Maximum Security, Third Edition

Chapter 11. Vulnerability Assessment Tools (Scanners)

In This Chapter

• The History of Vulnerability Scanners

• How Vulnerability Scanners Work

• What to Look For When Choosing a Scanner

• Fundamental Shortcomings

• Top Vulnerability Scanners

• Other Vulnerability Scanners

With vulnerability announcements being released at a dizzying pace, most organizations face an uphill battle when it comes to hunting down the security holes that reside on their systems. In an attempt to aid organizations in this ongoing quest, a number of commercial and open source efforts have risen to automate the process of vulnerability discovery. These vulnerability assessment tools, or scanners, come in many shapes and sizes, with varying degrees of accuracy. This chapter will outline ...