100+ Best Penetration Testing Tools For Security Professionals 2023

Penetration testing is an important part of cybersecurity that checks systems, networks, and apps for flaws. Because of this, people who work in security have access to a wide range of tools that can be used to examine different parts of a system’s security posture.

For example, experts need tools like Nmap and Wireshark to scan networks and look at data, which helps them understand how information moves through a network.

Metasploit is a tool that can be used to make, test, and run attack code against a remote target. This is a good way to check for weaknesses. Burp Suite and OWASP ZAP are well-known ways to look for security holes on the web. They look at the security of web apps in depth.

Tools like Aircrack-ng can check how safe Wi-Fi systems are for wireless networks. Automated tools like OpenVAS and Nessus can check for vulnerabilities on many different platforms.

People who are worried about social engineering attacks can try out phishing strikes with the Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET). Mobile apps are also included. You can use Drozer and Frida to find out how safe Android and iOS apps are.

When used properly and with care, these tools offer a thorough way to check an organization’s security measures, making them stronger against possible cyber threats. Make sure you have the right permissions before doing any security testing.

Most of the time, penetration testing tools are used in the security business to check for holes in networks and applications.

Here is a list of all the tools that can be used for penetration testing and hacking. These tools can be used in all environments.

Table of Contents

Important Hacking Tools
Exploit Development
Operating Systems
Best Penetration testing tools
Penetration Testing Report Templates
Security Courses – Best Penetration Testing Tools
Awesome Lists of Best Penetration Testing Tools

Important Hacking Tools

Penetration testing and ethical hacking tools are important for every company because they help check for weaknesses and fix them.

Since cyberattacks are becoming more and more common, organizations need to pay close attention to penetration testing and keep an eye on their network to stop attacks that could hurt their image.

Security experts and researchers need security and hacking tools to handle security operations. These tools help them reduce the amount of time they need to spend monitoring and penetrating the network.

Here is a big list of some of the most important hacking tools that are used by millions of security experts and thousands of organizations around the world.

• Metasploit Unleashed – Free Offensive Security Metasploit course.
• Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) – Documentation designed to provide a common language and scope for performing and reporting the results of a penetration test.
• Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) – Worldwide not-for-profit charitable organization focused on improving the security of mainly Web-based and Application-layer software.
• PENTEST-WIKI – Free online security knowledge library for pen-testers and researchers.
• Penetration Testing Framework (PTF) – Outline for performing penetration tests compiled as a general framework usable by vulnerability analysts and penetration testers alike.
• XSS-Payloads – Ultimate resource for all things cross-site including payloads, tools, games, and documentation.
• Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual (OSSTMM) – Framework for providing test cases that result in verified facts on which to base decisions that impact an organization’s security.
• MITRE’s Adversarial Tactics, Techniques & Common Knowledge (ATT&CK) – Curated knowledge base and model for cyber adversary behavior.

Exploit Development

• Shellcode Tutorial – Tutorial on how to write shellcode.
• Shellcode Examples – Shellcodes database.
• Exploit Writing Tutorials – Tutorials on how to develop exploits.

Operating Systems

• Security-related Operating Systems @ Rawsec – Penetration testing tools & Hacking Tools list Related Complete list of security operating systems.
• Best Linux Penetration Testing Distributions @ CyberPunk – Description of main penetration testing distributions.
• Security @ Distrowatch – Website dedicated to talking about, reviewing, and keeping up to date with open-source operating systems.
• cuckoo – Open source automated malware analysis system.
• Computer Aided Investigative Environment (CAINE) – Italian GNU/Linux live distribution created as a digital forensics project.
• Digital Evidence & Forensics Toolkit (DEFT) – Live CD for forensic analysis runnable without tampering or corrupting connected devices where the boot process takes place.
• Tails – Live OS aimed at preserving privacy and anonymity.

