🧰 Top 10 Free Tools Every Aspiring Hacker Should Know

Whether you're diving into ethical hacking, studying for certifications like OSCP, or just curious about how systems can be tested for vulnerabilities, there’s a treasure trove of free tools out there to help you learn and grow.

Here are 10 of the most popular (and powerful) free tools used by ethical hackers and security pros:

1. 🐉 Kali Linux

A penetration testing-focused Linux distro packed with hundreds of tools. It’s the go-to platform for many ethical hackers.

🔗 https://www.kali.org

2. 🔍 Nmap

Network Mapper – used for scanning and discovering hosts, open ports, and services on a network.

🔗 https://nmap.org

3. 🕷️ Burp Suite (Community Edition)

A powerful web vulnerability scanner and proxy for analyzing HTTP traffic. Ideal for testing websites.

🔗 https://portswigger.net/burp

4. 🦊 Firefox + Add-ons

With add-ons like HackBar, Wappalyzer, or FoxyProxy, Firefox becomes a handy recon and testing browser.

🔗 https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

5. 📦 Metasploit Framework

A tool used to test system vulnerabilities and develop exploit code. Essential for understanding how real-world exploits work.

🔗 https://www.metasploit.com

6. 🐍 Wireshark

A network protocol analyzer for capturing and analyzing traffic in real-time. Great for learning how network communications work.

🔗 https://www.wireshark.org

7. 🕸️ OWASP ZAP

An open-source web application scanner used to find security flaws in websites and apps. Great alternative to Burp Suite.

🔗 https://owasp.org/www-project-zap/

8. 🧠 Hack The Box (Free Tier)

An online platform to practice hacking legally. It offers real-world scenarios in a lab environment.

🔗 https://www.hackthebox.com

9. 🐚 Netcat

A command-line networking tool used for port scanning, banner grabbing, or even simple backdoor setups.

🔗 https://nc110.sourceforge.net

10. 🦉 LinPEAS / WinPEAS

Tools for privilege escalation enumeration on Linux and Windows. Super useful for post-exploitation during CTFs or pentests.

🔗 https://github.com/carlospolop/PEASS-ng

🚀 Bonus Tip

Don’t just install the tools — learn how they work. Try them in safe environments like:

• TryHackMe – https://tryhackme.com
• Hack The Box – https://hackthebox.com
• VulnHub – https://www.vulnhub.com

Practice, break things, take notes, and repeat.

🧠 Final Thought

Every great hacker started with curiosity and free tools. You don’t need expensive gear — just time, a lab, and the will to learn. Start small, stay ethical, and level up.

Follow the blog for more hands-on guides, tool reviews, and cybersecurity tips!