What Are the Different Types of Ethical Hacking Software?

There are quite a few different types of ethical hacking software available, though many of them fall into one of several categories. Network scanning and mapping programs are often used to evaluate and map out a network, allowing the user to find weaknesses and areas in which an attack may be launched. There are also a number of programs that can then be used to launch an attack on a network or a system, which do not actually damage the system but simply give someone access through the attack. Password recovery or cracking tools are also a popular form of ethical hacking software, which allow someone to find passwords through various methods.

Ethical hacking software typically refers to programs used for hacking, but which do not cause malicious or adverse effects on their own. These programs are typically used by “white hat” hackers employed by a company to look for weaknesses in their systems. One of the most popular and important types of white hat hacking software is a program used to scan and map a network. This type of program can be used to map out a variety of network connections, allowing the hacker to then find weaknesses or points within the network that he or she can attack.

Once this type of weakness is found, then a white hat hacker can use ethical hacking software to launch an attack on the system. These programs are not designed to cause any real or long-term damage, but simply demonstrate how weaknesses could be exploited. A program could be used to flood a system with bulk email, though the email sent would not contain viruses or any malicious code. These types of software allow a hacker to fully simulate how an attack on a system might occur, without damaging data or compromising information on that system.

One of the most common and popular types of ethical hacking software is a program that can be used to recover or find passwords on a system. This can include a program that uses a database of words to launch an attack on a system, using different combinations to try to find a functional password. Other tools can be used to look for existing records of passwords on a system, in order to utilize them for future attacks. This allows someone to demonstrate to a system owner how passwords should be made more complex or better encrypted.