Best Penetration Testing Tools

Penetration Testing Distributions

• Kali – GNU/Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and Penetration testing tools.
• ArchStrike – Arch GNU/Linux repository for security professionals and enthusiasts.
• BlackArch – Arch GNU/Linux-based distribution with the best Hacking Tools for penetration testers and security researchers.
• Network Security Toolkit (NST) – Fedora-based bootable live operating system designed to provide easy access to best-of-breed open-source network security applications.
• Pentoo – Security-focused live CD based on Gentoo.
• BackBox – Ubuntu-based distribution for penetration tests and security assessments.
• Parrot – Distribution similar to Kali, with multiple architectures with 100 Hacking Tools.
• Buscador – GNU/Linux virtual machine that is pre-configured for online investigators.
• Fedora Security Lab – Provides a safe test environment to work on security auditing, forensics, system rescue, and teaching security testing methodologies.
• The Pentesters Framework – Distro is organized around the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES), providing a curated collection of utilities that eliminates often unused toolchains.
• AttifyOS – GNU/Linux distribution focused on tools useful during Internet of Things (IoT) security assessments.

Docker for Penetration Testing

• docker pull kalilinux/kali-linux-docker official Kali Linux
• docker pull owasp/zap2docker-stable – official OWASP ZAP
• docker pull wpscanteam/wpscan – official WPScan
• docker pull citizenstig/dvwa – Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA)
• docker pull wpscanteam/vulnerablewordpress – Vulnerable WordPress Installation
• docker pull hmlio/vaas-cve-2014-6271 – Vulnerability as a service: Shellshock
• docker pull hmlio/vaas-cve-2014-0160 – Vulnerability as a service: Heartbleed
• docker pull opendns/security-ninjas – Security Ninjas
• docker pull diogomonica/docker-bench-security – Docker Bench for Security
• docker pull ismisepaul/securityshepherd – OWASP Security Shepherd
• docker pull danmx/docker-owasp-webgoat – OWASP WebGoat Project docker image
• docker-compose build && docker-compose up – OWASP NodeGoat
• docker pull citizenstig/nowasp – OWASP Mutillidae II Web Pen-Test Practice Application
• docker pull bkimminich/juice-shop – OWASP Juice Shop
• docker pull kalilinux/kali-linux-docker – Kali Linux Docker Image
• docker pull phocean/msf – docker-Metasploit

Multi-paradigm Frameworks

• Metasploit – post-exploitation Hacking Tools for offensive security teams to help verify vulnerabilities and manage security assessments.
• Armitage – Java-based GUI front-end for the Metasploit Framework.
• Faraday – Multiuser integrated pentesting environment for red teams performing cooperative penetration tests, security audits, and risk assessments.
• ExploitPack – Graphical tool for automating penetration tests that ship with many pre-packaged exploits.
• Pupy – Cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS, Android) remote administration and post-exploitation tool,

Vulnerability Scanners

• Nexpose – Commercial vulnerability and risk management assessment engine integrated with Metasploit, sold by Rapid7.
• Nessus – Commercial vulnerability management, configuration, and compliance assessment platform, sold by Tenable.
• OpenVAS – Free software implementation of the popular Nessus vulnerability assessment system.
• Vuls – Agentless vulnerability scanner for GNU/Linux and FreeBSD, written in Go.

Static Analyzers

• Brakeman – Static analysis security vulnerability scanner for Ruby on Rails applications.
• cppcheck – Extensible C/C++ static analyzer focused on finding bugs.
• FindBugs – Free software static analyzer to look for bugs in Java code.
• sobelow – Security-focused static analysis for the Phoenix Framework.
• bandit – Security-oriented static analyzer for python code.

Web Scanners

• Nikto – Noisy but fast black box web server and web application vulnerability scanner.
• Arachni – Scriptable framework for evaluating the security of web applications.
• w3af – Hacking Tools for Web application attack and audit framework.
• Wapiti – Black box web application vulnerability scanner with built-in fuzzer.
• SecApps – In-browser web application security testing suite.
• WebReaver – Commercial, graphical web application vulnerability scanner designed for macOS.
• WPScan – Hacking Tools of Black Box WordPress vulnerability scanner.
• cms-explorer – Reveal the specific modules, plugins, components, and themes that various websites powered by content management systems are running.
• joomscan – one of the best Hacking Tools for Joomla vulnerability scanner.
• ACSTIS – Automated client-side template injection (sandbox escape/bypass) detection for AngularJS.

