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OpenVAS VS AppArmor

Compare OpenVAS VS AppArmor and see what are their differences

OpenVAS logo OpenVAS

The Open Vulnerability Assessment System (OpenVAS) is a framework of several services and tools...

AppArmor logo AppArmor

A Mandatory Access Control (MAC) system which is a kernel (LSM) enhancement to confine programs to...
  • OpenVAS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-22
  • AppArmor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-13

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.

AppArmor features and specs

  • Granular Access Control
    AppArmor allows for fine-grained control over what resources applications can access, enhancing system security by limiting application capabilities to only what is necessary.
  • Ease of Use
    Compared to some other security modules like SELinux, AppArmor is considered easier to configure and deploy, making it more accessible for system administrators.
  • Profile-Based Security
    AppArmor uses profiles to define policies for applications. These profiles can be tailored specifically for different applications, providing a customized security approach.
  • Compatibility
    AppArmor is compatible with various Linux distributions, making it a versatile option for different environments.

Possible disadvantages of AppArmor

  • Limited to Linux
    AppArmor is specifically designed for Linux operating systems, which might be a limitation for organizations using diverse operating systems.
  • Profile Maintenance
    The need to regularly update and maintain profiles as applications change or are updated can be resource-intensive and requires ongoing attention.
  • Less Comprehensive Than SELinux
    Some experts argue that AppArmor is not as comprehensive in its security capabilities as SELinux, which might be a drawback for environments requiring advanced security features.
  • Bypass Possibilities
    There may be potential for apps to bypass AppArmor policies if not correctly configured, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities.

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.

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

AppArmor videos

How to use apparmor: 2-Minute Linux Tips

More videos:

  • Review - Aaron Jones: Introduction To Firejail, AppArmor, and SELinux
  • Review - Securing Ubuntu 18 04 with Apparmor

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenVAS and AppArmor)
Security
82 82%
18% 18
Monitoring Tools
74 74%
26% 26
Web Application Security
100 100%
0% 0
Online Services
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 OpenVAS and AppArmor

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.

AppArmor Reviews

We have no reviews of AppArmor yet.
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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.

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: over 3 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: over 4 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 4 years ago
  • Free nessus equivalent?
    Maybe OpenVAS would fill the bill. Itโ€™s been on my list of things to check out. Source: over 4 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: about 5 years ago
View more

AppArmor mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Qualys - Qualys helps your business automate the full spectrum of auditing, compliance and protection of your IT systems and web applications.

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

Trend Micro Deep Security - Excellent hybrid cloud security doesn't require your business to sacrifice operational performance. Trend Micro lets you keep business moving securely.

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

Symantec Cloud Workload Protection - Symantec Cloud Workload Protection enables business agility and cost savings by automating security for public cloud workloads. Visit Symantec to learn more.