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How to Install OpenVAS
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If you’re starting off in cybersecurity you may have heard of vulnerability scanners. A vulnerability scanner is a software or program that identifies security vulnerabilities or weaknesses in a system, application or network. It’s used by both attackers and defenders to figure out the security posture of the target system.
In this article, you’ll learn how to install a vulnerability scanner called OpenVAS, an offshoot of Nessus. OpenVAS is an open-source framework and vulnerability scanner extensively used for identifying and evaluating security vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks.
So without further adieu, let’s jump in 🙃.
Requirements
- A Computer with at least 4GB RAM and 20GB Storage
- A stable internet connection
- A Linux OS (Debian or Ubuntu LTS)
- A lot of patience ⏳
Important Concept: Containers
There are two ways to install OpenVAS:
- From the source
- Using Docker Containers
Installing from the source can be quite tasking and could even end up still not working in the end (Trust me, I’ve been there 🤧). However, using a docker container makes the process simple and almost seamless.
A docker container is a lightweight, standalone, executable software package that includes everything needed to run an application, including the code, runtime environment, system tools, and libraries. This allows the application in the container to be deployable almost anywhere.
We don’t really need to get into the specifics of things but basically think of it like a Lego set and its box. The Lego set is your application and the box is the container. The box contains the instructions and pieces you need to build the structure.
Likewise, the container has everything you need for deploying your application anywhere. And because it’s so versatile, you can create multiple containers to deploy multiple applications without putting much strain on your hardware.