Network Tools

• zmap – Open source network scanner that enables researchers to easily perform Internet-wide network studies.
• Nmap – Free security scanner for network exploration & security audits.
• pig – one of the Hacking Tools for GNU/Linux packet crafting.
• scanless – Utility for using websites to perform port scans on your behalf so as not to reveal your own IP.
• tcpdump/libpcap – Common packet analyzer that runs under the command line.
• Wireshark – Widely-used graphical, cross-platform network protocol analyzer.
• Network-Tools.com – Website offering an interface to numerous basic network utilities like ping, traceroute, whois, and more.
• netsniff-ng – Swiss army knife for network sniffing.
• Intercepter-NG – Multifunctional network toolkit.
• SPARTA – Graphical interface offering scriptable, configurable access to existing network infrastructure scanning and enumeration tools.
• dnschef – Highly configurable DNS proxy for pentesters.
• DNSDumpster – one of the Hacking Tools for Online DNS recon and search service.
• CloudFail – Unmask server IP addresses are hidden behind Cloudflare by searching old database records and detecting misconfigured DNS.
• dnsenum – Perl script that enumerates DNS information from a domain, attempts zone transfers, performs a brute force dictionary style attack, and then performs reverse look-ups on the results.
• dnsmap – One of the Hacking Tools for Passive DNS network mapper.
• dnsrecon – One of the Hacking Tools for DNS enumeration script.
• dnstracer – Determines where a given DNS server gets its information from, and follows the chain of DNS servers.
• passivedns-client – Library and query tool for querying several passive DNS providers.
• passivedns – Network sniffer that logs all DNS server replies for use in a passive DNS setup.
• Mass Scan – best Hacking Tool for TCP port scanners, spews SYN packets asynchronously, scanning the entire Internet in under 5 minutes.
• Zarp – Network attack tool centered around the exploitation of local networks.
• mitmproxy – Interactive TLS-capable intercepting HTTP proxy for penetration testers and software developers.
• Morpheus – Automated ettercap TCP/IP Hacking Tools.
• mallory – HTTP/HTTPS proxy over SSH.
• SSH MITM – Intercept SSH connections with a proxy; all plaintext passwords and sessions are logged to disk.
• Netzob – Reverse engineering, traffic generation, and fuzzing of communication protocols.
• DET – Proof of concept to perform data exfiltration using either single or multiple channel(s) at the same time.
• pwnat – Punches holes in firewalls and NATs.
• dsniff – Collection of tools for network auditing and pentesting.
• tgcd – Simple Unix network utility to extend the accessibility of TCP/IP-based network services beyond firewalls.
• smbmap – Handy SMB enumeration tool.
• scapy – Python-based interactive packet manipulation program & library.
• Dshell – Network forensic analysis framework.
• Debookee – Simple and powerful network traffic analyzer for macOS.
• Dripcap – Caffeinated packet analyzer.
• Printer Exploitation Toolkit (PRET) – Tool for printer security testing capable of IP and USB connectivity, fuzzing, and exploitation of PostScript, PJL, and PCL printer language features.
• Praeda – Automated multi-function printer data harvester for gathering usable data during security assessments.
• routersploit – Open source exploitation framework similar to Metasploit but dedicated to embedded devices.
• evilgrade – Modular framework to take advantage of poor upgrade implementations by injecting fake updates.
• XRay – Network (sub)domain discovery and reconnaissance automation tool.
• Ettercap – Comprehensive, mature suite for machine-in-the-middle attacks.
• BetterCAP – Modular, portable, and easily extensible MITM framework.
• CrackMapExec – A swiss army knife for pentesting networks.
• impacket – A collection of Python classes for working with network protocols.

