OpenVAS is regarded as one of the best vulnerability scanners available today; in addition, it is entirely open-source, free of charge, and supported by a dedicated community of software developers. However, it was developed with technically competent users in mind, so non-techies should proceed with caution when using it.
Pros
Comprehensive protection for an option that is free
A committed group of software engineers as a community.
free of charge and available in an open-source format
Support for multiple OS’
Cons
Insurmountable for consumers without a strong background in technology
User interface that has seen better days
Open Vulnerability Assessment System, also known as OpenVAS for short, is a full-featured, cross-functional, open-source web security scanner(opens in new tab) that came into existence after Nessus stopped being an open-source software and transitioned into a commercial security solution. OpenVAS is a web security scanner(opens in new tab) that scans for vulnerabilities in a website.
Even though it was formerly known as GNessUs and was developed as a spin-off of Nessus, it continues to make extensive use of plugins written in the Nessus Attack Scripting Language (NASL). In the end, OpenVAS would evolve into the tool for large-scale businesses that it is today in the year 2006.
Greenbone Networks, based in Germany, is responsible for both the open-source version of OpenVAS and the component of OpenVAS that is included in commercial software. Both versions of OpenVAS are available on the market today.
Because the official website for OpenVAS is so basic, clicking any link on it will immediately take you to Greenbone’s website or one of their GitHub pages. There, you will be able to learn more about OpenVAS and its background.
On the other hand, to be fair, their GitHub website provides a large amount of information – possibly even more than you will care to read. In addition to that, there is a blog, and it seems as though it is still rather active.
Strategies and cost breakdowns
You will be able to keep one step ahead of cybercriminals by using OpenVAS, and you won’t have to invest a single dime to do so because OpenVAS is an open-source solution that’s free to use.
If, on the other hand, your needs go beyond what this freeware can provide, you have the option of purchasing one of the paid solutions that Greenbone has to offer, such as Greenbone Enterprise Appliances or Greenbone Cloud Service. In spite of the fact that both products are described in great depth, in order to obtain information regarding their prices, you will need to submit a request for a quote through a ticket form. On this form, you will be asked to provide information regarding yourself, your company, and the security needs of your organisation.
In addition, you have the option to make a request for a free trial of Greenbone’s paid items that will last for a period of fourteen days.
OpenVAS was developed with Linux(opens in new tab) in mind; but, it can be easily run on Windows if a Linux virtual machine is constructed on the Windows platform; nevertheless, doing so will require some knowledge of technical details.
The capabilities and characteristics
Because OpenVAS is a vulnerability scanner, its purpose is to proactively look for security flaws in your systems and the applications running on them, detect those flaws, and forecast how effective your cybersecurity measures will be in the event of an attack. It is one of the most important tools that should be included in any cybersecurity toolkit.
Its basic capabilities include unauthenticated testing as well as authenticated testing, performance tuning, a wide range of high-level and low-level internet and industrial protocols, and an internal programming language for executing a variety of vulnerability tests.
OpenVAS is offered in two feeds: the Greenbone Community Feed, which is cost-free and open-source; and the Greenbone Enterprise Feed, which is a paid subscription service (a commercial one).
Even though the open-source feed is missing some capabilities, it still offers a reasonably extensive coverage that encompasses things like home applications (for instance, those for Ubuntu, AVM Fritzbox, and MS Office).
In addition to that, it includes both generic and bespoke scan setups, as well as a variety of report formats, port lists, and major vulnerability testing. On the other hand, given that Greenbone’s community is made up of people from all over the world who are both creative and willing to contribute, the community feed now contains more than 100,000 vulnerability tests.
It is also important to note that all of the data is updated on a daily basis, but no assurances are provided for its accuracy.
The user interface and how easy it is to utilise
Because downloading and installing OpenVAS is fairly complicated and will undoubtedly be too much for anyone without a strong background in technology, many people will give up at this point and begin looking for other options.
To summarise, you won’t have any problems with this if you’re experienced with creating software from source code and are a Linux fan. This is because in order to install OpenVAS, you’ll need to build it from source code. In that case, you might want to think about the various possibilities that are out there.
You also have the option of using an OpenVAS virtual machine, for which you will need a virtual machine player. Since VirtualBox is a free, open-source option that is compatible with all operating systems (OS’s), you should think about using it instead.
Even while the virtual machine option is far less complicated than the one that involves the source code, it is by no means user-friendly for novices in any manner.
In the event that everything works out as planned, you will move on to the OpenVAS user interface (UI), which, despite its antiquated appearance, is not difficult to understand. It also includes a wizard that will assist you in setting up simple as well as advanced scans for target machines. To use the wizard, locate the symbol of a magic staff in the upper left corner of the screen, click on it, select “Task Wizard” (or “Advanced Task Wizard” for advanced scans), enter the IP address of the machine you wish to scan, and then click the “Start Scan” button.
Our scan was finished in a startlingly short amount of time, and even after we made several policy adjustments, the total amount of time it took was perfectly appropriate.
Customer support
OpenVAS isn’t exactly strong in terms of customer care, so if you get stuck along the way (and yes, you probably will), you’ll have to make do with self-help options because the company doesn’t offer much in the way of client support. Even if you are willing to shell out a significant sum of money for premium help, you will not be able to obtain it because there is just no opportunity to do so.
In the meanwhile, you are more than welcome to send an e-mail to the Greenbone team or file a support request if you have an account with them. You will, however, need to check the community forum on Greenbone to see if anyone there is ready to help you out of the kindness of their own heart in order to obtain the technical support that you require.
In addition to the documentation page that can be found on the Greenbone website, there is also a glossary, a changelog, and a frequently asked questions section.
Competition
Nessus, in addition to serving as a source of creativity for OpenVAS, is also the most formidable adversary it faces. In terms of performance, Nessus comes out on top by a hair’s breadth; it protects against a greater number of vulnerabilities and has a lower proportion of false-positive results. OpenVAS, on the other hand, is easier on the wallet and provides a free module as well; so, if you are working with a limited amount of money, you should consider giving OpenVAS a try.
OpenVAS is much more than a simple vulnerability scanner, so it wins in terms of complexity, customization, and scan coverage. Vulnerability Manager Plus, on the other hand, is superior to OpenVAS when it comes to being user-friendly for beginners, having an easy-to-use interface in general, and having a modern appearance.
Probely is likely to meet all of your needs if you are searching for an alternative to OpenVAS that is both user-friendly and significantly easier. However, the free plan is the most fundamental option they offer.
Final verdict
OpenVAS is a robust vulnerability scanner that is an all-in-one solution that can carry out large-scale assessments in addition to a wide range of network vulnerability checks. The vibrant developer community, extensive scan coverage, and the fact that it is open-source software that is completely free to use are some of the primary selling features of this product.
