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With the number of data breaches on the exponential rise, it is more crucial than ever for developers to ensure the security of their websites and applications. There are a number of open-source security testing tools around to help in this endeavor.
These tools can be used to assess the security of both web-based and non-web-based applications. In this tutorial, we will take a look at some of the top open-source security testing tools for developers that programmers can use to help keep their applications safe.
Read: Top Version Control Systems and Tools for Developers
What is Security Testing?
Security testing is the practice of evaluating an information system’s security by detecting and exploiting vulnerabilities. It’s a critical step in safeguarding your data. Because cybercriminals are constantly devising new methods to attack vulnerabilities, it is crucial to conduct frequent security testing to ensure your systems are up to date.
Today, most of our personal and financial information is stored online. We access our bank accounts; shop online and even make payments through websites and mobile apps. If these applications are not secure, that information could be at risk.
Security Testing Tools for Developers
Below is a list of some of the best security testing tools for programmers and software engineers.
Owasp Zap
OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) is an open-source security testing tool that can be used to test for a wide variety of security issues, including cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, and cookies that are not properly secured. You can take advantage of Owasp Zap to find security vulnerabilities.
Zap can scan for a wide range of vulnerabilities, including Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), SQL injection, and broken authentication and session management. It also includes a number of features to help you manage your scans and results, including the ability to save scan results to a local file, export results to XML or JSON, and run scans collaboratively with other users.
PortSwigger Burp
Burp Suite is a vulnerability and penetration testing platform that allows you to attack, monitor, and protect applications and keep attackers at bay. It offers a graphical user interface with various capabilities for penetration testing and identifying vulnerabilities in online applications.
Burp Suite is an integrated platform that includes many tools like Intruder (for brute force attacks), Repeater (for spidering), Scanner, Sequencer, Comparer etc.
The PortSwigger Burp Suite is a versatile collection of tools used for security testing of web applications. It includes a proxy server for intercepting and modifying traffic, a spider for crawling websites, and a variety of other tools for detecting security issues. It is feature-rich, easy to use, and it provides a wealth of information about the security of your web applications.
W3af
Web application security professionals use W3Af for testing web applications. It is a great choice for anyone who wants to test the security of their web applications, as it includes a wide range of features and options.
W3af is easy to use, and even novice testers can learn how to use it effectively in a short amount of time. W3af has a wide variety of features such as:
- Ability to audit web applications for vulnerabilities
- Exploit vulnerabilities in web applications
- Perform brute force attacks
- Scan for sensitive information
- Perform website fuzzing
W3af is available in two versions: the graphical user interface (GUI) version and the command line interface (CLI) version. The GUI version is easy to use but the CLI version contains more features.
Read: Ten Penetration Testing Tools
Skipfish
Skipfish is a web application security tool used to locate and identify vulnerabilities in websites. It’s considered an ethical hacking tool, as it’s used to help organizations improve their security posture. Skipfish uses a combination of brute force and intelligent guessing techniques to identify vulnerabilities.
While it is not the most comprehensive security testing tool on the market, Skipfish is a great option for quick and easy vulnerability scanning. Skipfish is capable of detecting a wide variety of issues, including server misconfiguration, outdated software, and possible vulnerabilities.
Nikto
Nikto is an open-source scanner for web servers that detects vulnerabilities through comprehensive testing. It’s used by security professionals and penetration testers to find insecure web servers and test for cross-site scripting, SQL injection, and other common web vulnerabilities. Nikto also detects various types of web server vulnerabilities in addition to software bugs that may be present in the tested server.
SoapUI
The SoapUI security testing tool is a powerful, open-source tool that developers and testers use to test the security of web applications. It’s easy to use and can be used to test a variety of different aspects of security, including authentication, authorization, session management and more.
Arachni
Arachni is a popular open-source web application security scanner for detecting security vulnerabilities in web applications. Arachni is one of the most comprehensive security scanners available, and includes features like vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and reconnaissance. Arachni is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. It is easy to use, has a user-friendly interface and is constantly being updated with new features and bug fixes.
SQLMap
SQLMap is an open-source tool that helps security testers find and exploit SQL injection vulnerabilities. It can be used to attack databases that are connected to the internet. SQLMap can be used to take over database servers, extract data from them, or even execute commands on the server.
Final Thoughts on Security Testing Tools
Cybersecurity is more important than ever, and it’s critical that businesses test their systems for vulnerabilities. The open-source web application security testing tools discussed here can help you detect security vulnerabilities in your web applications. Use them to audit your applications and find any weak points before they’re exploited by hackers.
Remember, it is always important to keep your security tools up to date, so be sure to regularly scan your applications for any new vulnerabilities. You must take advantage of security testing tools to thwart security threats and safeguard your sensitive data.
