Hacking tool
Encyclopedia
A hacking tool is a program designed to assist with hacking
, or a piece of software which can be used for hacking purposes.
, Nessus
, John the Ripper
, SuperScan
, p0f
, and Winzapper
. Bribes, have also been designated as among the most potent hacking tools, due to its potential exploitation in social engineering
attacks. Occasionally, common software such as ActiveX
is exploited as a hacking tool as well.
Hacking tools such as Cain and Abel
, however, are well known as Script Kiddie
Tools. Script kiddies are people who follow instructions from a manual, without realising how it happens. These Script Kiddies have been an enormous threat to computer security
as there are many hacking tools and keyloggers up for download and are free.
. These malicious programs detect vulnerabilities in operating system
s. Not all worms, however, are malicious. The Nachi Worms have actually fixed operating system vulnerabilities by downloading and installing security patches from the Microsoft
website.
s detect vulnerabilities in firewalls, and are able to find a great deal about the computer system, such as the operating system
, ISP, wireless
routers and how long the system has been online. However, port scanners are the best security auditing tools.
One way to counteract rootkits is by Tiger (security software) program. This is a set of scripts that allow us to monitor whether a program on your computer privileges has changed recently.
Hacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
, or a piece of software which can be used for hacking purposes.
Examples
Examples include NmapNmap
Nmap is a security scanner originally written by Gordon Lyon used to discover hosts and services on a computer network, thus creating a "map" ofthe network...
, Nessus
Nessus (software)
In computer security, Nessus is a proprietary comprehensive vulnerability scanning program. It is free of charge for personal use in a non-enterprise environment. Its goal is to detect potential vulnerabilities on the tested systems. For example:...
, John the Ripper
John the Ripper
John the Ripper is a free password cracking software tool. Initially developed for the UNIX operating system, it currently runs on fifteen different platforms...
, SuperScan
Superscan
SuperScan is a free connect-based port scanning software designed to detect open TCP and UDP ports on a target computer, determine which services are running on those ports, and run queries such as whois, ping, ICMP traceroute, and Hostname lookups....
, p0f
P0f
p0f is a versatile passive OS fingerprinting tool. p0f can identify the system on machines that connect to your box, machines you connect to, and even machines that merely go through or near your box even if the device is behind a packet firewall....
, and Winzapper
Winzapper
Winzapper is a freeware utility / hacking tool used to delete events from the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Security Log. It was developed by Arne Vidstrom as a proof-of-concept tool, demonstrating that once the Administrator account has been compromised, event logs are no longer reliable...
. Bribes, have also been designated as among the most potent hacking tools, due to its potential exploitation in social engineering
Social engineering (security)
Social engineering is commonly understood to mean the art of manipulating people into performing actions or divulging confidential information...
attacks. Occasionally, common software such as ActiveX
ActiveX
ActiveX is a framework for defining reusable software components in a programming language-independent way. Software applications can then be composed from one or more of these components in order to provide their functionality....
is exploited as a hacking tool as well.
Hacking tools such as Cain and Abel
Cain (software)
Cain and Abel is a password recovery tool for Microsoft Windows. It can recover many kinds of passwords using methods such as network packet sniffing, cracking various password hashes by using methods such as dictionary attacks, brute force and cryptanalysis attacks.Cryptanalysis attacks are done...
, however, are well known as Script Kiddie
Script kiddie
A script kiddie or skiddie, occasionally skid, script bunny, script kitty, script-running juvenile or similar, is a derogatory term used to describe those who use scripts or programs developed by others to attack computer systems and networks and deface websites.-Characteristics:In a Carnegie...
Tools. Script kiddies are people who follow instructions from a manual, without realising how it happens. These Script Kiddies have been an enormous threat to computer security
Computer security
Computer security is a branch of computer technology known as information security as applied to computers and networks. The objective of computer security includes protection of information and property from theft, corruption, or natural disaster, while allowing the information and property to...
as there are many hacking tools and keyloggers up for download and are free.
Worms
Another example of a hacking tool is a computer wormComputer worm
A computer worm is a self-replicating malware computer program, which uses a computer network to send copies of itself to other nodes and it may do so without any user intervention. This is due to security shortcomings on the target computer. Unlike a computer virus, it does not need to attach...
. These malicious programs detect vulnerabilities in operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
s. Not all worms, however, are malicious. The Nachi Worms have actually fixed operating system vulnerabilities by downloading and installing security patches from the Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
website.
Port Scanners
Port scannerPort scanner
A port scanner is a software application designed to probe a server or host for open ports. This is often used by administrators to verify security policies of their networks and by attackers to identify running services on a host with the view to compromise it.A port scan or portscan is "An attack...
s detect vulnerabilities in firewalls, and are able to find a great deal about the computer system, such as the operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
, ISP, wireless
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
routers and how long the system has been online. However, port scanners are the best security auditing tools.
Hacking Linux
Although not much is said about threats to the Linux system, they do exist and could increase in the future. One of the biggest threats to the Linux system is given by the so-called Rootkits . These are programs that have special privileges and are able to hide to the system administrator.One way to counteract rootkits is by Tiger (security software) program. This is a set of scripts that allow us to monitor whether a program on your computer privileges has changed recently.
External links
- Top 100 Network Security Tools, Fyodor
- Clause 202c of German penal code endangers German IT industry, Chaos Computer ClubChaos Computer ClubThe Chaos Computer Club is an organization of hackers. The CCC is based in Germany and other German-speaking countries.The CCC describes itself as "a galactic community of life forms, independent of age, sex, race or societal orientation, which strives across borders for freedom of...