25 Best Tools for Ethical Hacking (2025)

What are Ethical Hacking Tools?

Ethical hacking tools are software or scripts that cybersecurity experts use to find and fix security loopholes in a system, network or app.

These tools are used with permission, and the purpose is to make the system secure. These are the same tools that hackers also use, except here they are used to do good work and not to steal.

Operating Systems & Pentesting Distribution Tools

These operating systems come pre-loaded with hundreds of security tools. They provide a complete environment for penetration testing.

1. Kali Linux

Kali Linux is a Debian-based operating system. It already has about 600 tools installed which are useful for penetration testing. This is why it is the favorite OS of ethical hackers and security professionals.

What is its use?

Kali Linux is used for such tasks:

• Network discovery (like scanning with Nmap)
• Vulnerability check
• Security testing of web apps
• Password cracking
• Wi-Fi network analysis

Tools like Metasploit, Nmap, John the Ripper, Aircrack-ng, Burp Suite, Nikto, OWASP ZAP are already installed in it. Meaning you can start working immediately without installing anything else.

Its special features

• Kali maintains offensive security in Linux.
• It has a forensic mode – this does not touch the system internal hard drive, auto-mounting is also disabled.
• Kali NetHunter is also available, which is used for hacking and testing on Android devices.
• Kali Purple was launched in 2023 which is specially made for defensive security (like SOC tools).

2. Parrot OS

Parrot OS is a user-friendly and privacy-focused operating system, which is mainly used for penetration testing. It also supports full disk encryption, which means the data remains completely secure.

What does it do?

You can use Parrot OS:

• For penetration testing
• For forensic analysis
• Reverse engineering work
• And also in cloud security testing

Like Kali Linux, this OS also comes with a set of full security tools, but is a little lighter (lightweight) and more serious in terms of privacy.

What is special?

Parrot OS has been designed keeping user-friendliness and strong privacy in mind.

It has full disk encryption, and it is based on Debian. Its main goal is to provide a secure and portable environment for all kinds of security-related tasks.

3. BackBox Linux

BackBox Linux is a lightweight and fast OS based on Ubuntu. Its interface is simple and clean, and the tools are well organized.

What does it do:

It is mainly used for security testing and network analysis. It already has popular ethical hacking tools like Wireshark, Metasploit. BackBox constantly updates its tools to the latest version.

What makes it different:

BackBox focuses on speed and minimal desktop. It uses Launchpad repository, which keeps the tools updated. Means you will always have new and stable hacking tools.

4. BlackArch

BlackArch is an advanced Linux distro based on Arch Linux. It has 2800+ security tools. Yes, so many.

What does it do?

It is mainly used for penetration testing, that too at a deep level. It has tools for every type of security task. Such as:

• Cracking
• Exploitation
• Anti-forensics
• Automation
• Forensics

Whatever work is done in ethical hacking and security testing, its tool is available in BlackArch.

What is special about it?

• Large collection of tools: more than other distros.
• It follows the Rolling release model: i.e. it will always remain updated.
• If you already have Arch Linux, you can also install it as a user repo. There is no need to install the full distro.

Network Scanning & Discovery Tools

These tools help you to map networks, discover hosts, and identify open ports or services. This is a important first step in ethical hacking.

5. Nmap

Nmap is a popular and powerful network scanning tool. Its full form is Network Mapper, and its job is to find out what is going on inside a network.

What does Nmap do?

• It finds out which devices (hosts) are connected in the network
• It checks which ports are open
• It identifies which OS (Operating System) is running
• It detects which services are running
• Sometimes it also catches vulnerabilities

TCP SYN scan, UDP scan, OS detection, all these are standard features of Nmap.

What makes Nmap different?

Nmap has a powerful feature NSE (Nmap Scripting Engine).

With this you can run custom scripts. Such as:

• Vulnerability scan
• Brute-force attack check
• Extracting extra details about a specific service

In short: if you need a deep scan of a network, then Nmap is an excellent tool.

