Tools · Ethical Hacking

List the top 10 tools every ethical hacker should master in 2026.

(1) Burp Suite Pro — web app testing standard. (2) Nmap — port scanning + NSE scripts. (3) Metasploit Framework — exploit chains. (4) sqlmap — SQL injection automation. (5) Nuclei — template-based vulnerability scanning. (6) Wireshark — packet analysis. (7) Hashcat / John — password cracking. (8) BloodHound + SharpHound — AD attack mapping. (9) Frida — mobile/desktop runtime instrumentation. (10) Bonus: Garak / PyRIT for LLM red teaming (emerging in 2026). Honourable mentions: Mimikatz (Windows post-exploitation), Volatility (memory forensics), Ghidra (reverse engineering), Cobalt Strike (commercial — red team).

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