Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Damn Vulnerable Web Application VS HackThisSite

Compare Damn Vulnerable Web Application VS HackThisSite and see what are their differences

Damn Vulnerable Web Application logo Damn Vulnerable Web Application

Used to practice web penetration testing

HackThisSite logo HackThisSite

Hack This Site is a legal free training ground for users to test and expand their hacking skills.
  • Damn Vulnerable Web Application Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-14
  • HackThisSite Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-11-14

Damn Vulnerable Web Application features and specs

  • Educational Tool
    DVWA is designed specifically for educational purposes, helping users understand web vulnerabilities and how to protect against them.
  • Hands-On Experience
    Provides a practical environment for security professionals and students to practice pen testing techniques in a controlled and legal space.
  • Wide Range of Vulnerabilities
    Covers numerous web vulnerabilities like SQL Injection, XSS, and CSRF, which are commonly found in real-world applications.
  • Configurable Security Levels
    Allows users to adjust the difficulty level of vulnerabilities to learn progressively, from beginner to advanced.
  • Open Source
    DVWA is an open-source project, making it freely accessible to anyone interested in learning about or teaching web application security.

Possible disadvantages of Damn Vulnerable Web Application

  • Security Risks
    Running DVWA on a network connected system can pose security risks, as it contains deliberate vulnerabilities that could be exploited if exposed to unauthorized users.
  • Limited to Known Vulnerabilities
    Primarily focuses on well-known web application vulnerabilities and may not cover newer or more sophisticated security threats.
  • Setup Complexity
    Requires proper setup and configuration, which might be complex for beginners without a strong background in web technologies or security.
  • Not a Real-World Environment
    While DVWA is a useful learning tool, it does not fully replicate the intricacies and scale of a real-world application environment.
  • Dependencies
    Relies on other software components and systems (like PHP and MySQL), which must be correctly installed and configured, leading to potential compatibility issues.

HackThisSite features and specs

  • Educational Experience
    HackThisSite offers practical, hands-on hacking challenges that help users improve and apply their cybersecurity skills in a controlled, legal environment.
  • Community Support
    The platform has a thriving community of cybersecurity enthusiasts and experts who actively engage in forums and discussions, providing support and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
  • Variety of Challenges
    HackThisSite provides a wide range of challenges, from basic to advanced levels, covering various aspects of cybersecurity, which caters to different skill levels and interests.
  • Legal and Safe Environment
    The site allows users to practice hacking legally, reducing the temptation to engage in unethical hacking activities.

Possible disadvantages of HackThisSite

  • Potential for Misuse
    Despite its educational intentions, there is a risk that some individuals may use the skills learned for unethical or illegal hacking activities.
  • Limited Real-World Scenarios
    While HackThisSite provides valuable practice, some challenges may not fully replicate real-world cybersecurity scenarios, which can limit practical application.
  • Resource Intensity
    Some users may find the challenges resource-intensive in terms of time and effort required to solve them, especially for beginners.
  • Potential Outdated Content
    Certain challenges and content on the site may become outdated as cybersecurity threats and technologies evolve over time.

Damn Vulnerable Web Application videos

Installing Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) on Windows 10

More videos:

  • Review - 12 - XSS (Stored) (low/med/high) - Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA)
  • Review - 5 - File Upload (low/med/high) - Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA)

HackThisSite videos

HackThisSite Basic Challenge 1

More videos:

  • Tutorial - HackThisSite: Realistic 1 Tutorial - Uncle Arnold's Band Review
  • Review - HackThisSite Realistic Challenge 1

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Damn Vulnerable Web Application and HackThisSite)
Monitoring Tools
44 44%
56% 56
Education
18 18%
82% 82
Education & Reference
27 27%
73% 73
Security & Privacy
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Damn Vulnerable Web Application and HackThisSite. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Damn Vulnerable Web Application seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 13 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Damn Vulnerable Web Application mentions (13)

  • Just starting out... building a lab recs?
    I would start with something like DVWA: https://dvwa.co.uk/. Source: about 3 years ago
  • I think this is a better approach in my case. Anyone in a similar boat?
    When you've got that, do some web-based challenges. The Damn Vulnerable Web Application is a great start as it has a little bit of everything. Start with Cross-Site Scripting, for example. Google it. Look at write-ups. Look at the solution for your current challenge, but it is important that you figure out why it works. As you go along with DVWA you will come across PHP and SQL. So google those and learn and... Source: about 3 years ago
  • Help needed with ab assignment
    Yes, the top 10 is a good place to start and pick a category from. For practice and demonstration you can use https://owasp.org/www-project-juice-shop/ or https://dvwa.co.uk/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • From php to hacking?
    Https://dvwa.co.uk/ Several difficulty levels on each topic. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Replacement for Damn Vulnerable Linux?
    It's not a distro, but you might still find DVWA (Damn Vulnerable Web Application) interesting. It's a PHP/MySQL-based web app, with the same goal as the distro you mentioned. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

HackThisSite mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of HackThisSite yet. Tracking of HackThisSite recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Damn Vulnerable Web Application and HackThisSite, you can also consider the following products

TryHackMe - TryHackMe is an online platform for learning and teaching cyber security, all through your browser.

Hack The Box - An online platform to test and advance your skills in penetration testing and cyber security.

VulnHub - VulnHub provides materials allowing anyone to gain practical hands-on experience with digital security, computer applications and network administration tasks.

PentesterLab - Learn all about web hacking through online courses spanning the basics to advanced vulnerabilities

Nessus - Nessus Professional is a security platform designed for businesses who want to protect the security of themselves, their clients, and their customers.

PwnTillDawn Online Battlefield - PwnTillDawn Online Battlefield is an online platform that allows you to learn and improve your pentesting and other cybersecurity assessments skills.