📱 Mobile Security Tips
Sarah Chen — iOS Security Specialist
What is OpenVAS?
OpenVAS (Open Vulnerability Assessment Scanner) is a free and open-source vulnerability scanner designed to identify security vulnerabilities in your systems. It provides comprehensive scanning capabilities, making it a popular choice for security analysts and penetration testers.
Installation
OpenVAS can be installed on various Linux distributions. The following instructions are for Ubuntu/Debian-based systems.
sudo apt update sudo apt install openvas sudo gvm-setup sudo gvm-check-setup
After installation, start OpenVAS services using:
sudo gvm-start
Basic Syntax
openvas -h hostname -u username -p password
Discovery
Perform network discovery to identify active devices.
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| -r | Ranges to scan |
| -R | The Read-only mode |
To perform a scan of a specific range:
openvas -r 192.168.1.1-254
Scanning
Execute vulnerability scans against your defined targets.
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| -t | Target to scan |
To start a scan:
openvas -t 192.168.1.1
Exploitation
While OpenVAS doesn’t exploit directly, it provides information for potential exploitation techniques.
Analysis
Analyze scan results to identify vulnerabilities.
After a scan completes, results can be viewed in the OpenVAS web interface. Export reports in various formats (HTML, XML, PDF) for further analysis:
openvas -e report.pdf
Evasion
Utilize stealthy scanning techniques to avoid detection.
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| –stealth | Perform a stealth scan |
openvas --stealth
Reporting
OpenVAS generates detailed vulnerability reports.
Quick Reference Table
-h Display help -r Define range to scan -t Specify target for scan -e Export results --stealth Perform a stealth scan
Pro Tips
- Regularly update your OpenVAS vulnerability feeds to ensure you are scanning against the latest threats.
- Use –batch to automate scans with scripts.
- Include OpenVAS scans in CI/CD pipelines to continuously monitor for vulnerabilities.
Real-World Examples
Consider implementing comprehensive scans on a regular schedule:
# Conduct daily scans on all network devices openvas -r 192.168.0.0/24 # Generate a report at week’s end openvas -e weekly_report.pdf