Cybersecurity A-Z Tools

         Cybersecurity is a very broad field that concerns the (offensive and defensive) security of interconnected devices over a network or the internet. Different purposes are achieved with the use of tools.

This comprehensive list briefly explains some very important tools using the first letter of their names with the letters of the English alphabet. This list may be a bit controversial, as your favorite tool may not be listed here.

A- Aircrack-NG

This is a network security tool that is used for enhancing overall network security. It can be used to analyze Wi-Fi vulnerabilities. Data packets connected via a network are being captured, analyzed and also injected which is essential in assessing network cards and their performances and this can be carried out with the aid of Aircrack-Ng. Among other uses, it is also used  to test how reliable WPA-PSK and WEP keys are.

B- Burp Suite

This list will be incomplete if Burp Suite, a popular tool for network penetration testing, is not present. It can be used majorly to intercept network traffics and its importance can not be overemphasized as this tool is greatly utilized in ethical hacking and can be appreciated by both newbies and professionals at the same time.

C- Cain and Abel

Password auditing and packet sniffing can be easily done with this network security tool, ‘Cain and Abel’ can also be used to discover weaknesses in Windows Operating systems. Vulnerabilities in Windows security password can be easily identified and the security in networking can be strengthened with the aid of this tool. In Cryptanalysis, decoding of scrambled passwords, recording of VoIP communications and so on, Cain and Abel has proven to be a great tool.

D- DirBuster

DirBuster is a file and directory brute forcing tool, mostly for web or application servers.

E- ExploitDB

Exploit Database (ExploitDB) is an archive of exploits for public security, and it explains what can be found on the database and, in a way, it can also be used for passive reconnaissance. The Exploit Database is also used to identify possible weaknesses in your network and to stay updated on current attacks happening in other networks. This archive allows us to learn more about hackers’ methods and increase our security accordingly.

F- Forcepoint

Cloud security professionals will be familiar with this tool as this tool, Forcepoint. It can be used for network security, in another way can be used for firewalls and can also block various intrusion attempts. Incident response can be easily carried out as this tool can aid in immediately executing some actions after actions have been observed.

G- GFI Languard

GFI Languard is a   network security tool. It can perform functions like  discovering vulnerabilities in different kinds of  devices linked to a network. GFI Languard can work with different operating systems.

H- Hydra

When it comes to cracking, Hydra is very useful. This login cracker supports numerous protocols to attack. It is easy to add modules to the already existing ones therein. Researchers and security consultants easily gain unauthorized access to a system remotely with the use of this tool, Hydra.

I- InTrace

Intrace is a traceroute-like application. It has a lot of functionalities like enabling users to enumerate IP hops, exploiting existing TCP connections, both initiated from a local network or remote hosts. It could be useful for network reconnaissance and firewall bypassing and it comes by default with the Kali Linux OS.

J- Johnny(John the ripper)

Johnny, which comes by default with linux operating systems, provides a graphical user interface for the John the Ripper password cracking tool.

Alongside so many functions such as identifying weak passwords and also for encrypted logins, the strength of a password can be tested using John the Ripper. This tool can work in different environments.

K- Kali Linux

Kali Linux is like an archive that contains a lot of penetration testing tools used by both newbies and professionals to scan for vulnerabilities and also to launch attacks as the case may be. It harbors software for both offensive and defensive types of security. Most of these tools are executable and can be easily used by hackers irrespective of their colors.

L- Legion

Legion is an open-source network penetration tool. It can be used to gather information and also exploit information systems. It has a lot of functionalities that enable users to bother less about some tools present or absent in the system. Such functionalities include the screenshot tool alongside others. Legion is a fork of SECFORCE’s Sparta.

M- Metasploit

Metasploit is one of the best tools used for penetration testing services. Web applications as well as different servers and networks can be examined with the aid of this tool. Professionals use this tool for more advanced stuff as it offers a wide range of functionalities.

N- Nmap

Network Mapper popularly known as Nmap is a tool used by professionals to scan networks. Most importantly, it can scan ports and identify unauthorized users or activities carried out in a network thereby making it easy to detect vulnerabilities in a system.

O- Ossec

OSSEC (Open Source HIDS Security) just as the name implies is a free, open-source host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS). It has numerous functionalities and can provide intrusion detection for different operating systems. OSSEC has the ability to handle more than one system at a time.

P- Parrot

Parrot is just like Kali Linux but unlike Kali, it is lighter in terms of weight thereby making it easier for installation and usage at the same time. It is an archive that contains a lot of penetration testing tools used by both newbies and professionals to scan for vulnerabilities and also to launch attacks as the case may be. It harbors software for both offensive and defensive types of security. Most of these tools are executable and can be easily used by hackers irrespective of their colors.

Q- QEMU

QEMU is a fast processor emulator. Qemu used to be one package with all functionalities included but recently qemu has become large and has been split into numerous packages. Different packages provide entirely different services, and one rarely needs all of them together.

R- Root Terminal

The Root terminal offers the same functionalities as the normal terminal just that the root terminal comes with administrative privileges which ease the usage of several services that require administrative permission.

S-Snort

Snort is for scanning networks and can also be used to prevent network intrusion, conduct network traffic analysis and so on. The tool has some abilities that firewalls have that is to block traffic from a particular source.

T- Tor

Tor is a browser that comes by default with Linux machines and it ensures that the user maintains his or her anonymity while surfing the internet.Individual identities can be maintained and information can be safeguarded as well using Tor to browse.

V- VS Codium

VS Codium comes by default with Linux machines and can be used to write and execute scripts. To understand simply what Vs Codium is used for, try to picture it as the normal IDE for different programming or scripting languages.

W- Wireshark

Wireshark analyzes network protocols and enhances security in real-time. It was formerly known as Ethereal. Data packets can be captured during the analyses and at the same time inspected. This and many more done by wireshark helps to strengthen network security.

X- Xterm

Xterm allows users to run programs that require a command-line interface. If no particular program is specified, Xterm runs the user’s shell. An X display can show one or more user’s Xterm windows output at the same time.

Z- (Owasp) Zap

ZAP is an open-source web application security scanner developed by OWASP. Both newbies and professionals appreciate this tool as it has proven to be efficient in scanning web applications and even web sites.