Top 18 Most Popular Ethical Hacking Applications for 2025

Hacking and ransomware cyberattacks are on the rise as more organizations go digital. These assaults are intended to render computer systems inoperable and are held hostage in exchange for a flat sum payment. Other motives for cybercriminals breaking into your system include stealing personal information, revealing your information, etc.

Finding the loophole, decoding, and fixing hacked systems is not straightforward. Even an experienced specialist can sometimes fail to get computer systems to a stable state. A surge in hacking instances is primarily due to the inevitable rise of the digital era. But it's also a fact that ethical hacking has improved as well. There is now a myriad of ethical hacking apps available that can aid anyone trained in a certified Ethical Hacker course with the security research and intelligence collection in unimaginable ways just a few years ago.

What Are Hacking Applications?

Hacking applications are computer scripts, programs, or software that allow hackers to find and expose flaws in applications, systems, or networks. These programs break through security barriers in applications, systems, or networks. 

Ethical hacking applications are programs designed to help security experts safely and responsibly exploit holes in the digital structure of an organization before cyber attackers do. 

Top 18 Ethical Hacking Applications for 2024

S.no	Tools
1	Invicti
2	Acunetix
3	SolarWinds Security Event Manager
4	Traceroute NG
5	Burp Suite
6	Ettercap
7	Aircrack
8	Angry IP Scanner
9	LiveAction
10	QualysGuard
11	Netsparker
12	Intruder
13	Nmap
14	Metasploit
15	WebInspect
16	Hashcat
17	L0phtCrack
18	Rainbow Crack

Invicti 

Invicti is a web application-based software application that can detect XAA, SQL Injection, and a variety of other holes in your web systems and applications efficiently. Invicti is available as a SaaS (Software as a Service) or on-premises solution. 

Invicti has the following characteristics:

• Proof-Based Scanning Technology provides extremely precise vulnerability identification. 
• Invicti can easily detect URL (Uniform Resource Locator) rewriting policies and custom error 404 pages, requiring minimal setup. 
• Scalable solution capable of scanning 1000 web apps in a single day. 
• REST (Representational State Transfer) API (Application Programming Interface) interacts smoothly with bug tracking systems, SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle), and other systems. 

Acunetix

Acunetix is a computerized ethical hacking application that imitates a hacker's movements. This gives businesses and organizations a leg up on harmful third-party intruders. Further, this web application security scanner can check JavaScript, single-page, and HTML5 (HyperText Markup Language 5) apps with pinpoint accuracy. It also examines complicated and authenticated online apps and generates management and compliance assessments based on data regarding various network and web vulnerabilities. 

Acunetix has the following features: 

• More than 1200 WordPress themes, plugins, and core vulnerabilities are detected. 
• Easy connection with major issue trackers and workarounds to aid in the SDLC. 
• It can scan almost every SQL Injection variation, XSS, and over 4500 vulnerabilities. 
• On-premises and cloud solutions are both accessible. 

SolarWinds Security Event Manager 

Businesses can use this ethical hacking application application to boost their efforts to protect computer systems. This program automatically identifies threats, secures networks, and maintains security rules. SolarWinds makes it simple for organizations to manage log files and receive real-time notifications in the event of suspicious activity. 

SolarWinds Security includes the following features: 

• An inbuilt security monitoring program. 
• Users can manage memory stick storage with this leading SIEM application. 
• Simple user interface and dashboard. 
• Centralized log acquisition. 
• It includes integrated compliance reporting features. 
• Detects dangers and reacts to them more quickly. 

Traceroute NG

Users can quickly evaluate network pathways with this application. Traceroute NG detects hostnames, packet loss, IP addresses and does accurate CLI (Command Line Interface) analysis (command-line interface). 

Traceroute NG has the following features: 

• Provides ICMP and TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) network path analysis. 
• .txt log files are created. 
• Both IPV6 and IPV4 are supported. 
• Changes in the path are detected, and notifications are sent. 
• Continuous network probing is possible. 

Burp Suite

Companies that want to run security tests on web apps should use this service. It includes various hacker applications that operate together to support the entire pen-testing procedure. It has everything from the initial mapping to analyzing an app's attack surface. 

Burp Suite has the following features: 

• A prominent ethical hacking software that discovers over 3000 online application flaws. 
• Examines custom apps as well as open-source software and code. 
• It comes with an easy-to-use Login Sequence Recorder that enables automated scanning. 
• Its built-in vulnerability management examines data safety. 
• It detects key network vulnerabilities with 100 percent precision. 
• Easily generates a wide range of compliance and technical data. 
• Scanning and crawling capabilities are automated. 

Ettercap 

Ettercap is a popular ethical hacking app that ethical hackers may use for passive and active examination. It has functionality for analyzing hosts and networks. 

Ettercap has the following features: 

• To detect a switched LAN among hosts using  ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) poisoning.  
• When a live connection is available, it is possible to insert characters into servers or clients. 
• You can analyze SSH (Secure Shell) connections in full-duplex mode. 
• This popular hacking application can detect HTTP SSL encrypted data even when the connection is conducted through a proxy. 
• The Ettercap API is used to enable custom plugins. 

Aircrack

Aircrack is a popular ethical hacking app used by companies worldwide. It can assist in breaking into vulnerable wireless networks. The WPA 2 and WEP WPA encryption keys enable this utility. 

Aircrack has the following features: 

• Many cards or drivers are supported. 
• PTW, a novel WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) attack, is included. 
• Every operating system and device is supported. 
• Fragmentation attacks are supported. 
• WEP dictionary attacks are supported. 
• Increases the tracking speed. 

Angry IP Scanner 

This is an open-source, cross-platform ethical hacking application that can scan ports and IP addresses. 

