How to Download Nessus: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you are looking for a powerful and easy-to-use tool to scan your network for vulnerabilities, you might want to consider Nessus. Nessus is one of the most popular and trusted vulnerability scanners in the world, used by millions of security professionals and organizations of all sizes. In this article, we will show you how to download Nessus for Windows, Linux, or Mac, and how to use it for vulnerability scanning. But first, let's see what Nessus is and why you need it.
What is Nessus and why do you need it?
Nessus is a vulnerability scanner that helps you identify and fix security issues in your network, systems, applications, and devices. It can scan for thousands of vulnerabilities across different platforms and technologies, including cloud, web, mobile, IoT, containers, and more. It can also perform compliance checks, configuration audits, malware detection, patch management, and web application testing.
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By using Nessus, you can improve your security posture and reduce your risk of cyberattacks. You can also comply with industry standards and regulations, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, NIST, ISO 27001, and more. Nessus can help you save time and money by automating your vulnerability management process and providing actionable insights and recommendations.
Nessus features and benefits
Some of the main features and benefits of Nessus are:
It has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to create, run, and manage scans.
It has a comprehensive vulnerability database that is updated daily with the latest security information.
It supports multiple scan types, such as network scan, host scan, web application scan, container scan, cloud scan, etc.
It provides detailed and customizable reports that show the severity, impact, solution, and references for each vulnerability.
It integrates with other security tools and platforms, such as Tenable.io, Tenable.sc, Splunk, ServiceNow, AWS, Azure, etc.
It has a community edition that is free for personal use on up to 16 IP addresses.
Nessus editions and pricing
Nessus has three main editions: Nessus Essentials, Nessus Professional, and Nessus Expert. Here is a brief overview of each edition:
EditionDescriptionPricing
Nessus EssentialsA free edition for personal use on up to 16 IP addresses. It includes basic vulnerability scanning features and access to the Tenable Community.Free
Nessus ProfessionalA paid edition for professional use on unlimited IP addresses. It includes advanced vulnerability scanning features and access to Tenable Support.$2.790 per year
Nessus ExpertA paid edition for enterprise use on unlimited IP addresses. It includes all the features of Nessus Professional plus additional features such as RBVM (Risk-Based Vulnerability Management), WAS (Web Application Scanning), LCE (Log Correlation Engine), etc.$9.730 per year
You can compare the features of each edition .
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How to download Nessus for Windows, Linux, or Mac
Now that you know what Nessus is and what it can do for you, let's see how to download it for your device. The process is similar for Windows, Linux, or Mac, but there are some differences in the installation steps. Here are the general steps to download Nessus:
Download Nessus from the official website
The first step is to download the Nessus installer from the official website. You can find the download links for different platforms . You will need to register with your email address and choose the edition you want to download. You will also receive a license key by email, which you will need to activate Nessus later.
Once you have downloaded the installer, save it to a location on your device. The installer file name will vary depending on the platform and version you have chosen. For example, for Windows 10 64-bit, the file name might be Nessus-8.15.0-x64.msi.
Install Nessus on your device
The next step is to install Nessus on your device. The installation steps will differ slightly depending on the platform you are using. Here are the general steps for each platform:
Windows
Double-click on the installer file and follow the instructions on the screen.
Accept the license agreement and choose the destination folder for Nessus.
Choose whether to install Nessus as a service or an application.
Wait for the installation to complete and click Finish.
Linux
Open a terminal and navigate to the location where you saved the installer file.
Run the following command to make the installer executable: chmod +x Nessus-8.15.0-debian6_amd64.deb (replace with your file name).
Run the following command to install Nessus: sudo dpkg -i Nessus-8.15.0-debian6_amd64.deb (replace with your file name).
Wait for the installation to complete and verify that Nessus is running by typing: sudo /etc/init.d/nessusd status
Mac
Double-click on the installer file and follow the instructions on the screen.
Accept the license agreement and drag the Nessus icon to the Applications folder.
Open the Applications folder and double-click on the Nessus icon.
Wait for the installation to complete and verify that Nessus is running by clicking on the Nessus menu and choosing About.
Activate Nessus with a license key
The final step is to activate Nessus with a license key that you received by email when you downloaded Nessus. You will need to do this before you can use Nessus for scanning. Here are the general steps to activate Nessus:
Open a web browser and go to (or if you installed Nessus on a different device).
You will see a warning message about an untrusted certificate. This is normal and you can ignore it by clicking Advanced and Proceed (or similar options depending on your browser).
You will see a welcome screen where you need to enter your license key and agree to the terms and conditions. Click Continue after entering your license key.
Nessus will connect to the Tenable server and activate your license. This may take a few minutes.
You will see a confirmation message that your license has been activated. Click Continue.
Congratulations! You have successfully downloaded and installed Nessus on your device. Now you are ready to use it for vulnerability scanning.