Wireless Network Hacking Tools

• Aircrack-ng – Set of Penetration testing & Hacking Tools list for auditing wireless networks.
• Kismet – Wireless network detector, sniffer, and IDS.
• Reaver – Brute force attack against WiFi Protected Setup.
• Wifite – Automated wireless attack tool.
• Fluxion – Suite of automated social engineering-based WPA attacks.

Transport Layer Security Tools

• SSLyze – Fast and comprehensive TLS/SSL configuration analyzer to help identify security misconfigurations.
• tls_prober – Fingerprint a server’s SSL/TLS implementation.
• testssl.sh – Command line tool that checks a server’s service on any port for the support of TLS/SSL ciphers, protocols as well as some cryptographic flaws.

Web Exploitation

• OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) – Feature-rich, scriptable HTTP intercepting proxy and fuzzer for penetration testing web applications.
• Fiddler – Free cross-platform web debugging proxy with user-friendly companion tools.
• Burp Suite – One of the Hacking Tools integrated platforms for performing security testing of web applications.
• autochrome – Easy to install a test browser with all the appropriate settings needed for web application testing with native Burp support, from NCCGroup.
• Browser Exploitation Framework (BeEF) – Command and control server for delivering exploits to commandeered Web browsers.
• Offensive Web Testing Framework (OWTF) – Python-based framework for pentesting Web applications based on the OWASP Testing Guide.
• WordPress Exploit Framework – Ruby framework for developing and using modules that aid in the penetration testing of WordPress-powered websites and systems.
• WPSploit – Exploit WordPress-powered websites with Metasploit.
• SQLmap – Automatic SQL injection and database takeover tool.
• tplmap – Automatic server-side template injection and Web server takeover Hacking Tools.
• weevely3 – Weaponized web shell.
• Wappalyzer – Wappalyzer uncovers the technologies used on websites.
• WhatWeb – Website fingerprinter.
• BlindElephant – Web application fingerprinter.
• wafw00f – Identifies and fingerprints Web Application Firewall (WAF) products.
• fimap – Find, prepare, audit, exploit, and even Google automatically for LFI/RFI bugs.
• Kadabra – Automatic LFI exploiter and scanner.
• Kadimus – LFI scan and exploit tool.
• liffy – LFI exploitation tool.
• Commix – Automated all-in-one operating system command injection and exploitation tool.
• DVCS Ripper – Rip web accessible (distributed) version control systems: SVN/GIT/HG/BZR.
• GitTools – One of the Hacking Tools that Automatically find and download Web-accessible .git repositories.
• sslstrip –
  One of the Hacking Tools Demonstration of the HTTPS stripping attacks.
• sslstrip2 – SSLStrip version to defeat HSTS.
• NoSQLmap – Automatic NoSQL injection and database takeover tool.
• VHostScan – A virtual host scanner that performs reverse lookups, can be used with pivot tools, and detects catch-all scenarios, aliases, and dynamic default pages.
• FuzzDB – Dictionary of attack patterns and primitives for black-box application fault injection and resource discovery.
• EyeWitness – Tool to take screenshots of websites, provide some server header info, and identify default credentials if possible.
• webscreenshot – A simple script to take screenshots of the list of websites.

Hex Editors

• HexEdit.js – Browser-based hex editing.
• Hexinator – World’s finest (proprietary, commercial) Hex Editor.
• Frhed – Binary file editor for Windows.
• 0xED – Native macOS hex editor that supports plug-ins to display custom data types.

File Format Analysis Tools

• Kaitai Struct – File formats and network protocols dissection language and web IDE, generating parsers in C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby.
• Veles – Binary data visualization and analysis tool.
• Hachoir – Python library to view and edit a binary stream as the tree of fields and tools for metadata extraction.

