Automation testing consists of a Software testing technique. This technique uses a software tool to test other software, which is why it is referred to as Automation Testing, instead of manual testing performed by humans.

The Automation Testing procedure normally incorporates contrasting the got results of experiments with the anticipated results (when the test information is embedded into the System Under Test) and further controls the tests' execution. Test mechanization upholds useful and non-practical testing.

Moreover, Automation Testing can provide very detailed and insightful reports. Commonly, development cycles require the same test to be executed several times. When using a test automation tool, users can record the test suit and run it whenever required, without being dependent on human interference.

However, much of the time, the point isn't to altogether dispose of Manual Testing; all things being equal, the objective will in general be on diminishing the number of tests performed physically.

What are the best automation testing tools?

Launched in 2015, Katalon is a free-licensed, cross-browser tool that enables running automation testing for APIs, Web interfaces, and mobile (Android and iOS). Additionally, this tool provides analysis reports and test recording.

Katalon is a test automation tool based on the automation frameworks of Selenium and Appium. The platform stands out for its multiple purposes and easiness of use, considering it can create and reuse UI test scripts without requiring any code. Plus, it is easy to deploy and can deploy on macOS, Windows, and Linux.

According to users' different programming skills, Katalon offers dual scripting interfaces, allowing users with no coding skills to use a more straightforward interface. For those who can code, the platform runs on Groovy (a Java scripting language) and enables scripting with syntax, debugging and further provides code suggestions.

Additionally, Katalon supports parallel and sequential executions and can perform remote and local testing.

Selenium is a popular open-source (released under the Apache License 2.0) automation testing framework. Originally developed in 2004 by Jason Hugging, Selenium remains a widely-known and used tool for testing web applications. It operates across multiple browsers and platforms (macOS, Windows, and Linux) and can write tests in various programming languages, such as Python, Java, C#, Scala, Groovy, Ruby, Perl, and PHP.

Selenium is often used for regression testing. It offers testers a playback tool that allows them to record and playback regression tests. In fact, Selenium is not a single tool but rather a suite of software that includes various tools (or components):

Selenium IDE (Integrated Development Environment)

These tools focus on a specific development function to provide a complete web application test automation.

LambdaTest is a cloud-based automation testing tool for desktop and mobile applications. This tool allows for manual and automated cross-browser testing across more than 2000 operating systems, browsers, and devices.

LambdaTest allows testers to record real-time browser compatibility testing. Plus, it enables screen recording and automated screenshot testing on several combinations at a time.

Moreover, LambdaTest provides integration with several CI/CD tools, such as Jenkins, Circle CI, Travis CI, etc.

Ranorex is a test automation tool for web, desktop, and mobile. This tool provides numerous benefits, such as codeless test creation, recording and replaying testing phases, and reusable test scripts.

As we can observe, it is a complete and suitable tool both for beginners (since Ranorex provides a codeless interface) and for experts that, for instance, handle open APIs and have a full IDE. Additionally, Ranorex integrates tools, such as Git, Jenkins, TestRail, and Bamboo.

Ranorex's dynamic IDs provide good object identification. Plus, this tool offers a shareable object repository, which can save testers a lot of time. Another great benefit is that Ranorex offers video reporting of test execution. This feature allows testers to follow everything that happened without re-running tests.

Appium is an open-source test automation framework. This framework supports multiple programming languages (Python, Java, PHP, JavaScript, etc.) for writing tests and can integrate CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins).

Even though this framework is mainly used for mobile applications (covering both iOS and Android platforms), it can also perform automation of native and hybrid. Moreover, Appium is based on client-server architecture.

Some of the main advantages of using Appium is that it enables code reuse and cross-platform testing. Moreover, Appium Desktop provides a recording feature, allowing testers to record gestures as code.

Eggplant was developed by TestPlant to provide testers the possibility to execute different types of testing. Similar to Selenium, Eggplant is not a single tool but rather a suite of tools for automation testing, and each tool performs different types of testing.

