Cowpatty vs PowerSploit: Which Kali Linux Tools tool is Best in 2025?

Cowpatty is a robust open-source wireless network auditing tool for ethical hacking, seamlessly integrated into Kali Linux (version 2024.06.R1). As a WPA/WPA2-PSK dictionary attack tool for cybersecurity, it performs offline passphrase cracking using captured 4-way handshakes, making it a top choice for wireless password cracking in penetration testing. Developed by Joshua Wright, its 77 KB size and genpmk utility enable efficient attacks on pre-shared key (PSK) networks.

PowerSploit is an open-source collection of Microsoft PowerShell scripts designed for post-exploitation tasks during authorized penetration testing. Pre-installed on Kali Linux under /usr/share/windows-resources/powersploit, this framework empowers ethical hackers, red teamers, and security researchers to perform advanced network enumeration, privilege escalation, and persistence on Windows systems. With modules like PowerView, Invoke-Mimikatz, and Invoke-Portscan, PowerSploit facilitates reconnaissance, code execution, and data exfiltration in compromised environments.