💡 Introduction
If you're learning ethical hacking or bug bounty, Nikto is one of the easiest and fastest tools to start scanning web servers for vulnerabilities. Unlike bulky scanners, Nikto is lightweight, straightforward, and extremely powerful 🚀
In this bugitrix tutorial, we’ll skip boring theory and focus on real-world, practical usage examples you can run today.
✅ What Is Nikto? (Super Simple Explanation)
Nikto is an open-source web server vulnerability scanner that checks for:
🚫 Dangerous files
🔓 Misconfigurations
📁 Directory listings
🧪 Old / outdated software versions
⚠️ Potentially vulnerable scripts
Think of it as a quick health check for websites you test during pentesting or bug bounty 🛠️
🛠️ How to Install Nikto (Fast & Easy)
On Kali Linux (pre-installed)
You're good to go! ✔️ Just run:
nikto -h <target>
On Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install nikto
On Windows
Install via Perl:
cpan install Nikto
Done! 🎉
🚀 Practical Nikto Scans (Real Examples You Can Try)
Let’s jump straight into the hands-on hacking part 💥
🔍 1. Basic Website Scan
nikto -h http://testphp.vulnweb.com
✅ What this does:
Scans website for common vulnerabilities
Finds outdated software
Lists misconfigurations
Perfect for first-time users 👶
🕵️♂️ 2. Scan Using a Specific Port
Useful if target runs on ports like 8080, 8443, etc.
nikto -h http://example.com:8080
Great for admin panels, development servers, or hidden environments 🎯
🔐 3. Scan HTTPS Websites
nikto -h https://example.com
Nikto automatically handles SSL/TLS 👏
⚡ 4. Enable Full Aggressive Scan (More Results!)
nikto -h https://example.com -Tuning x
⚠️ Use responsibly. This can be noisy.
🎯 5. Use a Proxy (Run Nikto Through Burp Suite!)
Bug hunters love this trick 😎
nikto -h https://example.com -useproxy http://127.0.0.1:8080
Now all Nikto traffic shows inside Burp Suite.
Perfect for deeper manual testing 🔥
🧠 6. Save Scan Output for Reports
Want a clean report for your client or notes?
nikto -h https://example.com -o report.txt
Supports formats like:
TXT
HTML
CSV
📌 Most Useful Nikto Options (bugitrix Cheat Sheet)
| Command | What It Does |
|---|---|
| -h | Set target host |
| -ssl | Force SSL scan |
| -o | Save output |
| -Tuning | Select scan type |
| -Plugins | Load specific plugins |
| -useproxy | Use proxy (e.g., Burp) |
🔥 Real Bug Bounty Use Cases for Nikto
✔️ 1. Finding Sensitive Files
Nikto catches things like:
/admin/
/backup/
/config/
Super helpful during recon 🕵️♂️
✔️ 2. Detecting Old Server Versions
Old Apache, Nginx, PHP versions = easy attack surface 🎯
Nikto flags them instantly.
✔️ 3. Checking Misconfigured SSL
Weak ciphers? Outdated protocols?
Nikto screams 🚨 about them.
✔️ 4. Quick Pre-Scan Before Using Burp or Nmap
Run Nikto → identify weak points → test deeper with other tools.
A perfect workflow for bug hunters 👑
⚠️ Important: Nikto Is Loud
Nikto performs non-stealthy scans.
It will get logged by IDS/IPS systems 🧨
Use only on systems you own or have permission to test.
(bugitrix promotes ethical hacking only ❤️)
🎯 Conclusion: Why Every Beginner Should Learn Nikto
Nikto is:
🧩 Easy to use
⚡ Fast
🔥 Practical
🎒 Beginner friendly
🛠️ Perfect for recon
🎯 Great for finding low-hanging bugs
With this bugitrix guide, you now have real commands, real examples, and real use cases to start scanning like a pro hacker 💻⚔️