Defense Evasion Tools

• Veil – Generate Metasploit payloads that bypass common anti-virus solutions.
• shellsploit – Generates custom shellcode, backdoors, and injectors, and optionally obfuscates every byte via encoders.
• Hyperion – Runtime encryptor for 32-bit portable executables (“PE .exes”).
• AntiVirus Evasion Tool (AVET) – Post-process exploits containing executable files targeted for Windows machines to avoid being recognized by antivirus software.
• peCloakCapstone – Multi-platform fork of the peCloak.py automated malware antivirus evasion tool.
• peCloak.py – Automates the process of hiding a malicious Windows executable from antivirus (AV) detection.
• UniByAv – Simple obfuscator that takes raw shellcode and generates Anti-Virus executables by using a brute-force, 32-bit XOR key.

Hash Cracking Hacking Tools

• John the Ripper – One of the best Hacking Tools for Fast password crackers.
• Hashcat – Another One of the Hacking Tools The fast hash cracker.
• CeWL – Generates custom wordlists by spidering a target’s website and collecting unique words.
• JWT Cracker – Simple HS256 JWT token brute force cracker.
• Rar Crack – RAR bruteforce cracker.
• BruteForce Wallet – Find the password of an encrypted wallet file (i.e. wallet.dat).

Windows Utilities

• Sysinternals Suite – The Sysinternals Troubleshooting Utilities.
• Windows Credentials Editor – Inspect logon sessions and add, change, list, and delete associated credentials, including Kerberos tickets.
• mimikatz – Credentials extraction tool for the Windows operating system.
• PowerSploit – PowerShell Post-Exploitation Framework.
• Windows Exploit Suggester – Detects potential missing patches on the target.
• Responder – LLMNR, NBT-NS and MDNS poisoner.
• Bloodhound – Graphical Active Directory trust relationship explorer.
• Empire – Pure PowerShell post-exploitation agent.
• Fibratus – Tool for exploration and tracing of the Windows kernel.
• wePWNise – Generates architecture-independent VBA code to be used in Office documents or templates and automates bypassing application control and exploit mitigation software.
• redsnarf – Post-exploitation tool for retrieving password hashes and credentials from Windows workstations, servers, and domain controllers.
• Magic Unicorn – Shellcode generator for numerous attack vectors, including Microsoft Office macros, PowerShell, HTML applications (HTA), or certutil (using fake certificates).
• DeathStar – Python script that uses Empire’s RESTful API to automate gaining Domain Admin rights in Active Directory environments.

GNU/Linux Utilities

• Linux Exploit Suggester – Heuristic reporting on potentially viable exploits for a given GNU/Linux system.

macOS Utilities

• Bella – Pure Python post-exploitation data mining and remote administration tool for macOS.

DDoS Tools

• LOIC – Open source network stress tool for Windows.
• JS LOIC – JavaScript in-browser version of LOIC.
• SlowLoris – DoS tool that uses low bandwidth on the attacking side.
• HOIC – Updated version of Low Orbit Ion Cannon, has ‘boosters’ to get around common countermeasures.
• T50 – Faster network stress tool.
• UFONet – Abuses OSI layer 7 HTTP to create/manage ‘zombies’ and to conduct different attacks using; GET/POST, multithreading, proxies, origin spoofing methods, cache evasion techniques, etc.

Social Engineering Tools

• Social Engineer Toolkit (SET) – Open source pentesting framework designed for social engineering featuring a number of custom attack vectors to make believable attacks quickly.
• King Phisher – One of the Hacking Tools for Phishing campaign toolkits used for creating and managing multiple simultaneous phishing attacks with custom email and server content.
• Evilginx – MITM attack framework used for phishing credentials and session cookies from any Web service.
• wifiphisher – Automated phishing attacks against WiFi networks.
• Catphish – Tool for phishing and corporate espionage written in Ruby.
• Beelogger – Tool for generating keylooger.

