Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Netsparker VS OpenVAS

Compare Netsparker VS OpenVAS and see what are their differences

Netsparker logo Netsparker

Netsparker is a tool for scanning web sites for security vulnerabilities.

OpenVAS logo OpenVAS

The Open Vulnerability Assessment System (OpenVAS) is a framework of several services and tools...
  • Netsparker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-21
  • OpenVAS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-22

Netsparker features and specs

  • Comprehensive Scanning
    Netsparker offers deep and thorough scanning capabilities, capable of identifying a wide range of security vulnerabilities across web applications, including SQL Injection, XSS, and more.
  • Automation
    The tool supports automation for recurring scans, which helps in continuously monitoring web applications for vulnerabilities without requiring extensive manual intervention.
  • Accuracy and Proof-Based Scanning
    Netsparker employs Proof-Based Scanning technology, which not only identifies vulnerabilities but also validates their existence, reducing false positives and making it easier to act on findings.
  • Integrations
    It integrates well with various CI/CD pipelines and other development tools like Jenkins, Jira, and GitHub, facilitating seamless incorporation into existing workflows.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform boasts an intuitive and easy-to-navigate user interface, which simplifies the process of setting up scans, viewing results, and managing vulnerabilities.
  • Reporting and Compliance
    Netsparker offers detailed and customizable reporting features, which are particularly useful for compliance and auditing purposes. Reports can be tailored to meet specific compliance requirements like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, etc.
  • Team Collaboration
    Netsparker includes features for team collaboration, allowing multiple users to work together in identifying and addressing security issues more efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of Netsparker

  • Cost
    Netsparker can be expensive for small to medium-sized businesses, especially when compared to other web vulnerability scanners in the market.
  • Resource Intensive
    The scanner can be resource-intensive, potentially slowing down web applications during scans, especially for larger applications with many endpoints.
  • Initial Setup Complexity
    While the user interface is user-friendly, the initial setup and configuration can be complex, requiring a fair amount of time and technical expertise.
  • Overwhelming Features
    The wide range of features and settings can be overwhelming for new users or smaller teams who may not need all the advanced functionalities.
  • Limited Offline Capabilities
    Netsparker primarily operates as an online service, and its capabilities when offline are limited, which could be a constraint for organizations operating in restricted or high-security environments.

OpenVAS features and specs

  • Open Source
    OpenVAS is an open-source vulnerability scanning tool, which means it is free to use and the source code is available for customization.
  • Comprehensive Scanning
    It offers comprehensive vulnerability scanning capabilities, including a wide range of tests for network vulnerabilities, web application security, and compliance checks.
  • Regular Updates
    The tool receives regular updates, ensuring that it keeps up with the latest vulnerabilities and security threats.
  • Community Support
    OpenVAS has a strong community of users and developers who contribute to its development and provide support through forums and other channels.
  • Integration Capabilities
    OpenVAS can be integrated with other security tools and systems, enhancing its utility in a broader security infrastructure.

Possible disadvantages of OpenVAS

  • Complex Setup
    Setting up OpenVAS can be complex and time-consuming, requiring a fair amount of technical expertise.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running OpenVAS can be resource-intensive, potentially requiring significant CPU and memory, especially during large-scale scans.
  • False Positives
    Like many vulnerability scanning tools, OpenVAS can generate false positives, which can result in additional effort to validate findings.
  • User Interface
    The user interface can be less intuitive compared to some commercial vulnerability scanners, potentially increasing the learning curve for new users.
  • Limited Real-Time Capabilities
    OpenVAS is more focused on periodic scanning rather than real-time vulnerability detection and management.

Analysis of Netsparker

Overall verdict

  • Netsparker is considered a robust and effective solution for web application security scanning. Its comprehensive feature set, ease of use, and detailed reporting make it a strong contender in the vulnerability scanning space. However, the investment may be significant for smaller organizations, so it's best suited for entities that can leverage its full capabilities.

Why this product is good

  • Netsparker, now a part of Invicti, is regarded as a reliable tool for web application security due to its accuracy in identifying vulnerabilities such as SQL Injection, XSS, and other OWASP Top 10 threats. It offers automated web vulnerability scanning with proof-based scanning technology that reduces false positives. This makes it a favored choice for security professionals looking for efficient and precise results.

Recommended for

    Netsparker is recommended for medium to large enterprises that require thorough and automated web application security testing. It's particularly beneficial for organizations with a strong focus on security compliance and those that demand high accuracy in vulnerability scanning results. Additionally, it is suitable for security teams that can benefit from reduced false positives to optimize their workflow.

Analysis of OpenVAS

Overall verdict

  • OpenVAS is a good choice for those seeking a reliable and free vulnerability management solution. However, users should be prepared for a potentially steep learning curve and the need for manual configuration to tailor the scanner to their specific environment.

Why this product is good

  • OpenVAS is a comprehensive open-source vulnerability scanner that is widely respected within the cybersecurity community. It provides extensive scanning capabilities, a regularly updated database of vulnerabilities, and supports a wide range of network protocols. The tool is versatile and can be integrated with other software for enhanced security operations. It is well-suited for detecting vulnerabilities in the network and identifying security issues that need to be addressed.

