As an ethical hacker, I regularly use specialized tools to uncover weaknesses in systems before the bad guys can exploit them. It's crucial work that requires an ever-evolving toolkit to keep up with the latest threats.

Here are 7 go-to Ethical Hacking tools I use for nearly every penetration test:

1. Nmap

Nmap, or "Network Mapper," rapidly scans networks to determine what devices and services are running. This recon is invaluable intel for planning my testing strategy. Nmap gives me a bird's-eye view of the network landscape.

2. Burp Suite

Burp Suite is a web app testing powerhouse. Its advanced tools allow me to seamlessly intercept traffic between browsers and apps. I can then analyze and manipulate requests and responses to find vulnerabilities. Burp makes it almost fun to reveal flaws.

3. John the Ripper

When I come across password-protected resources, John the Ripper is my trusty password cracking tool. Through brute forcing encrypted passwords, it can uncover even very strong credentials. Of course, I get the green light before using it!

4. Aircrack-ng

Aircrack-ng is vital for breaking into WiFi networks by capturing secret handshake packets between clients and access points. Once I have the handshake, Aircrack does the heavy lifting to crack the pre-shared key.

5. Metasploit

Metasploit takes exploitation to the next level. Its massive database of known exploits integrated with slick automation makes compromising all sorts of systems surprisingly easy.

6. SQLmap

SQLmap helps me verify if a web app is vulnerable to SQL injection by trying potentially malicious payloads. If the payloads succeed, that means SQLmap can pull sensitive data from or even take control of the database.

7. Kali Linux

Kali Linux brings many of these tools together into a pre-configured ethical hacking operating system. With hundreds of built-in utilities, Kali makes running a smooth penetration test a breeze. With new attack techniques emerging daily, ethical hackers need to continuously expand their arsenal. But mastering these 7 versatile tools is a must to build a strong foundation.