Most of these tools have a computer security slant, some cannot be classified under any other term than ‘hacking tools’, so be careful when running them, especially if you don’t know what they do. Tools that interact with a network in a potentially dangerous way are marked with ‘D’.
Of course, no list can cover everything, so the tools below are just a small selection of the finest I’ve found and used, for a very thorough list of the top security tools, see fyodor’s top 75 security tools. Also be sure to look at the website of each tool – there may be a more recent version, or some other utilities you’ll find useful. snapfiles also have a good list of freeware and shareware.
All of the below hosted on this server, AFAIK are freeware, and have been tested OK on win2k on a 500mhz processor with 256Meg RAM, but most should work with much lower spec machines.
*=requires install
D=potentially dangerous
S=you might screw up your computer if you don’t know what you’re doing
PGP 602i
The 2nd best encryption package available. Includes PGPDisk.
I would now recommend gPg over PGP, unless PGPDisk is massively important to you.
CDex
rip a CD to mp3 tracks in minutes. Very customisable. Includes ID3 and CDDB support. Simply the faster and best CD Ripper out there.
download – website
Regex Coach
amazing utility that allows you to easily test regular expressions; it highlights what’s matched as you type the regex. Indispensible for those of us who aren’t geniuses.
download – website
autoruns
lists all programs that are run on startup, with option to stop them being run.
S download – website
procexp
lists, and gives option to kill, all running processes, realtime.
S download – website
netscan
scans local network for computer names/workgroups.
D download
smsniff
a lightweight and simple packet sniffer for win98-2000. win98 will need winpcap.
download – website
cports
realtime display of open ports, who owns the connection, and gives an option to kill the process who owns it.
download – website
smbscan
scans a network (WAN or LAN) for SMB shares, fast and powerful.
In fact it’s possible (but impractical) to scan the range 1.1.1.1 to .255 (i.e. the entire internet) with this tool.
D download – website
smbscan 2
a much more basic version of the above.
D download
Cain & Abel
Originally a basic trojan horse, ‘Cain’ now simply has too many features to list, see the website for full feature list (and latest version).
One of the greatest benefits for me is its ability to brute force mySQL PASSWORD(), md5, sha-1, and NTLM hashes. pretty nippy, too. forget LC4, get this, it’s considerably more free than L0phtCrack :-)
may be tagged as a virus by your AV. It is not.
D* download – website
putty
like a much more advanced version of telnet, supports SSH, session logging, saved profiles, etc.
download – website
servterm
a simple raw server, very useful for debugging.
download – website
Restoration
Freeware windows file recovery tool
Claims support on 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP, FAT12/FAT16/FAT32/NTFS (tested OK on XP/2k/Vista, FAT/FAT32/NTFS)
Fits on a floppy, which is great considering that when you install stuff it may overwrite your deleted data.
This really is brilliant and essential software.
Careful though; don’t use the “wipe free space” function on USB disks with ‘hidden’/password protected partitions. Seriously, just don’t. You can recover files from USB disks just fine though.
download
DS macmakeup171d
spoof your MAC address. Remember to record your original MAC address!
download – website
geektools whois
tray utility to ‘whois’ any domain.
download – website
xenu link sleuth
recursively check a website for broken links / 404 errors etc.
download – website
colorfinder
tells you the HTML, hex and rgb values of the colour under your cursor. Also functions as a screen magnifier.
download
mimedec
converts mime encoded files to their original. useful if your mail program sucks. (tested with AOL)
download
wul
lists installed windows updates/service packs.
download – website
scrdec14
decodes javascript that has been encoded using the windows script encoder.
download – website
password recovery tools
In a new folder because there’s a lot of them, and they’re mostly untested. See 000_readme.txt for info. Stuff Cracked: zip, md5, wsftp, outlook, ***, icq, msn, sql, access, pc anywhere, paradox, clarion, pwl, smb, e-dialler, eudora, aim, cuteftp + more
view list
chenard chess
a simple one or two player chess game, with the ability to save games. Damn hard AI, though. I’ve never beaten it.
download – website
dopewars
an excellent and addictive timewaster.
download – website
NOTE: the latest version is spyware, and, imho, not as good anyway.
all your base are belong to us
for great justice, take off every zig.
download – website
Add your suggestions below!
#1 by abhay on September 14, 2011 - 10:00 am
please give me some hacking news