-

Top 10 Kali Linux Tools For Hacking

Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution, maintained by Offensive Security. It was developed by Mati Aharoni and Devon Kearns. Kali Linux is an OS specifically designed for network analysts, Penetration testers, or cybersecurity professionals. Its official website is Kali.org and gained popularity through its use in the Mr. Robot Series. It’s not for general use but for professionals or those familiar with Linux/Kali. To install Kali Linux, refer to the official documentation. Automation is crucial during penetration testing or hacking due to numerous conditions and payloads to test. Tools pre-installed in Kali Linux help save time, capture accurate data, and output specific results. Kali Linux offers more than 350 tools for hacking or penetration testing. Here, we list important Kali Linux tools for efficiency.

1. Nmap

Nmap is an open-source network scanner for recon/scanning networks. It discovers hosts, ports, and services with their versions. It can perform tasks like host discovery, operating system detection, and scanning for open ports. To use nmap:

Ping the host with the ping command to obtain the IP address.
ping hostname
Open the terminal and enter the following command:
nmap -sV ipaddress
Replace the IP address with the host’s IP address.

2. Burp Suite

Burp Suite is popular web application security testing software. It acts as a proxy, allowing requests from the browser to pass through for testing vulnerabilities like XSS or SQLi. Kali Linux includes Burp Suite community edition for free, while a paid professional edition with additional functions is available. To use Burp Suite:

Setup Burp Suite by following instructions.
Open the terminal and type “burpsuite.”
Go to the Proxy tab and enable the interceptor switch.
Visit a URL to capture requests.

3. Wireshark

Wireshark is a network security tool analyzing data sent over a network by examining transmitted packets. It provides information like source IP, destination IP, protocol used, data, and headers. Packets often have a “.pcap” extension readable through Wireshark. To use Wireshark:

Open Wireshark and download a demo pcap file.
Press”ctrl+o” to open a pcap file in Wireshark.
View packet lists with headers.

4. Metasploit Framework

Metasploit is an open-source tool designed by Rapid7 technologies for penetration testing. It includes numerous exploits to exploit network or OS vulnerabilities. Metasploit primarily functions over a local network, with an option for internet hosts using “port forwarding.” The CLI-based tool also offers a GUI package named “armitage” for ease of use. To use Metasploit:

Metasploit is pre-installed in Kali Linux.
Enter “msfconsole” in the terminal.

5. Aircrack-ng

Aircrack is an all-in-one packet sniffer, WEP and WPA/WPA2 cracker, and hash capturing tool utilized for wifi hacking. It captures packets, reads hashes, and cracks them with various attacks like dictionary attacks. It supports modern wireless interfaces. To use aircrack-ng:

Aircrack-ng is pre-compiled in Kali Linux.
Type aircrack-ng in the terminal.

6. Netcat

Netcat is a networking tool aiding with ports, performing port scanning, listening, or redirection. It’s versatile for TCP, UDP, or UNIX-domain sockets operations and remote connections. Netcat also assists in network debugging or daemon testing. To use netcat:

Netcat is pre-installed in Kali Linux.
Type “nc” or “netcat” in the terminal.

7. John the Ripper

John the Ripper is a tool for password cracking via brute force attacks like dictionary attack or custom wordlist attack. It’s also useful for cracking hashes in zipped or compressed files. The tool provides various options for cracking hashes or passwords. To use John the Ripper:

John the Ripper is pre-installed in Kali Linux.
Type “john” in the terminal.

8. Sqlmap

Sqlmap is a premier tool for SQL injection attacks, automating testing and exploitation of vulnerable parameters. It detects databases automatically, requiring only a URL to check parameter vulnerabilities. Sqlmap can handle POST parameters using requested files. To use sqlmap:

Sqlmap comes pre-installed in Kali Linux.
Type sqlmap in the terminal.

9. Autopsy

Autopsy is a digital forensics tool for gathering system information, investigating files, or log analysis. It also functions as recovery software for memory cards or pen drives. To use autopsy:

Autopsy is pre-installed in Kali Linux.
Type “autopsy” in the terminal.
Visit http://localhost:9999/autopsy to access the tool.

10. Social Engineering Toolkit

Social Engineering Toolkit comprises tools for social engineering attacks, manipulating human behavior for information gathering and website phishing. To use Social Engineering Toolkit:

Social Engineering Toolkit is pre-installed in Kali Linux.
Type “setoolkit” in the terminal.
Agree to the terms and conditions to start using the toolkit.