The Simplicity of Modern Hacking: Tools and Techniques

2025-02-12

Being a hacker has never been easier! With just $4.59, an old hoodie, and a laptop, you can get started. While some may argue that a sticker on a laptop doesn’t make you a hacker, the reality is that the barrier to entry in the cybersecurity world has significantly lowered. Here, we’ll explore some practical tools and commands that aspiring cybersecurity enthusiasts can use to get started.

Basic Linux Commands for Cybersecurity

1. Network Scanning with Nmap

Nmap is a powerful network scanning tool used to discover hosts and services on a network.

nmap -sP 192.168.1.0/24

This command performs a ping scan to identify active devices on the network.

2. Packet Sniffing with tcpdump

tcpdump is a command-line packet analyzer.

sudo tcpdump -i eth0 -w output.pcap

This captures packets on the `eth0` interface and saves them to output.pcap.

3. Password Cracking with John the Ripper

John the Ripper is a fast password cracker.

john --wordlist=/usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt hashes.txt

This command uses a wordlist to crack passwords stored in hashes.txt.

4. Vulnerability Scanning with Nikto

Nikto is a web server scanner.

nikto -h http://example.com

This scans the target website for vulnerabilities.

5. Exploitation with Metasploit

Metasploit is a penetration testing framework.

msfconsole
use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue
set RHOSTS 192.168.1.10
exploit

This example uses the EternalBlue exploit against a target.

What Undercode Say

The world of cybersecurity is both exciting and challenging. With the right tools and knowledge, anyone can start their journey into ethical hacking. However, it’s crucial to remember that with great power comes great responsibility. Always ensure you have permission before testing systems, and use your skills ethically.

Here are some additional Linux commands and tools to enhance your cybersecurity skills:
– SSH Hardening:

sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Edit the SSH configuration to disable root login and use key-based authentication.

  • Firewall Configuration with UFW:
    sudo ufw enable
    sudo ufw allow 22/tcp
    

This enables the firewall and allows SSH traffic.

  • Log Analysis with grep:
    grep "Failed password" /var/log/auth.log
    

    This searches for failed login attempts in the auth log.

  • File Integrity Checking with AIDE:

    sudo aide --check
    

This checks for unauthorized changes to system files.

  • Web Application Testing with OWASP ZAP:
    zap-cli quick-scan --spider -r http://example.com
    

    This performs a quick scan of a web application.

For further reading, check out these resources:

Cybersecurity is a constantly evolving field. Stay curious, keep learning, and always practice ethical hacking. The more you experiment with these tools and commands, the more proficient you’ll become. Remember, the goal is to protect systems, not exploit them maliciously.

Happy hacking!

References:

Hackers Feeds, Undercode AIFeatured Image

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