Recon-ng vs Lynis vs Eaphammer: Which Metasploit GUI tool is Best in 2025?

Recon-ng is a powerful, open-source web reconnaissance framework written in Python, designed for open-source intelligence (OSINT) gathering and web-based information collection. Pre-installed on Kali Linux (version 5.1.2 in the latest releases), it features a modular architecture with a Metasploit-like interface, offering independent modules, database interaction, and interactive help for efficient reconnaissance. Recon-ng supports tasks like domain enumeration, subdomain discovery, vulnerability scanning, and contact harvesting, with modules for GeoIP lookup, DNS lookup, and Shodan integration. Its marketplace allows users to install additional modules. Ideal for ethical hackers, penetration testers, and cybersecurity professionals, Recon-ng streamlines network footprinting and vulnerability assessment, storing data in workspace databases for organized analysis. It’s maintained by Tim Tomes and hosted on GitHub, with a vibrant community for support.

Lynis, developed by CISOfy, is an open-source security auditing and hardening tool for Linux and Unix-based systems included in Kali Linux. It performs comprehensive system scans to identify vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and compliance issues, generating detailed reports for professional auditors and system administrators. Lynis supports automated audits, forensic analysis, and penetration testing modes, offering over 300 tests for file permissions, software updates, and network security. It integrates with compliance frameworks like PCI DSS and HIPAA.

Eaphammer is a cutting-edge open-source wireless network auditing toolkit for ethical hacking, seamlessly integrated into Kali Linux (version 2024.06.R1). As a targeted evil twin attack tool for WPA2-Enterprise networks, it executes sophisticated attacks like credential theft and hostile portal pivots, making it a premier wireless security assessment tool for cybersecurity. Written in Python with an 11.41 MB size, it offers a user-friendly interface for rapid penetration testing with minimal setup.