CeWL vs Lynis vs PoshC2 vs Maltego: Which AI Translator Extension tool is Best in 2025?

CeWL is a versatile open-source tool pre-installed in Kali Linux (version 6.2.1), tailored for cybersecurity professionals and penetration testers. This custom wordlist generator for security audits spider's websites to create tailored wordlists, making it a leading password-cracking preparation tool for ethical hacking. With an 81 KB footprint and features like email extraction and metadata analysis via FAB, CeWL empowers users to craft precise inputs for brute-force attacks, strengthening system security.

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.

PoshC2 is an open-source, proxy-aware command and control (C2) framework designed for penetration testing and red teaming, pre-installed on Kali Linux at /usr/share/poshc2. Primarily written in Python3, it offers a modular architecture that supports PowerShell, C#, C++, and Python3 implants, enabling post-exploitation and lateral movement across Windows, Linux, and macOS systems. Developed by Nettitude Labs, PoshC2 provides highly configurable payloads, extensive logging, and Docker support for cross-platform deployment.

Maltego is an all-in-one cyber investigation platform developed by Maltego Technologies GmbH, headquartered in Munich, Germany, designed to accelerate open-source intelligence (OSINT) and complex cyber investigations. It enables users to mine, merge, and map data from over 120 data partners, including social media, dark web, and breach databases, visualizing connections through its flagship Maltego Graph tool. The platform supports novice analysts with Maltego Search for quick OSINT queries, technical investigators with Maltego Graph for deep link analysis, and public safety teams with Maltego Monitor and Maltego Evidence for real-time social media monitoring and evidence collection. Trusted by over 200,000 users, including the FBI, INTERPOL, and 60% of Dow 30 companies, Maltego is ISO 27001:2022 certified and GDPR-compliant, offering secure, cost-efficient access to data with customizable integrations.