Description
InfoSec Write-ups
Second on the list is Nessus, the world’s most renowned vulnerability scanner. It was developed by Tenable. It helps you detect unpatched services, misconfiguration, weak passwords, and other system vulnerabilities. A free tool Nessus is recommended for non-enterprise usage. An ethical hacker can see critical bugs in any target system.
Here are the key features of the Nessus tool:
| Key Features | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Vulnerability Scanning | Performs comprehensive scans to identify security problems and weaknesses in network devices, servers, or applications. |
| 2. Policy Compliance Checking | Tests systems against predefined security policies and industry compliance standards (e.g., PCI DSS, CIS benchmarks). |
| 3. Configuration Auditing | Audits system configurations to find misconfigurations that could lead to security vulnerabilities. |
| 4. Web Application Scanning | Equipped with web application scanning to identify flaws in web servers, web applications, or their components. |
| 5. Scalability | Supports scalable scanning for both small and large environments. |
| 6. Credential-Based Scanning | Scans with authenticated credentials for more detailed and accurate information on missing patches and misconfigurations. |
| 7. Customizable Scanning Policies | Allows users to define and customize scanning policies based on specific situations and preferences. |
| 8. Report Generation | Generates detailed and customizable reports, including information on identified vulnerabilities, their risk levels, and recommended actions. |
| 9. Integration with Other Tools | It integrates well with various security and IT management tools to improve workflow. |
| 10. Continuous Monitoring | Offers functions for ongoing monitoring to quickly identify changes in the network and new vulnerabilities. |
| 11. Asset Discovery | Discovers and inventories assets to keep the asset inventory up to date. |
| 12. Cloud Environment Support | Supports scanning of assets in cloud environments and adapts to changes in modern IT infrastructure. |
| 13. User Authentication Testing | Features testing of user authentication procedures and identifies weaknesses in login processes. |
Here are the key features of the Nessus tool:
| Pros | Description |
|---|---|
| Adaptable |
|
| Versatile | Compatible with a wide range of operating systems |
| User-Friendly | Simple to get started with one-line commands or graphical versions |
| Cost-Free | Freely downloadable with complete source code Can be modified and redistributed under the license terms |
| Popular | Thousands of daily downloads, included in popular operating systems |
| Among the top ten programs on TheFreshmeat.Net repository |
| Cons | Description |
|---|---|
| Firewall and IDS Detection | Scans may trigger firewalls or intrusion detection systems |
| Incomplete OS Detection | Not always accurate or complete in identifying operating systems |
| Resource Intensiveness | Heavy scans on large networks can consume bandwidth and system resources |
| Limited Support for Encrypted Protocols | Difficulties in scanning networks relying on encrypted protocols |
| Learning Curve | Complex features and command-line interface require time for novice users |
| Network Disruption | Aggressive or poorly configured scans may briefly take down network services |
| Dependency on Network Conditions | Network conditions like latency and packet loss can influence scanning results |
Customer Rating: 4.8 stars
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