Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Nikto VS w3af

Compare Nikto VS w3af and see what are their differences

Nikto logo Nikto

Nikto is an Open Source (GPL) web server scanner which performs comprehensive tests against web...

w3af logo w3af

w3af is a Web Application Attack and Audit Framework
  • Nikto Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-15
  • w3af Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29

Nikto features and specs

  • Open Source
    Nikto is open-source software, allowing for transparency, community contributions, and free usage, which reduces costs associated with web vulnerability scanning.
  • Comprehensive Testing
    Nikto is capable of testing for over 6,400 potentially dangerous files and programs, as well as outdated versions of servers, and version-specific insecure files/programs, providing a wide scope of security checks.
  • Regular Updates
    Nikto's database is regularly updated with the latest vulnerabilities and security threats, ensuring that scans are up-to-date with the most recent security findings.
  • Customization
    Users can customize the scans to match their specific needs by setting various options and parameters, allowing for flexibility in the security testing process.
  • Integration Capability
    Nikto can integrate with other security tools and platforms, enabling a more comprehensive security strategy and allowing it to be part of a broader security testing ecosystem.

Possible disadvantages of Nikto

  • False Positives
    Nikto can produce a significant number of false positives, which can lead to spending additional time and resources verifying the results.
  • Performance Overhead
    Being a thorough scanner, Nikto can consume significant resources and time, especially when scanning large websites or multiple targets, which might impact system performance.
  • Lack of Advanced Reporting
    Nikto's reporting capabilities are relatively basic compared to other commercial tools, which can make it challenging to analyze results and create comprehensive reports for non-technical stakeholders.
  • Limited User Interface
    Nikto primarily relies on command-line interface interactions, which may not be user-friendly for all users, especially those who are not comfortable with command-line operations.
  • Not Stealthy
    Nikto scans are not designed to be stealthy, meaning they can be easily detected by intrusion detection systems (IDS), which might raise alarms and potentially block the scans.

w3af features and specs

  • Open Source
    w3af is an open-source project, meaning it is freely available for modification and distribution, allowing for community contribution and transparency in its development.
  • Comprehensive Plugin System
    It offers a wide range of plugins to conduct various types of web application security testing, making it a versatile tool for security professionals.
  • Web-Based Vulnerability Scanner
    w3af is designed specifically for web applications, making it focused and comprehensive in detecting web-specific vulnerabilities.
  • Active Community and Support
    It has an active community of users and developers who contribute to its development and provide support to new users.

Possible disadvantages of w3af

  • Complexity
    w3af can be complex to configure and use, particularly for users who are not familiar with security tools or command-line interfaces.
  • Resource Intensive
    Due to its comprehensive scanning capabilities, running w3af can be resource-intensive and may impact system performance.
  • False Positives
    As with many automated scanning tools, there is a possibility of generating false positives, which can require additional validation work.
  • Limited Non-Web Application Testing
    w3af is specifically tailored for web applications and lacks features for testing non-web network vulnerabilities.

Analysis of Nikto

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Nikto is a useful tool for security professionals and system administrators.

Why this product is good

  • Nikto is a widely-used, open-source web server scanner that performs comprehensive tests against web servers for various vulnerabilities. It checks for dangerous files/CGIs, outdated server software, and other potentially risky items, making it a valuable tool for identifying security issues within web servers.

Recommended for

  • Security professionals who need to audit web servers for vulnerabilities.
  • System administrators aiming to ensure their web servers are up-to-date and free from known security issues.
  • Penetration testers who require a quick assessment of web server vulnerabilities as part of a broader security audit.

Nikto videos

*NEW* Nikto Operator Bundle | Modern Warfare

More videos:

  • Review - BEFORE YOU BUY NIKTO IN MODERN WARFARE
  • Review - Nikto Operator Bundle - Call Of Duty Modern Warfare

w3af videos

How to use the w3af website scanner in kali Linux

More videos:

  • Tutorial - What is W3af? | How to install Web Application Attack & Audit Framework?
  • Tutorial - W3AF Tutorial Part II using the GUI

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Nikto and w3af)
Security
63 63%
37% 37
Web Application Security
58 58%
42% 42
Monitoring Tools
57 57%
43% 43
Cyber Security
63 63%
37% 37

User comments

Share your experience with using Nikto and w3af. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, w3af should be more popular than Nikto. It has been mentiond 2 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.

Nikto mentions (1)

w3af mentions (2)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Nikto and w3af, you can also consider the following products

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

Shodan - Shodan is the world's first search engine for Internet-connected devices.

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

Intruder - Intruder is a security monitoring platform for internet-facing systems.

Horangi - Horangi is a leading cyber-security solution that provides instant response and threat detection for companies who lack the time and expertise to monitor their system.