How to use Nessus for vulnerability scanning
Nessus is a powerful tool that can help you scan your network for vulnerabilities and fix them before they are exploited by hackers. In this section, we will show you how to use Nessus for vulnerability scanning in four simple steps: launch Nessus, create a user account, create and run a scan, and analyze and export scan results.
Launch Nessus and create a user account
To launch Nessus, you need to open a web browser and go to (or if you installed Nessus on a different device). You will see a login screen where you need to enter your username and password. If this is your first time using Nessus, you need to create a user account by clicking on Create Account.
You will see a form where you need to enter your name, email, username, password, and role. You can choose between two roles: standard and administrator. A standard user can create and run scans, but cannot change the Nessus settings or manage other users. An administrator user can do everything a standard user can do, plus change the Nessus settings and manage other users. Choose the role that suits your needs and click Create.
You will see a confirmation message that your account has been created. Click Login to enter your username and password and access the Nessus dashboard. The dashboard is where you can see an overview of your scans, vulnerabilities, assets, and plugins. You can also access the main menu from the dashboard, where you can create and manage scans, settings, users, and more.
Configure Nessus settings and preferences
Before you start scanning with Nessus, you may want to configure some settings and preferences to customize your scanning experience. You can access the settings menu from the dashboard by clicking on the gear icon on the top right corner. Here are some of the settings and preferences you can change:
General: You can change your account information, such as name, email, password, and role. You can also enable or disable email notifications for scan results, plugin updates, license expiration, etc.
Network: You can configure your network settings, such as proxy server, DNS server, host discovery, port scanning, etc.
Advanced: You can configure advanced settings, such as scan performance, debug logging, SSL certificate, etc.
Plugins: You can manage your plugins, which are the scripts that Nessus uses to detect vulnerabilities. You can update your plugins manually or automatically, enable or disable specific plugins, filter plugins by category or family, etc.
Licensing: You can view your license information, such as edition, expiration date, IP limit, etc. You can also renew or upgrade your license from here.
You can change these settings anytime you want. However, some changes may require you to restart Nessus for them to take effect. You can restart Nessus from the settings menu by clicking on Restart Nessus.
Create and run a scan with Nessus
Now that you have configured your Nessus settings and preferences, you are ready to create and run a scan with Nessus. A scan is a process of testing a target for vulnerabilities using a set of plugins and policies. You can create and run a scan with Nessus in four simple steps: choose a scan template, enter scan details, select scan options, and start the scan.
Choose a scan template
To create a scan with Nessus, you need to choose a scan template that matches your scanning goals and needs. A scan template is a predefined configuration of plugins and policies that is designed for a specific type of scan. For example, if you want to scan a web application for vulnerabilities, you can use the Web Application Tests template.
You can access the scan templates from the dashboard by clicking on the New Scan button on the top right corner. You will see a list of scan templates organized by category: Basic Network Scan (for general network scanning), Web Application Tests (for web application scanning), Advanced Scan (for customized network scanning), Policy Compliance Auditing (for compliance checking), Malware Scan (for malware detection), etc.
You can browse through the scan templates and see their description and requirements by hovering over them. You can also search for a specific template by typing its name in the search box. Once you have found the template that suits your needs, click on it to proceed to the next step.
Enter scan details
The next step is to enter some basic information about your scan, such as name, description, folder, and tags. These details will help you identify and organize your scan later. You can enter these details in the fields provided on the left side of the screen. For example, you can name your scan "Web Application Scan", describe it as "A scan to test the security of my web application", choose a folder to store it, and add some tags to categorize it.
Select scan options
The next step is to select some options for your scan, such as target, schedule, notification, policy, etc. These options will determine how your scan will run and what it will test. You can select these options in the tabs provided on the right side of the screen. For example, you can enter the URL of your web application in the target field, choose a time and frequency for your scan in the schedule tab, enable email alerts for your scan in the notification tab, and customize your scan policy in the advanced tab.
You can also use the default options for your scan template if you are not sure what to choose. However, you should always review the options before running your scan to make sure they are appropriate for your scanning goals and needs.
Start the scan
The final step is to start your scan by clicking on the Save and Launch button at the bottom of the screen. You will see a confirmation message that your scan has been created and launched. You can also see the status and progress of your scan on the dashboard or on the scans page.
Depending on the size and complexity of your target, your scan may take from a few minutes to several hours to complete. You can pause, resume, or stop your scan at any time by clicking on the corresponding buttons on the scan page. You can also edit or delete your scan by clicking on the gear icon on the scan page.
How to analyze and export scan results with Nessus
Once your scan is completed, you can analyze and export your scan results with Nessus. Your scan results will show you a list of vulnerabilities that Nessus has detected on your target, along with their severity, impact, solution, and references. You can also see a summary of your scan results on the dashboard or on the scans page.
