libimage-exiftool-perl vs Kismet vs CeWL: Which Web Security tool is Best in 2025?

The libimage-exiftool-perl package, pre-installed on Kali Linux at /usr/bin/exiftool, is a powerful Perl library and command-line tool for reading, writing, and editing metadata in a wide range of file formats, including images, audio, video, and documents. Developed by Phil Harvey, ExifTool supports metadata standards like EXIF, IPTC, XMP, and GPS, enabling forensic analysts, ethical hackers, and privacy enthusiasts to extract or manipulate file attributes such as camera details, geolocation, and creation dates. With its extensive file format support and scripting capabilities, it’s a cornerstone for digital forensics and metadata management.

Kismet is a powerful open-source wireless network monitoring tool for ethical hacking integrated into Kali Linux (version 2023.07.R2). As a wireless intrusion detection system for cybersecurity, it detects Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and SDR-based devices, making it a top wireless packet sniffer for penetration testing. With a lightweight 23 KB size and support for tools like kismet_cap_linux_wifi and kismetdb_to_pcap, Kismet empowers security professionals to audit networks effectively.

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.