In that sense, while on the one hand, Eggplant performance is used for performance, stress testing, and load. On the other hand, the functional testing tool is precisely focused on what the name indicates. One of the greatest features is that it allows testers to interact with the applications in the same way the end users will.

Plus, Eggplant's Digital Automation Intelligence is primarily used for application testing, as well as GUI testing. This suite tool follows an image-based approach, unlike the majority of automation testing tools, which tend to work on an object-based approach. Further, in Eggplant, it is possible to use a single script to execute testing on operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, and so on.

Kobiton is a cloud-based platform that can perform both manual and automated mobile and web testing. Its AI-driven scriptless approach can automate performance, visual and UX, functional, and compatibility testing. In addition, Kobiton offers automated crash detection, which ensures comprehensive quality.

Kobiton also provides CI/CD integrations (GitHub, TeamCity, Jenkins, etc.) and supports Selenium WebDriver, Katalon Studio, and Appium. This tool stands out for its fast process of testing mobile apps; thus, being a great tool to keep up with DevOps' speed.

Additional features include the ability to capture users' interactions and screenshots, as well as the ability to record videos.

There are numerous automation testing solutions available. The right choice depends mainly on the application under test and its technology. For instance, if the focus is on automation testing for mobile applications, the most suitable option from this list would be Appium or Kobiton.

Additionally, it is also recommended to consider the features that are more valued for each software, as well as the integrations with other tools and the ability to reuse tests regarding cross-browser testing.

This article identifies the top 7 automation testing tools in the market and describes their main features.

Top 7 automation testing tools

A penetration test, colloquially known as a pen test or ethical hacking, is an authorized simulated cyberattack on a computer system, performed to evaluate the security of the system; this is not to be confused with a vulnerability assessment. The test is performed to identify weaknesses (also referred to as vulnerabilities), including the potential for unauthorized parties to gain access to the system's features and data, as well as strengths, enabling a full risk assessment to be completed.

The process typically identifies the target systems and a particular goal, then reviews available information and undertakes various means to attain that goal. A penetration test target may be a white box (about which background and system information are provided in advance to the tester) or a black box (about which only basic information if any other than the company name is provided). A gray box penetration test is a combination of the two (where limited knowledge of the target is shared with the auditor). A penetration test can help identify a system's vulnerabilities to attack and estimate how vulnerable it is.

Netsparker Security Scanner is a popular automatic web application for penetration testing. The software can identify everything from cross-site scripting to SQL injection. Developers can use this tool on websites, web services, and web applications.

The system is powerful enough to scan anything between 500 and 1000 web applications at the same time. You will be able to customize your security scan with attack options, authentication, and URL rewrite rules. Netsparker automatically takes advantage of weak spots in a read-only way. Proof of exploitation is produced. The impact of vulnerabilities is instantly viewable.

Scan 1000+ web applications in less than a day!

Add multiple team members for collaboration and easy shareability of findings.

Automatic scanning ensures a limited set up is necessary.

Searches for exploitable SQL and XSS vulnerabilities in web applications.

Legal web application and regulatory compliance reports.

Proof-based scanning Technology guarantees accurate detection.

Once known as Ethereal 0.2.0, Wireshark is an award-winning network analyzer with 600 authors. With this software, you can quickly capture and interpret network packets. The tool is open-source and available for various systems, including Windows, Solaris, FreeBSD, and Linux.

Provides both offline analysis and live-capture options.

Capturing data packets allows you to explore various traits, including source and destination protocol.

It offers the ability to investigate the smallest details for activities throughout a network.

Optional adding of coloring rules to the pack for rapid, intuitive analysis.

Metasploit is the most used penetration testing automation framework in the world. Metasploit helps professional teams verify and manage security assessments, improves awareness, and arms and empowers defenders to stay a step ahead in the game.

It is useful for checking security and pinpointing flaws, setting up a defense. An Open source software, this tool will allow a network administrator to break in and identify fatal weak points. Beginner hackers use this tool to build their skills. The tool provides a way to replicates websites for social engineers.