Angry IP Scanner includes the following features: 

• Analyzing local and internet networks. 
• Can offer data in any format required. 
• A Hacking application that is open-source and free. 
• The result can be exported in any format. 
• An application with several data fetchers that can be extended. 
• Linux, Mac, and Windows compatibility. 
• CLI is provided (Command Line Interface). 
• Installation is not required. 

LiveAction

One of the best ethical hacking apps available is LiveAction. Its complete visibility tackles performance issues while also reducing security vulnerabilities. LiveAction packet intelligence is one of the greatest hacking programs for detecting network issues faster and more effectively. 

LiveAction's main characteristics are: 

• Software for network forensics that is both strong and easy to use. 
• LiveAction automates the gathering of network data required to assess security alarms quickly. 
• Software and integrated appliance solutions. 
• Packet intelligence combines deep analysis and packet intelligence. 

QualysGuard 

Businesses use this technology to streamline compliance and security solutions after providing employees with online cyber security training. Security is also included in QualysGuard's digital transformation activities. This makes it one of the best ethical hacking products globally, capable of checking any online cloud system's efficiency flaws. 

QualysGuard's notable characteristics include: 

• Multiple big companies use this globally - recognized ethical hacking application. 
• There are no hardware requirements or managerial requirements. 
• It's a comprehensive, scalable, and applicable solution for all IT security domains. 
• Vulnerability data is processed and stored on an n-tired load-balanced server architecture. 
• Real-time threat detection and alert systems.
• Real-time data analysis.

Netsparker 

Netsparker analyzes flaws in a special manner, guaranteeing that they are legitimate and not fake, so you don't have to waste a lot of time personally verifying flaws after a scan. It's available as a Windows program as well as an internet service. 

Netsparker's key features include: 

• Automate security tasks to save your personnel countless hours every month. 
• You'll always be up to speed on the status of your remediation efforts, thanks to Netsparker or native links with your issue tracking and ticketing applications. 
• With full scanning that doesn't compromise performance or precision, you can find flaws right away. 

Intruder

This ethical hacking application is a fully automated scanner that looks for cybersecurity flaws, examines the risks it finds, and offers advice on fixing them. Intruder handles a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to security solutions, with over 9000 security tests. 

Its characteristics include: 

• Detection of missing patches, misconfigurations, and common web app. vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting and SQL Injection. 
• Slack, Jira, and major cloud providers are all integrated. 
• Prioritizes findings depending on context. 
• Scans systems for new vulnerabilities in real-time. 

Nmap 

Information security experts utilize NetworkMapper (NMap), a free open source ethical hacking application, to monitor and analyze network and operating system security in local and remote locations. 

It's also known for being one of the most efficient network mappers on the market, having a reputation for being rapid and comprehensive in any security testing. 

Nmap's key features include: 

• Examine the security of the gadget. 
• Identifying the presence of open ports on remote hosts. 
• Network enumeration and mapping. 
• Any network's faults can be discovered. 

Metasploit

Metasploit is a hacking framework that focuses on ethical hacking. It's an open-source ethical hacking app. The framework is built with Ruby, and ethical hackers use it to find flaws and write code to fix them. 

Metasploit's key features include: 

• How to get past detecting systems. 
• Attacks that are launched from afar. 
• There is a list of all networks and hosts. 
• Scanning for vulnerabilities using various methods. 

WebInspect 

WebInspect is yet another effective, ethical hacking app to examine. Enterprises can use WebInspect to do systematic and reactive app security testing. As a result, businesses may efficiently execute ethical hacking activities and operations. WebInspect analyzes complicated web services and applications in a dynamic and complete manner. 

WebInspect's key features include: 

• Allows for the detection of vulnerabilities by testing dynamic behavior when running web programs. 
• It gives organizations control over scans by delivering pertinent information and data visualization in real-time. 
• Advanced technologies such as synchronized crawl allow novice and pro-testing. 

Hashcat

Hashcat is likely the most powerful ethical hacking application for cracking passwords. It's one of the best ethical hacking applications for recovering forgotten passwords, auditing password strength, and simply understanding the information included in a hash. 

Hashcat's main characteristics are: 

• It is cross-platform compatible. 
• This is an open-source platform.  
• It combines many gadgets into a single system. 
• It allows various devices to be used in a single system. 
• Restore, and sessions are supported. 
• Distributed network cracking is supported. 
• It has a built-in benchmarking system. 

L0phtCrack

L0phtCrack is a password recovery and auditing program that detects and evaluates password flaws on local networks and workstations. 

The following are the primary features of this program: 

• Easy to personalize. 
• Forces a password change or locks out accounts to fix difficulties with weak passwords. 
• Multicore and multi-GPU support optimizes the hardware. 

Rainbow Crack 

Rainbow Crack is another ethical hacking app for cracking passwords and hacking gadgets. Users can break hashes using rainbow tables, which is accomplished via a time-memory tradeoff technique. 

Rainbow Crack has the following features: 

• Allows complete memory tradeoff application suites, including rainbow table generation. 
• Rainbow tables are supported for all hash algorithms. 
• Supports multi-core processor computing. 
• GPU acceleration is possible with several GPUs. 
• It works on both Linux and Windows. 

Conclusion

With companies moving their operations and services, the risk of cyber-attacks and data theft has also elevated. Hackers aim to push the computer system into an unstable situation and demand money to restore it. They employ a variety of codes and strategies that are difficult to decipher and take a long time to master. White-hat hacker tactics, also known as ethical hacking, are the only way to protect your networks and company data from these hackers. Enroll in a KnowledgeHut certified Ethical Hacker course today and get access to the greatest opportunities in the cybersecurity industry.