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Penetration Testing Tools

🛡️ Top Penetration Testing Tools (Download + Installation + Usage Guide)

Penetration testing tools help ethical hackers identify vulnerabilities, analyze network security, exploit weaknesses in controlled environments, and perform professional security assessments.

Below are 6 world-famous Pentesting tools every cybersecurity learner must know.

🔥 1. Nmap — Network Mapper

Official Download:

https://nmap.org/download.html

✅ Steps to Install

Linux (Kali/Ubuntu/Debian)
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nmap
Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S nmap
Windows

Download EXE: https://nmap.org/download.html

Install like a normal setup wizard.

📝 How to Use (Basic Commands)

  • Scan a single target:
nmap <IP>

  • Scan for open ports:

nmap -sV <IP>

  • Aggressive scan:

nmap -A <IP>

  • Scan a range:

nmap 192.168.1.1-254

Used for:

Network mapping, port scanning, service enumeration, vulnerability identification.

🔥 2. Burp Suite Community Edition

Official Download:

https://portswigger.net/burp

✅ Steps to Install

Linux
chmod +x burpsuite_community_linux_v*.sh
sudo ./burpsuite_community_linux_v*.sh
Windows

Download EXE → Install → Launch Burp Suite.

📝 How to Use

  1. Set browser proxy to 127.0.0.1:8080

  2. Open Burp → Go to Proxy → Intercept

  3. Enable Intercept On

  4. Browse the target website

  5. Burp will capture and show all HTTP traffic

  6. Use Repeater, Intruder, Decoder, Scanner (Pro)

Used for:

Web app pentesting, intercepting traffic, discovering vulnerabilities like XSS, SQLi, IDOR.

🔥 3. Metasploit Framework

Official Download:

https://www.metasploit.com/download

✅ Steps to Install

Linux (Kali includes it by default):
sudo apt update
sudo apt install metasploit-framework

Manually (Linux/Windows installers)

https://www.metasploit.com/download

📝 How to Use

  • Launch console:

msfconsole

  • Search for an exploit:

search windows_smb

  • Select module:

use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue

  • Set target:

set RHOSTS <IP>

  • Launch exploit:

run

Used for:

Exploitation, post-exploitation, payload generation, penetration testing labs.

🔥 4. Nikto — Web Server Scanner

Official Download:

https://github.com/sullo/nikto

✅ Steps to Install

Linux (Kali/Ubuntu)
sudo apt install nikto
Manual Install (Linux/Windows)
git clone https://github.com/sullo/nikto.git
cd nikto/program
📝 How to Use

  • Basic scan:

nikto -h http://example.com

  • SSL Scan:

nikto -h https://example.com

  • Output to file:

nikto -h <target> -o result.txt

Used for:

Detecting outdated software, insecure headers, misconfigurations, known vulnerabilities.

🔥 5. SQLMap — Automatic SQL Injection Tool

Official Download:

https://sqlmap.org/

✅ Steps to Install

Linux
sudo apt install sqlmap

OR clone latest:

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/sqlmapproject/sqlmap.git sqlmap-dev
Windows

Download zip → extract → run sqlmap.py with Python.

📝 How to Use

  • Basic test:

sqlmap -u "http://example.com/page?id=1"

  • Dump database:

sqlmap -u <URL> --dump

  • Auto-detect parameters:

sqlmap -r request.txt

Used for:

Finding & exploiting SQL Injection vulnerabilities automatically.

🔥 6. Hydra — Password Cracking Tool

Official Download:

https://github.com/vanhauser-thc/thc-hydra

✅ Steps to Install

Linux
sudo apt install hydra
Manual
git clone https://github.com/vanhauser-thc/thc-hydra.git
cd thc-hydra
./configure
make
sudo make install

📝 How to Use

  • Brute-force SSH:

hydra -l admin -P passwords.txt ssh://<IP>

  • HTTP login brute-force:

hydra -l admin -P pass.txt <IP> http-post-form "/login:username=^USER^&password=^PASS^:F=incorrect"

Used for:

Testing password strength, brute-forcing network protocols, login forms, SSH, FTP.