Easy to use with GUI clickable interface and command line.

Manual brute-forcing, payloads to evade leading solutions, spear phishing, and awareness, an app for testing OWASP vulnerabilities.

Collects testing data for over 1,500 exploits.

MetaModules for network segmentation tests.

You can use this to explore older vulnerabilities within your infrastructure.

Available on Mac Os X, Windows and Linux.

Can be used on servers, networks, and applications.

This is a pen testing tool and is best suited for checking a web browser. Adapted for combating web-borne attacks and could benefit mobile clients. BeEF stands for Browser Exploitation Framework and uses GitHub to locate issues. BeEF is designed to explore weaknesses beyond the client system and network perimeter. Instead, the framework will look at exploitability within the context of just one source, the web browser.

You can use client-side attack vectors to check security posture.

Connects with more than one web browser and then launch directed command modules.

Passwords are one of the most prominent vulnerabilities. Attackers may use passwords to steal credentials and enter sensitive systems. John the Ripper is the essential tool for password cracking and provides a range of systems for this purpose. The pen testing tool is a free open source software.

Automatically identifies different password hashes.

Discovers password weaknesses within databases.

Pro version is available for Linux, Mac OS X, Hash Suite, Hash Suite Droid.

Allows users to explore documentation online. This includes a summary of changes between separate versions.

Aircrack NG is designed for cracking flaws within wireless connections by capturing data packets for an effective protocol in exporting through text files for analysis. While the software seemed abandoned in 2010, Aircrack was updated again in 2019.

This tool is supported on various OS and platforms with support for WEP dictionary attacks. It offers an improved tracking speed compared to most other penetration tools and supports multiple cards and drivers. After capturing the WPA handshake, the suite is capable of using a password dictionary and statistical techniques to break into WEP.

Works with Linux, Windows, OS X, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Solaris.

You can use this tool to capture packets and export data.

It is designed for testing wifi devices as well as driver capabilities.

Focuses on different areas of security, such as attacking, monitoring, testing, and cracking.

In terms of attacking, you can perform de-authentication, establish fake access points, and perform replay attacks.

Acutenix is an automated testing tool you can use to complete a penetration test. The tool is capable of auditing complicated management reports and issues with compliance. The software can handle a range of network vulnerabilities. Acunetix is even capable of including out-of-band vulnerabilities.

The advanced tool integrates with the highly enjoyed Issue Trackers and WAFs. With a high-detection rate, Acunetix is one of the industry’s advanced Cross-site scripting and SQLi testing, which includes sophisticated advanced detection of XSS.

The tool covers over 4500 weaknesses, including SQL injection as well as XSS.

The Login Sequence Recorder is easy-to-implement and scans password-protected areas.

The AcuSensor Technology, Manual Penetration tools, and Built-in Vulnerability Management streamline black and white box testing to enhance and enable remediation.

Can crawl hundreds of thousands of web pages without delay.

Ability to run locally or through a cloud solution.

There are two different versions of the Burp Suite for developers. The free version provides the necessary and essential tools needed for scanning activities. Or, you can opt for the second version if you need advanced penetration testing. This tool is ideal for checking web-based applications. There are tools to map the tack surface and analyze requests between a browser and destination servers. The framework uses Web Penetration Testing on the Java platform and is an industry-standard tool used by the majority of information security professionals.

Capable of automatically crawling web-based applications.

Available on Windows, OS X, Linux, and Windows.

The Ettercap suite is designed to prevent man in the middle attacks. Using this application, you will be able to build the packets you want and perform specific tasks. The software can send invalid frames and complete techniques which are more difficult through other options.

This tool is ideal for deep packet sniffing as well as monitoring and testing LAN.

Ettercap supports active and passive dissection of protections.

You can complete content filtering on the fly.

The tool also provides settings for both network and host analysis.

In this article, we will know what are the top 17 Penetration Testing tools. 

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