Guide · Open source
How to use awesome-security: browse and find security tools
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
awesome-security is an MIT-licensed GitHub repository that works as a categorized list of links to security software, libraries, books and reference material. It is aimed at security learners, penetration testers and security engineers who want to find tools for a specific task without searching from scratch. This guide shows you how to navigate it, what the categories cover and how to judge the entries before you rely on them.
Awesome Securitysbilly/awesome-security · ★ 15.1k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Open the repository. Go to github.com/sbilly/awesome-security in your browser to read the list online.
- 2Clone it if you want an offline copy. Run git clone https://github.com/sbilly/awesome-security in a terminal to download the repository.
- 3Pick a category. Use the table of contents to choose a section that matches your task, such as Network or Web.
- 4Search for a keyword. Use your browser's find function to locate a tool name or topic within the README.
- 5Open the linked project. Follow the link to the tool's own page to read its documentation and licence.
- 6Verify before use. Confirm the project is current and suits your task, since the list does not review its entries.
What awesome-security is and what it is not
The README describes the project as a collection of software, libraries, documents, books, resources and cool stuff about security. Each entry is a link followed by a one-line description, so the list points you to tools rather than being a tool itself.
Because it is a list of links, you cannot run awesome-security as a program. You open the linked project to install or use it.
- It is a list of links, not ready-to-run software.
- Entries are community-submitted, and the README does not describe a review process.
- Links may be outdated, so check each project's own page before relying on it.
Get a local copy of the list or read it online
The simplest way to use the list is to open the repository page on GitHub and read it in your browser. The README also lists the install method as read-online, with no prerequisites listed.
If you want an offline copy, the README gives this command to clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/sbilly/awesome-securityFind your way around the categories
The table of contents at the top of the README is the fastest way in. Top-level sections include Network, Endpoint, Threat Intelligence, Social Engineering, Web, Red Team Infrastructure Deployment, Exploits & Payloads, Terminal, Operating Systems, Datastores, Fraud prevention and EBooks, among others.
Many sections have subcategories. Network, for example, is split into Scanning / Pentesting, Monitoring / Logging, IDS / IPS, Honey Pot / Honey Net, Full Packet Capture / Forensic, Sniffer, VPN and Firewall. Endpoint includes Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware, Authentication and Forensics. Web includes Web Application Firewall and Runtime Application Self-Protection.
- Pick the category that matches your task, such as Scanning / Pentesting under Network.
- Use your browser's find function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to search for a tool name or keyword.
- Follow the category anchor links in the table of contents to jump straight to a section.
Read an entry and judge whether it fits
Each entry follows the pattern name, link, then a short description. For example, the Scanning / Pentesting section lists Nmap as a free and open source utility for network discovery and security auditing, and Amass as a tool for DNS subdomain enumeration.
Before you use a listed tool, open its project page and check its licence, last activity and documentation yourself. The list does not verify these details, and the README does not describe a review process for entries.
- Check the project's licence and read its installation instructions.
- Confirm the project is still maintained, since the list may contain outdated links.
- Look at the description to see whether it matches your exact task.
Compare tools within one category
The main benefit of the list is comparing options side by side. In the Scanning / Pentesting section under Web, for example, you can see several different tools for the same area and choose based on the description and your needs.
Use the list to build a shortlist, then test your shortlist tools in a lab environment you control.
Contribute or report a problem
The README has a Contributing section and thanks contributors through a link to the repository's contributors page. The stated goal is a categorized, community-driven collection of well-known resources.
If a link is broken or a project is no longer available, the list itself can be updated through the repository's normal contribution process described in its Contributing section.
What people use it for
- A security learner looking for well-known tools in a specific area such as forensics or threat intelligence.
- A penetration tester browsing scanning and reconnaissance tools, for example under Network > Scanning / Pentesting.
- A security engineer comparing several options within one category before choosing one to trial.
- Someone who wants a broad overview of the security tooling landscape across network, endpoint and web topics.
Frequently asked questions
Is awesome-security free?
The repository is licensed under MIT, as stated in the project details. Reading the list on GitHub or cloning it requires no payment.
What are the requirements to use awesome-security?
No prerequisites are listed. You can read it in a web browser, and you only need git if you want to clone the repository locally.
How do I install awesome-security?
You do not install it as software. The README gives the command git clone https://github.com/sbilly/awesome-security if you want a local copy, or you can read it online on GitHub.
Can I trust the tools listed in awesome-security?
Entries are community-submitted and the README does not describe a review process. Check each linked project's licence, documentation and activity before using it.
Are the links in awesome-security up to date?
Not guaranteed. The list may contain outdated links, so verify each project's page yourself before relying on it.
How does awesome-security compare to other awesome lists?
It follows the same format as sindresorhus/awesome, vinta/awesome-python and ziadoz/awesome-php, which the README cites as inspiration. Its focus is security tooling, grouped into categories like network, endpoint and web.
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Our verdict
awesome-security is a good starting point if you are a security learner, penetration tester or engineer who wants to discover tools in a specific category. It is not a source of ready-to-run software or vetted advice, so people who need working tools now or confirmed recommendations should look elsewhere. Treat it as a map to check, not a guarantee.
Install options & downloads