6. Zenmap

Zenmap is a graphical tool that works on top of Nmap. If you want to avoid the command-line, Zenmap is quite useful.

In this, you can easily set up Nmap scans and see the results visually. All the options are available in the graphical interface, so it is easy even for beginners.

You can save scan profiles and use them repeatedly. It also shows network topology, which helps to understand the structure of the entire network.

7. Angry IP Scanner

Angry IP Scanner is a fast and lightweight tool that works for IP and port scanning. It is open-source.

You can scan any IP range to find live hosts and open ports. It’s quite quick and useful for a basic network scan.

It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. You can also export the scan results in different formats — like CSV, TXT, etc.

Exploitation Framework Tools

When vulnerabilities are found in a system, some special tools are used to test, exploit and gain access to them, these are called exploitation frameworks. These provide a proper environment in which you can develop, test, and execute exploits.

8. Metasploit Framework

Metasploit is the most popular exploitation tool. This is a modular framework, meaning you can work by adding different parts (modules).

What does it do:

• You can use Metasploit for penetration testing. It has a huge collection of ready-made exploits, payloads and post-exploitation tools.
• You can use it to enter a system and then maintain access to it.
• This tool is very flexible.
• It integrates with other tools.

You can run it from the command-line or use a graphical interface called Armitage.

9. Burp Suite

Burp Suite is a proxy-based web security tool that is considered an industry standard to check the security of web applications.

What does Burp Suite do?

With the help of Burp Suite, you can intercept, analyze, and manipulate HTTP traffic.

It catches vulnerabilities present in web apps both manually and automatically.

It has many tools like:

• Proxy
• Scanner
• Intruder
• Repeater
• Sequencer

What is special in Burp Suite?

If you use Burp Suite Professional, then you get advanced features – such as:

• Automated crawling
• Vulnerability scanning
• BApp Store (where community-made extensions are available)

It is considered a must-have tool for those doing penetration testing.

10. Acunetix

Acunetix is an automated web application scanner that finds security flaws in websites and APIs. It detects SQL injection (SQLi), cross-site scripting (XSS), and thousands of other known vulnerabilities.

You can scan any website, web app, or API with it. It automatically checks 7,000+ web vulnerabilities. It also catches outdated software, configuration errors, and common attack points.

Acunetix has special tools like AcuMonitor and AcuSensor that perform deeper scanning. It not only reports the vulnerability but also shows its exact location in the code. It also provides proof-of-exploit, so that you can be sure that the issue is real and not a false alarm.

11. Netsparker (Now Inviciti)

Netsparker is a powerful web vulnerability scanner that performs proof-based scanning. It is strong in both automation and reporting.

This tool automatically scans web applications for vulnerabilities such as XSS, SQL injection. It also confirms any issue by exploiting it itself so that you do not waste time on fake warnings.

Its “proof-based scanning” feature is different from all others. It provides proof by safely exploiting vulnerabilities. It is easily integrated into the SDLC process, so security is also managed along with development.

12. OpenVAS

OpenVAS is an open-source vulnerability scanner that offers enterprise-level features. It already comes in a bundle of many pentesting tools.

This tool performs a deep scan on networks and systems, finds security vulnerabilities and generates detailed reports.

This is a free version (fork) of Nessus, created when Nessus went commercial. It has a constantly updated vulnerable database. And the best thing — it is completely free and open-source.

Network Analysis and Traffic Capture

Such tools are used to deeply analyze network traffic. This helps in understanding network problems, forensic investigations can be done, and suspicious activity can be caught.

13. Wireshark

Wireshark is a popular packet analyzer tool. It is used to troubleshoot and deeply inspect networks.

It allows you to capture and analyze network traffic in real-time. Detailed information of each packet is obtained, which helps in understanding network issues, hacker activity or working of protocol.

Wireshark supports hundreds of protocols. It has powerful filters, which allow you to see only the traffic that is important.

Password Cracking Tools

These tools are used to recover or crack passwords. They are mainly used to test password strength and catch weak credentials.