OSINT Tools

• Maltego – One of the Hacking Tools and Proprietary software for open-source intelligence and forensics, from Paterva.
• theHarvester – E-mail, subdomain and people names harvester.
• creepy – Geolocation OSINT tool.
• metagoofil – Metadata harvester.
• Google Hacking Database – Database of Google dorks; can be used for recon.
• Google-dorks – Common Google dorks and others you probably don’t know.
• GooDork – Command line Google dorking tool.
• dork-cli – Command line Google dork tool.
• Censys – Collects data on hosts and websites through daily ZMap and ZGrab scans.
• Shodan – World’s first search engine for Internet-connected devices.
• recon-ng – One of the Hacking Tools Full-featured Web Reconnaissance framework written in Python.
• github-dorks – CLI tool to scan Github repos/organizations for potential sensitive information leak.
• vcsmap – Plugin-based tool to scan public version control systems for sensitive information.
• Spiderfoot – Multi-source OSINT automation tool with a Web UI and report visualizations
• BinGoo – GNU/Linux bash based Bing and Google Dorking Tool.
• fast-recon – Perform Google dorks against a domain.
• snitch – Information gathering via dorks.
• Sn1per – ons of the Hacking Tools for Automated Pentest Recon Scanner.
• Threat Crowd – Search engine for threats.
• Virus Total – VirusTotal is a free service that analyzes suspicious files and URLs and facilitates the quick detection of viruses, worms, trojans, and all kinds of malware.
• DataSploit – OSINT visualizer utilizing Shodan, Censys, Clearbit, EmailHunter, FullContact, and Zoomeye behind the scenes.
• AQUATONE – Subdomain discovery tool utilizing various open sources producing a report that can be used as input to other tools.
• Intrigue – Automated OSINT & Attack Surface discovery framework with powerful API, UI, and CLI.
• ZoomEye – Search engine for cyberspace that lets the user find specific network components.

Anonymity Tools

• Tor – Free software and onion-routed overlay network that helps you defend against traffic analysis.
• OnionScan – One of the Hacking Tools for investigating the Dark Web by finding operational security issues introduced by Tor hidden service operators.
• I2P – The Invisible Internet Project.
• Nipe – Script to redirect all traffic from the machine to the Tor network.
• What Every Browser Knows About You – Comprehensive detection page to test your own Web browser’s configuration for privacy and identity leaks.
• VPN – A virtual private network masks your real IP address and physical location replacing it with that of the server you connect to.

Reverse Engineering Tools

• Interactive Disassembler (IDA Pro) – Proprietary multi-processor disassembler and debugger for Windows, GNU/Linux, or macOS; also has a free version, IDA Free.
  • WDK/WinDbg – Windows Driver Kit and WinDbg.
• OllyDbg – x86 debugger for Windows binaries that emphasizes binary code analysis.
• Radare2 – Open source, crossplatform reverse engineering framework.
• x64dbg – Open source x64/x32 debugger for windows.
• Immunity Debugger – Powerful way to write exploits and analyze malware.
• Evan’s Debugger – OllyDbg-like debugger for GNU/Linux.
• Medusa – Open source, cross-platform interactive disassembler.
• plasma – Interactive disassembler for x86/ARM/MIPS. Generates indented pseudo-code with colored syntax code.
• peda – Python Exploit Development Assistance for GDB.
• dnSpy – one of the Hacking Tools to reverse engineer .NET assemblies.
• binwalk – Fast, easy to use tool for analyzing, reverse engineering, and extracting firmware images.
• PyREBox – Python scriptable Reverse Engineering sandbox by Cisco-Talos.
• Voltron – Extensible debugger UI toolkit written in Python.
• Capstone – Lightweight multi-platform, multi-architecture disassembly framework.
• rVMI – Debugger on steroids; inspect userspace processes, kernel drivers, and preboot environments in a single tool.
• Frida – Dynamic instrumentation toolkit for developers, reverse engineers, and security researchers.

Physical Access Tools

• LAN Turtle – Covert “USB Ethernet Adapter” that provides remote access, network intelligence gathering, and MITM capabilities when installed in a local network.
• USB Rubber Ducky – Customizable keystroke injection attack platform masquerading as a USB thumb drive.
• Poisontap – Siphons cookies, exposes internal (LAN-side) routers, and installs web backdoors on locked computers.
• WiFi Pineapple – Wireless auditing and penetration testing platform.
• Proxmark3 – RFID/NFC cloning, replay, and spoofing toolkit often used for analyzing and attacking proximity cards/readers, wireless keys/keyfobs, and more.

