John the Ripper vs WPScan: Which Kali Linux Tools tool is Best in 2025?

John the Ripper is a premier open-source password cracker pre-installed in Kali Linux (version 1.9.0), tailored for security administrators and penetration testers. This password-cracking tool for cybersecurity audits targets weak credentials using wordlists, brute-force, and rule-based attacks, making it a leading password security testing tool for ethical hacking. With a 77.63 MB footprint and support for hashes like SHA512crypt and MD5, John empowers users to strengthen system security through efficient password audits.

WPScan is a powerful, open-source WordPress security scanner designed to identify vulnerabilities in WordPress-powered websites. Pre-installed on Kali Linux, this command-line tool helps ethical hackers, penetration testers, and website administrators detect security flaws in WordPress core, plugins, themes, and configurations. Written in Ruby, WPScan leverages a comprehensive vulnerability database from wpvulndb.com to provide real-time insights into potential risks. With features like user enumeration, brute-force attack simulation, and detailed reporting, WPScan is a critical tool for securing WordPress sites, which power over 40% of the internet. It supports both passive and aggressive scanning modes, ensuring flexibility for various testing scenarios.