14. John the Ripper

John the Ripper is a powerful and flexible password cracker. It supports different types of password hashes.

With this you can crack passwords using dictionary attack, brute-force attack, or other methods. It automatically detects the type of hash.

It is fast, configurable, and supports many hash formats like Unix’s crypt(3), Windows LM.

15. Hashcat

Hashcat is a GPU-based password recovery tool. It comes with Kali Linux.

With this you can crack passwords by using the power of your graphics card. It supports 300+ hashing algorithms and multiple attack modes (dictionary, brute-force, hybrid).

Hashcat is very fast and efficient due to GPU acceleration. It is considered a top-level tool for cracking complex hashes.

Mobile & Wireless Hacking

These tools are used to test the security of mobile devices and wireless networks.

16. Aircrack-ng

Aircrack-ng is a powerful toolset used to test the security of Wi-Fi networks.

With this, you can crack WEP, WPA, and WPA2 passwords. It captures packets, analyzes Wi-Fi traffic, and finds security loopholes. It includes tools such as Airmon-ng, Airodump-ng, and Aireplay-ng.

This is a command-line tool, meaning you can take complete control over every attack. It is a must-have tool for wireless hacking and penetration testing.

17. Kali NetHunter

Kali NetHunter is a mobile hacking platform designed for Android devices.

With this, you can do penetration testing directly from your Android phone or tablet. It brings the popular tools of Kali Linux to mobile. It also has features like Wi-Fi injection, HID keyboard attacks, and BadUSB.

With NetHunter, you can turn your phone into a portable hacking machine. It comes in different versions for both rooted and non-rooted devices.

Application & Recon Tools

These tools are used to collect information about the target and detect vulnerabilities of web servers/applications.

18. Nikto

Nikto is a web server scanner. It checks for outdated software, incorrect configurations, and vulnerable files.

You can scan a web server with Nikto. It checks against 6700+ dangerous files and known issues. Fast results are obtained.

Nikto is easy to use and regular updates are received. It is a perfect tool for checking a web server at the starting level.

19. OWASP ZAP

OWASP ZAP is an open-source web app security scanner. It is already pre-installed in Kali Linux.

You can find vulnerabilities in web apps with it. It performs passive and active scanning, maps the structure of the site and can also intercept/modify HTTP requests.

It is a project of the OWASP community. It provides a user-friendly GUI and provides many advanced features for web app security testing.

Malware Analysis & Sandboxing

These tools provide a safe environment where we can test malware without harming the system. Meaning, we run the file that seems suspicious separately and see what it is doing.

20 Cuckoo Sandbox

Cuckoo Sandbox is an automated malware analysis tool. Its job is to analyze unknown or suspicious files.

What does it do:

You can run any file that seems suspicious to you in Cuckoo Sandbox. It executes the file in an isolated environment, and monitors what it is doing – like connecting to the network, changing system files, or using dangerous API calls.

Special features:

• Gives a detailed report of malware
• Very configurable – meaning you can set it up according to your needs
• Supports different operating systems for analysis

Honeypots and Decoys Tools

Honeypots are fake systems that are created to attract attackers. They look like real systems, but their real work is to observe the attacker’s activity.

With this, you can understand how the hacker attacks, what he tries. The whole pattern comes to mind.

21. Cowrie: A Popular Honeypot Tool

Cowrie is a popular honeypot that specifically simulates SSH and Telnet services.

What does Cowrie do?

With this, you can set up a fake SSH/Telnet server. Whatever hacker tries to connect to that system – whether he attempts to login, runs a command, or uploads a file, everything gets logged.

After analyzing all this information, you can understand the hacker’s pattern.

What is the special feature of Cowrie?

Cowrie is a medium-interaction honeypot. Means:

• It feels more real than a low-interaction honeypot
• It is not as risky as a high-interaction honeypot

It maintains a balance. The attacker thinks the system is real, and you safely record his every move.

Advanced Open-Source Tools (StationX Highlights)

These tools are specially used for OSINT and memory forensics. For those who want to go deep into cyber security, these are quite powerful things.

