Shellter vs Cowpatty: Which Cyber Security tool is Best in 2025?

Shellter is an open-source dynamic shellcode injection tool, pre-installed on Kali Linux, designed for injecting malicious code into 32-bit Windows portable executable (PE) files while evading antivirus detection. Known as a dynamic PE infector, Shellter, developed by kyREcon, allows penetration testers and red teamers to embed custom or Metasploit-generated shellcode into legitimate Windows applications without altering suspicious file attributes. Its Stealth Mode preserves the original functionality of infected executables, making it ideal for ethical hacking and security assessments.

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.