Side-channel Tools

• ChipWhisperer – Complete open-source toolchain for side-channel power analysis and glitching attacks.

CTF Tools

• ctf-tools – Collection of setup scripts to install various security research tools easily and quickly deployable to new machines.
• Pwntools – Rapid exploit development framework built for use in CTFs.
• RsaCtfTool – Decrypt data enciphered using weak RSA keys, and recover private keys from public keys using a variety of automated attacks.

Penetration Testing Report Templates

Vulnerability Databases – Hacking Tools

• Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) – Dictionary of common names (i.e., CVE Identifiers) for publicly known security vulnerabilities.
• National Vulnerability Database (NVD) – The United States government’s National Vulnerability Database provides additional meta-data (CPE, CVSS scoring) of the standard CVE List and a fine-grained search engine.
• US-CERT Vulnerability Notes Database – Summaries, technical details, remediation information, and lists of vendors affected by software vulnerabilities, aggregated by the United States Computer Emergency Response Team (US-CERT).
• Full-Disclosure – Public, vendor-neutral forum for a detailed discussion of vulnerabilities, often publishes details before many other sources.
• Bugtraq (BID) – Software security bug identification database compiled from submissions to the SecurityFocus mailing Penetration testing tools list and other sources, operated by Symantec, Inc.
• Exploit-DB – Non-profit project hosting exploits for software vulnerabilities, provided as a public service by Offensive Security.
• Microsoft Security Bulletins – Announcements of security issues discovered in Microsoft software, published by the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC).
• Microsoft Security Advisories – Archive of security advisories impacting Microsoft software.
• Mozilla Foundation Security Advisories – Archive of security advisories impacting Mozilla software, including the Firefox Web Browser.
  • Packet Storm – Compendium of exploits, advisories, tools, and other security-related resources aggregated from across the industry.
• CXSecurity – Archive of published CVE and Bugtraq software vulnerabilities cross-referenced with a Google dork database for discovering the listed vulnerability.
• SecuriTeam – Independent source of software vulnerability information.
• Vulnerability Lab – Open forum for security advisories organized by category of exploit target.
• Zero Day Initiative – Bug bounty program with the publicly accessible archive of published security advisories, operated by TippingPoint.
• Vulners – Security database of software vulnerabilities.
• Inj3ct0r (Onion service) – Exploit marketplace and vulnerability information, aggregator.
• Open Source Vulnerability Database (OSVDB) – Historical archive of security vulnerabilities in computerized equipment, no longer adding to its vulnerability database as of April 2016.Hacking Tools
• HPI-VDB – Aggregator of cross-referenced software vulnerabilities offering free-of-charge API access, provided by the Hasso-Plattner Institute, Potsdam.Hacking Tools

Security Courses – Best Penetration Testing Tools

• Offensive Security Training – Training from BackTrack/Kali developers.
• SANS Security Training – Computer Security Training & Certification.
• Open Security Training – Training material for computer security classes.
• CTF Field Guide – Everything you need to win your next CTF competition.
• ARIZONA CYBER WARFARE RANGE – 24×7 live fire exercises for beginners through real-world operations; capability for upward progression into the real world of cyber warfare.
• Cybrary – Free courses in ethical hacking and advanced penetration testing. Advanced penetration testing courses are based on the book ‘Penetration Testing for Highly-Secured Environments’.
• European Union Agency for Network and Information Security – ENISA Cyber Security Training material.