Recommended for

    OpenVAS is ideal for small to medium-sized organizations looking for a cost-effective vulnerability scanning solution. It's also suitable for cybersecurity professionals who have the technical expertise to configure and maintain the scanner, as well as enthusiasts or students who are keen on learning more about vulnerability management using open-source tools.

Netsparker videos

PHP Type Juggling Vulnerabilities, Netsparker - Paul's Security Weekly #572

More videos:

  • Review - Getting Started with Netsparker Web Application Security Scanner
  • Review - Introduction to Netsparker Web Application Security Scanners

OpenVAS videos

How to find Exploits with OpenVAS

More videos:

  • Review - Vulnerability Analysis with OpenVAS | Scanning and Reconnaissance
  • Review - Vulnerability Identification and Remediation Cybrary Lab | Ep. 3 Kali Linux, OpenVAS, + more

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Netsparker and OpenVAS)
Security
53 53%
47% 47
Web Application Security
51 51%
49% 49
Security & Privacy
100 100%
0% 0
Monitoring Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Netsparker and OpenVAS

Netsparker Reviews

10 Best Tenable Nessus Alternatives For 2021 [Updated List]
Netsparker is a cloud-based, on-premises web application security scanner that can help you build automated security throughout your entire SDLC. It can be used on any platform and can perform fast, accurate scans on all types of web applications, APIs, and services.
Best Nessus Alternatives (Free and Paid) for 2021
Netsparker is one of the best Nessus alternatives. It is an automated security testing tool that makes it easy for organizations to secure thousands of websites and dramatically reduce the risk of attack. By empowering security teams with unique DAST + IAST scanning capabilities on the market, Netsparker allows organizations with complicated environments to automate their...
Top 4 Open Source Security Testing Tools to Test Web Application
Netsparker uniquely verifies the identified vulnerabilities proving they are real and not false positives, so you do not need to waste hours manually verifying the identified vulnerabilities once a scan is finished.

OpenVAS Reviews

Best Burp Suite Alternatives (Free and Paid) for 2023
The primary reason businesses use OpenVas is to perform comprehensive security testing of their IP addresses. This tool performs a port scan of an IP address to find any open services. Once listening services are found, they are tested for known vulnerabilities and misconfiguration using a large database of 53000 NVT checks. The results are compiled into a report that...
Burp suite alternatives
It is an open vulnerability assessment system is a software framework of services and tools offering vulnerability scanning and vulnerability assessment. The aim of OpenVAS protocol ia to be well documented to assist the developers. all products of OpenVAS are free, most components are licensed under the GNU, general public license. Its Plugins are written in NASL (Nessus...
Source: www.educba.com
10 Best Tenable Nessus Alternatives For 2021 [Updated List]
Verdict: OpenVAS is an open-source web application security scanner that will help you accurately detect vulnerabilities. It is easily configurable and can be tuned accordingly if you want to perform large-scale scans. Its use of updated data feeds makes it extremely efficient in detecting almost all types of vulnerabilities.
Best Nessus Alternatives (Free and Paid) for 2021
OpenVAS receives updates daily, which broadens the vulnerability detection coverage. It also helps in risk assessment and suggests countermeasures when the vulnerabilities in an application or network is detected.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenVAS seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 6 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.

Netsparker mentions (0)

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

OpenVAS mentions (6)

  • Link CVE to installed applications?
    Otherwise your on the right path checkout the open source Greenbones OpenVAS (this was Nessus before they closed source and became corporate) or Project Discovery Nuclei. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What should I be doing as the sole sysadmin for a company to keep up with security?
    Personally, I was lucky enough to get a license to Nessus for my own scanning, however you can use OpenVAS for some free to scan. Scanners aren't 100% correct no matter where you go but it'll give you some things to look at. OpenVAS. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Wanting to protect my own homelab
    Https://openvas.org/ OpenVAS is free and fairly capable. It might struggle cpu on a pi... Might need quite a bit of ram, but I'm hoping you've got some beefier kit in your stack. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Free nessus equivalent?
    Maybe OpenVAS would fill the bill. It’s been on my list of things to check out. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Internal Vulnerability Scanning
    OpenVAS - https://openvas.org Try it first, its free, just download a prebuilt VM and you're off and running. I found it valuable for my clients. Source: almost 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Netsparker and OpenVAS, you can also consider the following products

Acunetix Vulnerability Scanner - Acunetix Vulnerability Scanner is a platform that offers a web vulnerability scanner and provides security testing to users for their web applications.

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

Burp Suite - Burp Suite is an integrated platform for performing security testing of web applications.

StackPath - Secure Content Delivery Network, DDoS, WAF Service

Acunetix - Audit your website security and web applications for SQL injection, Cross site scripting and other...

Pulse Secure - Pulse Secure provides a consolidated offering for access control, SSL VPN, and mobile device security. Contact Pulse Secure at 408-372-9600 to get a free demo.