Analyze scan results with Nessus
To analyze your scan results with Nessus, you need to open your scan from the dashboard or from the scans page by clicking on its name. You will see a detailed report of your scan results, organized by hosts, vulnerabilities, and plugins. You can use the filters and search box on the top of the screen to narrow down your results by criteria such as severity, plugin family, protocol, port, etc.
You can also use the tabs on the left side of the screen to view different aspects of your scan results, such as overview (a summary of your scan results), vulnerabilities (a list of vulnerabilities by host), hosts (a list of hosts by vulnerability), plugins (a list of plugins by vulnerability), compliance (a list of compliance issues by host), history (a list of previous scans for comparison), notes (a list of notes that you or other users have added to your scan results), attachments (a list of files that you or other users have attached to your scan results), etc.
You can click on any item in your scan results to see more information about it, such as description, solution, references, output, etc. You can also add notes or attachments to any item in your scan results by clicking on the note or attachment icon on the top right corner of the item. You can also edit or delete your notes or attachments by clicking on the pencil or trash icon next to them.
By analyzing your scan results with Nessus, you can gain a better understanding of your security posture and identify the most critical and urgent vulnerabilities that need your attention.
Export scan results with Nessus
To export your scan results with Nessus, you need to open your scan from the dashboard or from the scans page by clicking on its name. You will see a button on the top right corner of the screen that says Export. You can click on this button to export your scan results in different formats, such as HTML, PDF, CSV, XML, etc.
You can also customize your export options by clicking on the gear icon next to the Export button. You can choose which items to include or exclude in your export, such as summary, charts, host details, vulnerability details, plugin details, etc. You can also choose the layout, orientation, and size of your export file.
Once you have selected your export options, click on the Export button again and choose a location to save your export file. You can then open your export file with any compatible application or share it with others.
By exporting your scan results with Nessus, you can create a permanent record of your scan findings and use it for reporting, auditing, or remediation purposes.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download Nessus for Windows, Linux, or Mac, and how to use it for vulnerability scanning. We have covered the following steps:
What is Nessus and why do you need it?
How to download Nessus from the official website
How to install Nessus on your device
How to activate Nessus with a license key
How to use Nessus for vulnerability scanning
How to analyze and export scan results with Nessus
Nessus is a powerful and easy-to-use tool that can help you improve your security posture and reduce your risk of cyberattacks. It can scan for thousands of vulnerabilities across different platforms and technologies, and provide you with actionable insights and recommendations. It can also help you comply with industry standards and regulations, and integrate with other security tools and platforms.
If you want to learn more about Nessus and how it can help you with your vulnerability management needs, you can visit the official website .
We hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Nessus:
What are the system requirements for Nessus?
The system requirements for Nessus vary depending on the platform and edition you are using. However, here are some general guidelines:
You need at least 4 GB of RAM and 30 GB of disk space for Nessus.
You need a 64-bit operating system for Nessus. The supported operating systems are Windows 7 or later, Linux (Debian 6 or later, Ubuntu 12.04 or later, CentOS 6 or later), and Mac OS X 10.9 or later.
You need a web browser that supports HTML5 and JavaScript for Nessus. The supported browsers are Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Internet Explorer 11.
You need an internet connection for Nessus to download plugins and updates, activate licenses, and integrate with cloud services.
How often are Nessus plugins updated?
Nessus plugins are updated daily with the latest security information from Tenable Research. You can update your plugins manually or automatically from the settings menu in Nessus. You can also check the date of your last plugin update from the dashboard or from the scans page in Nessus.
How many IP addresses can I scan with Nessus?
The number of IP addresses you can scan with Nessus depends on the edition and license you are using. Here are some general guidelines:
Nessus Essentials allows you to scan up to 16 IP addresses for personal use only.
Nessus Professional allows you to scan unlimited IP addresses for professional use only.
Nessus Expert allows you to scan unlimited IP addresses for enterprise use only.
How can I get support for Nessus?
The type and level of support you can get for Nessus depends on the edition and license you are using. Here are some general guidelines:
Nessus Essentials users can get support from the Tenable Community, where they can ask questions, share ideas, and find answers from other users and experts.
Nessus Professional and Expert users can get support from the Tenable Support Portal, where they can submit tickets, chat with agents, access knowledge base articles, and download software updates.
Nessus Expert users can also get support from the Tenable Customer Success Team, where they can get personalized guidance, best practices, and tips from dedicated security advisors.
How can I learn more about Nessus?
If you want to learn more about Nessus and how to use it effectively, you can check out the following resources:
The online documentation , where you can find detailed information about Nessus features, functions, and settings.
The video tutorials , where you can watch short videos that show you how to perform common tasks with Nessus.
The webinars , where you can register for live or on-demand sessions that cover various topics related to Nessus and vulnerability management.
The courses , where you can enroll in online or instructor-led courses that teach you the fundamentals and advanced skills of Nessus and vulnerability management.
The certifications , where you can take exams and earn credentials that validate your knowledge and expertise of Nessus and vulnerability management.
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