What are cyber security tools? Why are they important?
Tags: cyber, cybersecurity
Published: 2024-06-12 10:34:05

Software applications and hardware appliances designed to protect networks, infrastructure, and data from risks and attacks make up cyber security tools. Tools for cyber security are desperately needed as the world rapidly digitises.

While digital transformation technologies have many benefits, they also have drawbacks in the form of vulnerabilities that can lead to system breaches or data theft. Millions of dollars in damages, in addition to harm to one's reputation and legal repercussions, may occur from this. The posture of the network systems, infrastructure, and data is secured and strengthened in large part by the use of cyber security tools.

**What are the key features of a cyber security tool?**
It ought to offer assistance and access to simple-to-install and -maintain hardware, software, or a cloud-based system.

The controls on a dashboard should be simple for the administrators to configure.

The security tool has to include a graphic user interface for simple administration.

For simple integration, it should be interoperable with various network tools.

To have a clear audit trail, it should offer a transparent view into the transactions.

**The list of common and effective cybersecurity tools used by experts**

The cybersecurity tools can be divided into the following:
**Network Hardening, Monitoring and Security Tools **

It is a collection of programmes designed to track network activity and provide active, defensive, and security by sniffing its own network. It identifies weaknesses that call for automated systems to be used to fix them. Penetration testers and professionals utilise them to secure networks from the inside.

Argus - a traffic monitoring tool that is open source. It generates traffic reports, detects network intrusion early on, and analyses network packets.

PacketFence - Access control is managed using a free utility for networks of all sizes. It supports the bring your own device (BYOD) capability and is used to remove malware.

Wireshark - A widely used programme for traffic monitoring that examines, decrypts, and records network communication.

Snort -It is an active defensive technology that serves as a web traffic antivirus.

Splunk - It serves as a scaling tool for data breaches online and notifies users when information is discovered in a data dump.

Breach Alarm - As its name suggests, it sets off alarms when there is a breach. Its main concern is passwords that have been made public.

NoMoreRansom - It is a website that offers decryption keys for ransomware assaults from the past. It can assist organisations in avoiding paying millions in ransom.

**Password Auditing Tools **

Although a significant portion of authentication systems, passwords do have several weaknesses. One of the most important aspects of a cyber security professional's job is managing and safeguarding passwords and ensuring the use of strong passwords.

John the Ripper -It ignores general security and is used to audit and crack passwords. It decrypts passwords using transmission techniques, encryption protocols, etc. It is mostly used to track weak authentication mechanisms and passwords.

KeePass - It controls passwords and has the capacity to store a sizable number of complex passwords for various organisational components. It is without a doubt among the best tools for protecting passwords and providing defensive protection.

**Web Vulnerability Tools: **

Malicious traffic, infected devices, and infected emails are the three main sources of hazards. In order to exploit these vulnerabilities, the cybercriminals regularly scan the network systems for them using scripts, bots, services, etc. To avoid being taken advantage of by outside forces, the only option is to use such technologies to look for vulnerabilities outside.

Nikto -A web scanner program that checks the website for outdated software, known bad actors, and vulnerabilities related to old versions.

Burp Suite - It is a broad-spectrum web scanner programme that schedules scans using a number of manual techniques and searches the web and servers for vulnerabilities.

Nessus Professional - It is a tool for assessing vulnerabilities that is well-liked by cyber security professionals. Along with scanning and hating issues, it also resolves them if given the go-ahead.

Acunetix - There are numerous additional ways for an attacker to get harmful material onto servers, including utilising online forms, login sites, and shopping carts. To identify and address vulnerabilities on these surfaces, the Acunetix tool is employed.

**Encryption Tools **
Data must be encrypted to prevent exploitation. Therefore, it is wise to encrypt data and transmission as much as feasible. One of these techniques is end-to-end encryption.

Tor - It is used to anonymize data and traffic, making it more challenging to trace. It is frequently employed for encryption and penetration testing.

TCPCrypt - Although total encryption is recommended, this utility handles it automatically in the event that it cannot be done for whatever reason.

**Penetration Testing Tools **

The "red team," or a group of ethical hackers, uses these techniques to find weaknesses from the outside. These are adaptable by nature and can be used both offensively and defensively.

Aircrack - It is frequently used as a pentesting tool to test, audit, and secure networks. It is employed to monitor, record, and test wireless networks.

Lucy Security - Email-based phishing attempts, a type of social engineering, are among the most prevalent types of assaults. By claiming to be or impersonating a person in authority, it deceives people into disclosing crucial information. Threats stemming from emails are protected by this technique. For training purposes, phishing assaults are also simulated using it.
Metasploit -A pentesting-focused open-source platform, it is. It possesses the most recent and widespread exploits that support organisations' gradual attack defence.

Nmap - It displays a network map and lists all open ports. It is an excellent pen testing tool and is used to find potential vulnerabilities.

**Platforms Suites and Resources **

It is simpler to utilise a collection of tools that are already integrated and are simpler to set up than it is to use individual tools, which over time become difficult.

Kali Linux -It comes with more than 300 pre-loaded tools for network analysis, penetration testing, and other tasks. a crucial and practical tool for cyber security experts.

Got Phish - It provides guidance on how to deal with phishing, covering everything from recognising the threat, assessing its seriousness, reporting it to the appropriate authorities, and ultimately blocking the threat. SwiftOnSecurity, a Twitter account, is in charge of it.

**Conclusion**
Nearly 90% of business transactions in organisations are done online. Malware, viruses, and hackers are a few significant risks. Through 2021, there was a 125% increase in [cyberattacks](https://prilient.com/blog/emerging-cyber-security-threats-of-2024--how-to-safeguard-your-business), and 2023 is likely to have an increase. Businesses suffer damages from cybercrime that total millions of dollars. An estimated $4.35 million would be lost as a result of data breaches in 2023 alone. These figures demonstrate the critical necessity for cyber security to safeguard commercial operations, where cybersecurity tools will be valuable to any company.