22. Maltego

Maltego is an OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) tool that collects data and visualizes it.

Through this, you can find domains, IP addresses, websites, social media profiles, and connections between people. This tool is your job to make complex data understandable.

Maltego contains “transforms” that convert raw data into useful information. It creates an interactive graph in which you can easily see who is connected to whom. It is the best tool for threat intelligence and reconnaissance.

23. Volatility

Volatility is a memory forensics framework. Its job is to analyse RAM dumps.

When a system is hacked or attacked, Volatility analyses the RAM and finds important things. Like which processes were running, which files were open, what were the network connections, etc. All this is useful for forensic investigation.

Volatility supports different operating systems and system architectures. It finds all those things which are not found on the disk – only in the memory.

AI-Driven and New Security Platforms

Some new security tools today are using AI to automate hacking and vulnerability detection. These tools analyze the system through the thinking of attackers, so that threats can be caught early.

24. Hadrian AI Offensive Security Platform

Hadrian is an agentless platform that uses AI to detect attack points and prioritize risky vulnerabilities.

It allows you to monitor your external attack surface in real-time. It continuously checks assets and uses AI analysis to highlight only those vulnerabilities that can actually be exploited.

This makes it easier to handle threats proactively.

Hadrian looks at the system from the hacker’s point of view. It provides context-aware insights and automates penetration testing.

25. Harmony Intelligence’s AI Hacker Agent

This is an automated AI system that continuously scans and finds vulnerabilities like an ethical hacker.

It can automate penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and threat detection. It follows the behavior of a real ethical hacker by using AI algorithms.

It reduces manual effort and makes security more efficient. Also, it constantly learns from new threats, providing a scalable solution for organizations of all sizes.

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Termux Hacking Tools

Termux is an Android mobile app that works like a Linux terminal. With this, you can do tasks like ethical hacking and penetration testing on your phone without a laptop. You can run many popular hacking tools in it.

Some popular hacking tools of Termux:

Nmap: It is a tool to scan the network. With this, you can find out which devices are connected, which ports are open, and what is the operating system.

Metasploit Framework: This is a very powerful tool, with which you can create and run code to exploit (attack) a system.

Wireshark: A tool to capture and view network traffic. For example, it shows what data is going on the Internet.

Aircrack-ng: This is used to test the security of Wi-Fi networks. With this you can do things like breaking WiFi passwords (for ethical purposes).

Hashcat and John the Ripper: Both of these are password cracking tools. It can break different types of hashes and passwords and is available in Termux.

Sqlmap: This tool finds vulnerabilities like SQL Injection in a website and tries to take control of the website by taking advantage of that weakness.

Hydra: This is a network login cracker. That is, it tries to find out the password of a site or server through a brute-force attack.

Nikto: This is a web server scanner. With this you can find out the security faults and vulnerabilities of a website.

Routersploit: This tool is especially for testing devices like routers. It can tell which vulnerabilities are there in the router.

Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET): This tool is designed for social engineering attacks. Like making people login from fake pages etc.

OSINT Tools
These tools are for collecting publicly available information from the internet. Such as:

• theHarvester
• WebSift
• Recon-ng

With these, you can extract data of people, domains, emails, and social media.

Summary

Use Case	Recommended Tools
Full pentesting distro	Kali Linux, Parrot OS, BackBox, BlackArch
Network scanning	Nmap, Zenmap, Angry IP Scanner
Exploitation frameworks	Metasploit
Web app vulnerability	Burp Suite, Acunetix, Netsparker, OpenVAS
Packet capture	Wireshark
Password cracking	John the Ripper, Hashcat
Wireless penetration	Aircrack‑ng, Kali NetHunter
Malware / sandbox analysis	Cuckoo Sandbox
Attack interaction logging	Cowrie (honeypot)
OSINT / forensic tools	Maltego, Volatility
AI-powered ethical hacking	Hadrian AI, Harmony Intelligence