Best Security Tools for Various Operation Systems
When it comes to securing your network and system, it’s important to get the best security tools that can be found on the market today. Listed below are the top 10 security tools that you can use to secure you system;
- Wireshark
Wireshark is an open-source packet analyzer and can be used as a data provider. This tool helps reveal what is happening in the network through vulnerability evaluation, troubleshooting, and network analysis. Additionally, this tool is used for software and communication protocol development. The best part of using this tool in TCP broadcast domain is that it can arrest all traffic towards this domain. Also, it has an excellent user interface, hence it can be used by anyone.
Works in: Windows, Linux, and MAC OS
- Metasploit
Metasploit is an extraordinary and powerful security tool that mainly works as a penetration testing tool. This is an open source framework and contains modules which include exploits, scanning, and auditing. This tool is very reliable and performs rigorous scans that can be used for testing against a certain set of IP addresses.
Works on: Windows, Linux, and MAC OS
- Nessus
Nessus is another of the best security tools that can be found on the market. Nessus is a vulnerability scanner that is used to analyze the vulnerability in the network or system. In 2005 it was declared as closed source software, since then it is not available for free. However, the engine of the tool can still be purchased at no cost. It has become the most popular vulnerability scanner in the world. Several organizations across the globe make use of Nessus Security Scanner in auditing critical enterprise devices.
Works on: Windows, Linux, and MAC OS
- Aircrack
Aircrack is an extensively used wireless security scanner which acts as a packet crafter, sniffer, and packet decoder. This makes it another of the best security tools that can be found on the market today. A wireless network is subjected to packet traffic to get the required information about the underlying encryption. Your network is vulnerable to security attacks due to the wireless device in the premises. There are various factors like misconfiguration, WLAN standards, and the overuse of passwords, that may leave your network open to attacks. Aircrack has the ability to work on Linux distros, yet the one in BackTrack Linux is extensively preferred by many.
Works on: Windows, Linux, and MAC OS
- Cain and Abel
Cain and Abel is a password recovery tool that is used on the Windows operating system. Your passwords could be easily recovered with the characteristics of this tool. Some of the noticeable features are decoding scrambled passwords, sniffing the network, recording VoIP conversations, cracking encrypted passwords using Dictionary, uncovering cached passwords, Brute-Force and Cryptanalysis attacks, recovering wireless network keys, analyzing routing protocols and revealing password boxes.
Works on: Free for Windows only
- BackTrack
BackTrack is used as a penetration tester in the network. This security testing tool is dedicated to Linux Operating System only. BackTrack is preferred by many as it comes packed with several security testing features and tools. With the help of wireless injection drivers, this tool saves a lot of time for the security testers in configuring.
Work on: Linux
- Kismet
Kismet is intended for wireless LAN 802.11. This tool is primarily used as packet sniffer, network detector, and intrusion detection system. Additionally, it is also used in wireless cards with raw monitoring mode. The User interface version is available for Windows OS. Kismet has the ability to sniff the traffic on 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11n.
Works on: Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Mac OS X
- Netcat
Netcat is an exploration and debugger tool which can establish any kind of connection that customers will require. Netcat is intended to be a dependable back-end that can be utilized straightforwardly or effortlessly determined by different projects and scripts. This tool has several built-in capabilities, some of them are transferring files, port scanning, and port listening. Additionally, this can also be used as a backdoor.
Works on: Windows, Linux, and MAC OS
- John the Ripper
John the Ripper is used as a packet sniffer and password cracker on the network. Any operating system (mentioned below) that contains weak password can be cracked using this tool. Though several password hash types are available Kerberos, and AFS in Unix version and Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 LM, hashes are pretty common types.
Works on: Unix, DOS, Win32, BeOS, and OpenVMS
- Nikto
Nikto is a web server testing tool that is good at scanning the web server to analyze configuration mistakes, vulnerable scripts, and other security issues. This tool doesn’t work well on web application bugs of XSS and SQL. However, it works well in finding several security issues that other testing tools miss . To have a better understanding you can try the online hosted version or online tutorials.
Takeaway
Security tools are very vital in protecting your network against hacking and security attacks. Most of the above mentioned security tools are open source and have been given the top rating due to their efficiency and support. Choose any of the best security tools that are outlined above in order to protect your network from attack.
