of vulnerabilities, including remote fault detection, faulty alert, denial of service against the TCP / IP stack, PCI DSS checks, software detection. malicious, research of sensitive data, etc. To launch a dictionary attack, Nessus can also call the popular Hydra tool externally.

Nessus free version comes with limited things such as only 16 IP scans are allowed in the free version and in premium version you can scan unlimited IPS.

You will not able to see Live results in the free version. As you can see the live result in the premium version.

8. John the Ripper

John the Ripper is a free open source program distributed mainly in the source code format. It is a password cracking tool. It is one of the most common and used password testing programs as it combines a number of password crackers into one package, automatically detects types of password fragmentation, and includes a customizable cracking tool.

John the Ripper is available in Unix, macOS, Windows, DOS, BeOS, and OpenVMS.

9. Social Engineering Toolkit

Beside Linux. The Social-Engineer toolkit supports Mac and Windows. As noted on Android, the Social-Engineer Toolkit is an advanced framework for simulating various types of social engineering attacks such as credit collection, phishing attacks, etc. In Mr.Robot series Elliott is seen in the presentation using the SMS tool from the social engineer toolkit.

This Python-based tool is the standard tool for groundbreaking social engineering testing with over two million downloads. Manage attacks and generate hidden emails, malicious web pages, etc.

In order to install the Social Engineering toolkit in windows or in Mac OS x. You need to install Python first.

10. OpenVas

We can say that Openvas is alternate to the Nessus Vulnerability Scanner. While the Nessus is paid but the OpenVas is free so you can enjoy all the features of OpenVas free.

OpenVas is a software framework. With the help of OpenVas, you can perform scanning on a web application to search for Vulnerabilities.

OpenVas can detect security issues in all manner of server and network devices.

After the successful scanning, Openvas will give you detailed information about scanning and discovered vulnerabilities.

11. Netsparker

Netsparker is a secure and user-friendly web application scanner that uses advanced proof-based scanning technology and has test and test tools for internal testing. Netsparker exploits vulnerabilities that are automatically identified in read-only and in a secure manner and produces proofs of exploitation.

12. Unicorn

Magic Unicorn is a simple tool for using PowerShell downgrade attacks. It can inject shellcode straight into the memory. The tool is based on Matthew Grabber's PowerShell attacks and the PowerShell bypass techniques presented by David Kennedy (TrustedSec) and Josh Kelly at Defcon 18.

13. Kismet

Kismet is an 802.11 layer2 wireless network detector, an intrusion detection system. Kismet will work with all kismet wireless cards that support the initial surveillance mode (rfmon) and can code 802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11g. A good wireless tool as long as your card supports RFM.

In simple words, Kismet is a wireless network sniffer, device detector, and wireless intrusion detection Framework.

Kismet works with WiFi and Bluetooth interfaces and also work with some SDR hardware.

Kismet works on Linux, Windows and Mac OS X.

14. Aircrack-ng

If you like to hack WiFi or have ever done penetration testing on WiFi networks. Then you must know about Aircrack-ng because it is one of the best network security tools.

Aircrack-ng is network software including packet detection and aspiration, WEP cracker, WPA / WPA2-PSK, and analysis tool. In AirCrack you will find many tools that can be used for tasks such as surveillance, attacks, pen tests, and decryption. Without a doubt, this is one of the best network tools you can use.

Aircrack-ng is already come preinstalled in Kali Linux.

15. BurpSuite

Burp Suite is an integrated security testing platform for web applications. Its different tools work together transparently to support the entire test process, from the initial mapping to the analysis of the attack surface of the application, via the detection and exploitation of vulnerabilities of security.

With the help of BurpSuite, You can spider web, search for any vulnerability can perform brute force on the login page, etc. and many more things you can do.

Burpsuite is available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS x.

16. w3af

If you are looking for a free open source security scanner and application on the Internet, w3af is the best for you. This tool is widely used by hackers and security researchers. The attack and attack framework of Web or w3aF applications is used to obtain information on vulnerabilities that can be used more widely in penetration test links.

W3af is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.

17. OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP)

We can say that the OWASP zap is an alternative to BurpSuite. But in BurpSuite community addition, there are limited options. You need to buy the Burpsuite professional tool in order to unlock all features.

But OWASP zap provides you with every option and function in free that is available on the BurpSuite professional version.

OWASP ZAP is a web application scanner similar to BurpSuite. OWASP ZAP is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS.

18. BeEF Framework

BeEF is the short form of browser exploitation framework. BeEF is the penetration testing tool that is focused on the web browser.

BeEF allows you to exploit browsers and then carry out payload on the infected browser. The beEF comes preinstalled in Kali Linux.

The BeEF Framework is available for Windows, Linux, and MAC OS X.

19. Angry IP Scanner

Angry IP Scanner is a network scanner. Angry IP Scanner is an open-source project it is very fast and simple to use.

Angry IP Scan internal network as well as internet IPs. This tool is widely used by System administrators. It is also used for some black hat hackers for hacking purposes.

You can easily find out the IP address of CCTV cameras, RDP, etc. Most of the CCTV Cameras use default login password so it is very easy to hack them.

Some black hat hackers use this tool for scanning of Remote Desktop IPS also. After finding the IP of any RDP it can later be brute-forced by Crowbar or any alternative software.

Angry IP scanner is available for Linux, Windows, and macOS.

20. IDA Pro

The IDA Pro is a software disassembler and debugger. It translates machine-executable code into assembly language source code for the purpose of debugging and reverse engineering.

IDA Pro is one of the best software for reverse engineering. Most of the hackers use IDA Pro to reverse engineer the software.

IDA Pro is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. IDA Pro does not run on Windows XP and 32 bit systems anymore.

21. Other Best Hacking tools

  • Web application Analysis tools: SQLmap, Wpscan, Skipfish, Commix.
  • Password attack tools: Ophcrack, Crunch, Cewl, Nccrack.
  • Information gathering tool: Dmitry.
  • Reverse Engineering tools: Clang.
  • Wireless attack tool: Reaver.
  • Exploitation tool: Searchsploit.
  • Post Exploitation tool: Mimikatz.
  • Forensic tools: Bulk extractor, Autopsy.

Summary

So above are the Best hacking tools that are used by Ethical hackers in Ethical hacking. Most of the tools that I mentioned above are available for Linux, Windows, Mac OS X and you can install some tools in Android Termux also.

But I will recommend using these tools on Kali Linux for best practice and for maximum output. Because if you are interested in hacking tools then you must have Kali Linux in order to use these tools for maximum performance.

Kali Linux is used by most of the penetration testers/hackers. At last thanks for reading our article.

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