Top 2 must-have FREE tools for hackers and security researchers

Here are two must-have free tools that every hacker must know and have

Hacking is one of the most abused term in the tech world today. Hacking was a term that originated in 1990s and is associated with altering to the code to suit a particular objective. By definition, hacking is the practice of altering the features of a system, to accomplish a goal which is not in scope of the purpose of its creation.
“Hacker” was a term used to denote a skilled programmer who had competency in machine code and operating systems. Such individuals were proficient in solving unsatisfactory problems and often interpreted competitors’ code to work as intelligence agents for small software companies.
Many young enthusiasts want to learn hacking and take up hacking and security research as a career choice. The first step to being a good hacker is to know all that is happening in the security world. Cybersecurity conferences such as Black Hat, DefCon, BSides and the Chaos Communication Conference can provide the latest security research, demonstrations and theoretical knowledge for you to move forward.

Next step would be to enroll for online certification programs. One way to ensure you have proper training, Read this report to know how to become a better security researcher. Next, come the tools. Having knowledge of these two must-have hacking tools is necessary for every hacker and security researcher.

Metasploit

Metasploit, which has been labeled the Attacker’s Playbook by many in the cybersecurity community, offers a rich library of exploits you can run on a number of different servers. You can use  Metasploit to stimulate various steps of APT attacks so that in future you can spot the attack paths and vulnerabilities that might have otherwise allowed major data breaches.

However, before you can start using Metasploit to its fullest potential, you will need specific training. Offensive Security offers a free training program for the toolkit called Metasploit Unleashed.

OWASP Zed

The Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) is now one of the most popular OWASP projects. Do remember that this tool is for only relatively seasoned cybersecurity professionals. If you are into hacking it is likely that you are very familiar with OWASP, not least the OWASP Top Ten Threats listing which is considered as being the ‘guide-book’ of web application security. This hacking and pentesting tool is a very efficient as well as being an ‘easy to use’ program that finds vulnerabilities in web applications.
ZAP is a popular tool because it does have a lot of support and the OWASP community is really an excellent resource for those that work within Cyber Security. ZAP provides automated scanners as well as various tools that allow you the cyber pro to discover security vulnerabilities manually. Understanding and being able to master this tool would also be advantageous to your career as a penetration tester. If you are a developer then you have it’s obviously highly recommended that you learn how to become very proficient with this ‘hacker tool!’
While Metasploit offers a collection of exploits for hackers to use, the tools and functionality in OWASP Zed helps hackers gather information and move laterally without exploits. With the combination of an exploit toolkit and a set of tools reconnaissance and lateral movement, you can successfully carry out pentesting and uncover even the deepest layer of vulnerabilities.