1BlackArch Linux Offers Wealth of Security Research Tools
by Sean Michael Kerner
2BlackArch Has Sever Desktop Choices
Users can choose from multiple Linux desktops for BlackArch, with Fluxbox being the default.
3Tool Categories Range From A to W
The long list of categories in BlackArch starts with anti-forensic tools and goes all the way to wireless and includes everything in between.
4RopeADope Cleans Logs
The RopeADope application enables security researchers to clean out Linux logs.
5Easy Creds for Security Researchers
The Easy Creds tool is a script that helps enable researchers to steal user credentials during a penetration test.
6Automation Tools Accelerate the Security Research Process
Easy Creds is just one of many automation tools included in BlackArch to automate security research. Other popular tools include the Gooscan google security scanner, Shodan and Panoptic.
7Backdoor Access via OpenStego and Malicious Images
Multiple tools for backdoor access are in BlackArch, including OpenStego, a steganography application that can be used to hide data inside an image.
8Take Your Pick From Crackers
One of the most robust categories of tools inside BlackArch is for password-cracking tools, which include the popular Jack the Ripper password cracker and Facebook Brute Forcer. There are 254 dcracking tools in the BlackArch 2015.03.29 release.
9Unibrute Scrutinizes Database Security
The Unibrute tool is a multi-threaded SQL injection and brute-force tool for analyzing database security.
10Test for ShellShock Risk With Shocker
BlackArch is well-stocked in exploitation tools, too. Among the many applications is the Websploit advanced man-In-the-middle framework and the Shocker shellshock scanner and exploitation tool.
11Both Firefox and Opera Browsers Are Included
Security researchers still need a Web browser, and BlackArch includes both Firefox and Opera.
12Wordpot Is a WordPress Honeypot Included in BlackArch
Honeypots are tools used to trick and trap attackers. One of the most widely deployed honeypots is honeyd, which is included in BlackArch. The Wordpot WordPress honeypot is also included, providing researchers with the ability to detect probes for plug-ins, themes and other common files used to fingerprint a WordPress installation.
13Security Researchers Can Target Drones
Among the interesting categories of tools that BlackArch integrates are applications for drone security research, including Mission Planner, Snoopy and Skyjack.
14BlackArch 2015.03.29 Powered by a Linux 3.19 Kernel
The Linux 3.19 kernel, first released on Feb. 9, is the core of BlackArch.