Information Security Conferences

• DEF CON – Annual hacker convention in Las Vegas.
• Black Hat – Annual security conference in Las Vegas.
• BSides – Framework for organizing and holding security conferences.
• CCC – Annual meeting of the international hacker scene in Germany.
• DerbyCon – Annual hacker conference based in Louisville.
• PhreakNIC – Technology conference held annually in middle Tennessee.
• ShmooCon – Annual US East Coast hacker convention.
• Carolina – Infosec conference, held annually in North Carolina.
• CHCon – Christchurch Hacker Con, the Only South Island of New Zealand hacker con.
• SummerCon – One of the oldest hacker conventions, held during Summer.
• Hack.lu – Annual conference held in Luxembourg.
• Hackfest – Largest hacking conference in Canada.
• HITB – Deep-knowledge security conference held in Malaysia and The Netherlands.
• Troopers – Annual international IT Security event with workshops held in Heidelberg, Germany.
• Hack3rCon – Annual US hacker conference.
• ThotCon – Annual US hacker conference held in Chicago.
• LayerOne – Annual US security conference held every spring in Los Angeles.
• DeepSec – Security Conference in Vienna, Austria.
• SkyDogCon – Technology conference in Nashville.
• SECUINSIDE – Security Conference in Seoul.
• DefCamp – Largest Security Conference in Eastern Europe, held annually in Bucharest, Romania.
• AppSecUSA – Annual conference organized by OWASP.
• BruCON – Annual security conference in Belgium.
• Infosecurity Europe – Europe’s number one information security event, held in London, UK.
• Nullcon – Annual conference in Delhi and Goa, India.
• RSA Conference USA – Annual security conference in San Francisco, California, USA.
• Swiss Cyber Storm – Annual security conference in Lucerne, Switzerland.
• Virus Bulletin Conference – Annual conference going to be held in Denver, USA for 2016.
• Ekoparty – Largest Security Conference in Latin America, held annually in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• 44Con – Annual Security Conference held in London.
• BalCCon – Balkan Computer Congress, annually held in Novi Sad, Serbia.
• FSec – FSec – Croatian Information Security Gathering in Varaždin, Croatia.

Information Security Magazines

• 2600: The Hacker Quarterly – American publication about technology and computer “underground.”
• Phrack Magazine – By far the longest-running hacker zine.

Awesome Lists of Best Penetration Testing Tools

• Kali Linux Tools – List of Hacking tools present in Kali Linux.
• SecTools – Top 125 Network Security Hacking Tools.
• Pentest Cheat Sheets – Awesome Pentest Cheat Sheets.
• C/C++ Programming – One of the main languages for open-source security tools.
• .NET Programming – Software framework for Microsoft Windows platform development.
• Shell Scripting – Command line frameworks, toolkits, guides and gizmos.
• Ruby Programming by @dreikanter – The de-facto language for writing exploits.
• Ruby Programming by @markets – The de-facto language for writing exploits.
• Ruby Programming by @Sdogruyol – The de-facto language for writing exploits.
• JavaScript Programming – In-browser development and scripting.
• Node.js Programming by @sindresorhus – Curated list of delightful Node.js packages and resources.
• Python tools for penetration testers – Lots of Best Penetration Testing Tools are written in Python.
• Python Programming by @svaksha – General Python programming.
• Python Programming by @vinta – General Python programming.
• Android Security – Collection of Android security-related resources.
• Awesome Awesomness – The List of the Lists.
• AppSec – Resources for learning about application security.
• CTFs – Capture The Flag frameworks, libraries, etc.
• InfoSec § Hacking challenges – Comprehensive directory of CTFs, wargames, hacking challenge websites, Best Penetration Testing Tools list practice lab exercises, and more.
• Hacking – Tutorials, tools, and resources.
• Honeypots – Honeypots, tools, components, and more.
• Infosec – Information security resources for pentesting, forensics, and more.
• Forensics – Free (mostly open source) forensic analysis tools and resources.
• Malware Analysis – Tools and resources for analysts.
• PCAP Tools – Tools for processing network traffic.
• Security – Software, libraries, documents, and other resources.
• Awesome Lockpicking – Awesome guides, tools, and other resources about the security and compromise of locks, safes, and keys.
• SecLists – Collection of multiple types of lists used during security assessments.
• Security Talks – Curated list of security conferences.
• OSINT – Awesome OSINT list containing great resources.
• YARA – YARA rules, tools, and people.

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