Cowpatty vs Xplico: Which OSINT Investigation Platform 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.

Xplico is an open-source network forensic analysis tool (NFAT), pre-installed on Kali Linux at /usr/bin/xplico, designed for extracting and reconstructing application data from network traffic captures, such as PCAP files. Developed by Gianluca Costa and Andrea de Franceschi, Xplico decodes protocols like HTTP, SIP, IMAP, POP, SMTP, and FTP, extracting artifacts like emails, web content, VoIP calls, and files. Unlike traditional packet analyzers like Wireshark, Xplico focuses on application-layer data reconstruction using Port Independent Protocol Identification (PIPI). With its web-based interface and support for SQLite or MySQL databases, it’s a vital tool for digital forensic investigators, incident responders, and ethical hackers.