Nmap vs Ghiro: Which Chrome Extension tool is Best in 2025?

Nmap, short for Network Mapper, is a free, open-source network scanning tool used for network discovery and security auditing. Created by Gordon Lyon (pseudonym Fyodor Vaskovich), it employs raw IP packets to identify hosts, services, operating systems, and firewall configurations on a network. Nmap’s capabilities include port scanning (TCP and UDP), OS detection, version detection, and vulnerability scanning via its Nmap Scripting Engine (NSE), which supports Lua-based scripts for automation and advanced tasks. It’s widely used by network administrators for inventory management, service monitoring, and uptime tracking, as well as by cybersecurity professionals for penetration testing and vulnerability assessments. Nmap supports multiple platforms, including Linux, Windows, and macOS, and features a graphical interface called Zenmap for ease of use.

Ghiro is an open-source, automated digital image forensics platform available for installation on Kali Linux, designed to analyze images, extract metadata, detect manipulations, and uncover hidden data. Developed by volunteers, Ghiro processes formats like JPEG, PNG, and TIFF, offering features such as Error Level Analysis (ELA), metadata extraction, and hash verification. With a web-based interface and support for case management, it’s ideal for forensic analysts, cybersecurity professionals, and ethical hackers conducting image authenticity investigations. Ghiro’s Virtual Appliance and Ubuntu-based setup simplify deployment, making it accessible for digital forensic labs.