 - Nessus is an open-source network vulnerability scanner that uses the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures architecture for easy cross-linking between compliant security tools. Nessus employs the Nessus Attack Scripting Language (NASL), a simple language that describes individual threats and potential attacks.
Nessus has a modular architecture consisting of centralized servers that conduct scanning, and remote clients that allow for administrator interaction. Administrators can include NASL descriptions of all suspected vulnerabilities to develop customized scans. Significant capabilities of Nessus include:
- Compatibility with computers and servers of all sizes.
- Detection of security holes in local or remote hosts.
- Detection of missing security updates and patches.
- Simulated attacks to pinpoint vulnerabilities.
- Execution of security tests in a contained environment.
- Scheduled security audits.
The Nessus server is currently available for Unix, Linux and FreeBSD. The client is available for Unix- or Windows-based operating systems.
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Learn more about Network Security Monitoring and Analysis |
| Integrating NAC with network security tools: Integrating NAC solutions with other network security functions can produce a more complete user identity to strengthen every policy across the network. |
| NagVis -- 'Nagios: System and Network Monitoring, Second Edition,' Chapter 18: Learn to install, configure and create visual NagVis1 maps for your Nagios Web interface with Chapter 18 of "Nagios: System and Network Monitoring, 2nd Ed." |
| Visual Security Analysis -- 'Applied Security Visualization,' Chapter 5: Visual Security Analysis, Chapter 5 of the book 'Applied Security Visualization,' shows different ways of analyzing security data using visual approaches. |
| Network Infrastructure -- Chapter 9 of "Hacking for Dummies": This chapter will help you select tools, scan network hosts, assess security with a network analyzer, and prevent denial-of-service and infrastructure vulnerabilities. |
| Top expert Q&As of 2006: View the top five Q&As from our group of elite experts in 2006. Topics covered include: network admin & mgmt, security, routing and switching, certs, IPv6 and wireless networking. |
| LAST UPDATED: |
12 Oct 2006
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